Barham Bridge over Murray River

Item details


Name of item:	Barham Bridge over Murray River
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Transport - Land
Category:	Road Bridge
Location:	Lat: -35.6305418729 Long: 144.1247088680
Primary address:	Main Road 319, Barham, NSW 2732
Local govt. area:	Murray River
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Moama

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Type
Main Road 319	Barham	Murray River	Primary Address
Cobwell Street (off)	Barham	Murray River	Alternate Address
Thule Street (off)	Barham	Murray River	Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
former Wakool Shire Council	Local Government

Statement of significance:


	Barham bridge has significance under all four criteria - Historical, Aesthetic, Technical and Social. The significance of the bridge lies in its location, for setting, and materials. The form and setting have aesthetic and social significance. The bridge may have higher overall significance as a member of the Murray Crossing Group, as a representative of a rare example of a representative type.
	Date significance updated: 28 Jun 05
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Designer/Maker:	Department of Public Works
Builder/Maker:	John Monash
Construction years:	1904-1904
Physical description:	Barham bridge is timber truss, steel lift span, bridge, generally two lanes wide across the Murray River between Barham in NSW and Koondrook in Victoria. The main axis of the bridge is N-S. There are three main spans including one lift span, supported on cast iron piers. There is one timber approach span at each end, supported on timber trestle piers. The lift span (17.8m) is of lattice steel construction, both the for tower and the main girder. The design is similar to that developed by Percy Allan and first used at Swan Hill nine years previously, but shows some variation from that layout, and those used later at Tooleybuc and Abbotsford bridges. The Barham Bridge has the counterweights on the main axis side of the supporting columns, while the others have them on the cross axis. The cross girders on the top of the structure are unusually curved and decorated. The changes may be due to the fact that the design was undertaken under Ernest de Burgh who had also changed timber trusses from Percy Allan?s design. The tow other main spans (31.7m) are timber trusses of the ?de Burgh? Type. Tis truss was developed by Ernest de Burgh as an improvement on the Allen Truss. The truss used a steel bottom chord. The truss supports steel cross girders and steel longitudinal stringers. The deck is timber. The approach spans (9.1m) are timber girders on timber trestle piers. The deck is timber. A section of the deck has been segregated for pedestrians with a kerb and handrail on all spans except the lift span. The main piers are cast ion and are protected by cofferdams. The bridge has a clearance over normal water level of 5.1m.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	The bridge is in good condition having been extensively repaired in recent years, due to a major rehabilitation of the timber trusses.
	Date condition updated:15 May 98


Current use:	Road bridge
Former use:	Aboriginal land and water, Road bridge

History

Historical notes:

The Murray around Barham was settled by graziers, mainly from Victoria, in the 1840s. by 1850 all the really desirable water-frontages on both sides of the Murray had been taken up as far upstream as Barham while the open plain to the north in New South Wales was only notionally divided into undeveloped backblocks. Barham station itself (named after the maiden name of the wife of the first grazier, E B Green, had a 32 kilometre frontage on the Murray, carrying a modest head of cattle in the mid Victorian period under a series of owners. With similar developments on the Loddon River, which converges with the Murray north of Barham, a crossing of the Murray was needed and a ferry was provided for stock and people.
In 1902 it was agreed that a bridge with a lift span should be built, thanks to local political pressure on both the NSW and Commonwealth governments. The first piles were driven in 1903 and the bridge opened in 1905.

Barham lies in the Wakool Irrigation District, opened in 1935l. This was the first such district in the state, with extensive, partial irrigation designed to provide water for the maximum number of graziers to ensure a regular supply of fattened lambs. In 1949 an intensive irrigation area within the district made rice farming feasible, increasing local heavy traffic. there have been particularly severe problems from salientian, however, in the last quarter-century.

The 2019 Colin Crisp award for restoration works was made for the $25m restoration of the Barham-Koondrook Bridge. Transport for NSW, in partnership with Regional Roads Victoria, carried out the work in stages between 2012 and 2019. This restoration (or reconstruction) will ensure it continues to meet current and future vehicle loads and volumes (EHA, 3(6), 9/2020, 4).

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Other open space-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Changing the environment-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Cultural: Rivers and water bodies important to humans-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Developing local, regional and national economies-National Theme 3
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Events-Activities and processes that mark the consequences of natural and cultural occurences	Developing local landmarks-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements	(none)-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements	Bridging rivers-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements	Bridge - road-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Building settlements, towns and cities-National Theme 4

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The Barham Bridge has historical significance as a rare example of a type of bridge which shows the evolving pattern of bridge design in Australia. The De Burgh timber bridge was only built for a brief period between 1899 and 1904. There are only nine remaining, and only two associated with lift spans, Barham and Cobram. These two bridges are also the only examples of ?De Burgh? lift spans. The bridge was built by Monash and Anderson. The bridge has historical significance through the association of John Monash with the bridge. Monash is arguably both one of Australia?s most famous engineers, as well as one of the country?s most famous soldiers.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The Barham bridge has aesthetic significance due to its outstanding setting and landmark qualities. The bridge provides a gateway to NSW and the town of Barham. It dominates the towns due to its height and mass, providing the major landmark in the district. The setting is particularly fine, situated on the edge of the town and crossing the river amidst parklike lands and trees.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The Barham bridge has high significance to the local and district residents as the gateway between Barham and Koondrook, NSW and Victoria. As the towns are not large there is considerable commuting across the bridge for services that are not duplicated in both towns. The bridge also provides a focal point between town and river. The river is the main geographical feature in the area, and the centre for most recreation. The bridge acts as a reminder of river transport and attracts large crowds wherever river traffic passes through. For example, one lady, who has seen hundreds of river bots pass through he bridge, still rushes to see each new opening.
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	HERITAGE ACT 1977 ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) TO GRANT STANDARD EXEMPTIONS FROM APPROVAL I, Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Heritage, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales and under section 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977: revoke the order made on 2 June 2022 and published in the Government Gazette Number 262 of 17 June 2022; and grant an exemption from section 57(1) of the Act in respect of the engaging in or carrying out the class of activities described in clause 2 Schedule A in such circumstances specified by the relevant standards in clause 2 Schedule A and General Conditions in clause 3 Schedule A. This Order takes effect on the date it is published in the NSW Government Gazette. Dated this 29th day of October 2025 The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC Minister for Heritage For more information on standard exemptions click on the link below.	Nov 7 2025

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register		01456	20 Jun 00	-	-
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register	Roads & Traffic S.170

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Tourism		2007	Barham Bridge over Murray River	View detail
Written			Border Journal
Tourism	Attraction Homepage	2007	Barham Bridge over Murray River	View detail
Written	G Serle	1982	John Monash: A Biography
Written	Jack, Prof. R.Ian	1986	Regional Histories of NSW
Written	Johnson, Frank (Cair of EH Sydney)	2020	The Winners of the 2019 Colin Crisp Awards	View detail
Written	R.B. Roland	1960	The Riverina: People and Properties
Written	RTA Environment Branch	2009	Proposed rehabilitation works on Barham Bridge over the Murray River Barham, NSW : statement of heritage impact

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5051354

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