Beckers Bridge over Webbers Creek

Item details


Name of item:	Beckers Bridge over Webbers Creek
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Transport - Land
Category:	Road Bridge
Location:	Lat: -32.5193084483 Long: 151.3523206200
Primary address:	Main Road 128, Gresford, NSW 2311
Parish:	Houghton
County:	Durham
Local govt. area:	Singleton
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Wanaruah

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	3		DP	914665

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Main Road 128	Gresford	Singleton	Houghton	Durham	Primary Address
Gresford Road	Gresford	Singleton			Alternate Address
Glendon Brook Road	Gresford	Singleton			Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
Transport for NSW	State Government

Statement of significance:


	As a timber truss road bridge, it has many associational links with important historical events, trends and people, including the expansion of the road network and economic activity throughout NSW, and with Ernest DeBurgh, the designer of this type of truss. DeBurgh trusses were fourth in the five stage design evolution of NSW timber truss road bridges. Designed by Public Works Department engineer Ernest M. DeBurgh, the DeBurgh truss is an adaptation of the American Pratt truss design. The DeBurgh truss was the first to use significant amounts of steel and iron, and did so in spite of its high cost and the government's historical preference for timber. DeBurgh trusses were significant technical improvements over their predecessors. Situated in the Hunter Region, Beckers Bridge was formerly associated with 15 other historic bridges, each constructed before 1905. Many of these have now been removed. In 1998 there were 10 surviving DeBurgh trusses in NSW of the 20 built, and there were at that time 82 timber truss road bridges surviving of the more than 400 built. Beckers Bridge is a representative example of DeBurgh timber truss road bridges, and is of state heritage significance primarily on the basis of its technical and historical values.
	Date significance updated: 12 Apr 18
	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:	E M DeBurgh
Builder/Maker:	W.F. Oakes, Sydney
Construction years:	1902-1902
Physical description:	Beckers Bridge is a DeBurgh type timber truss road bridge. It has a single timber truss span of 27.7m(91ft). There is a single timber approach span at each end, giving the bridge an overall length of 45.4m(149ft). The deck and trusses are is supported by timber trestles providing a carriage way with a minimum width of 4.6m. The guard rail, of timber post and rail construction, extends the full length of the bridge.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	In 1998 the bridge was assessed as being in good condition. RMS NSW has subsequently (2018) submitted that the structural condition of concealed elements cannot be properly assessed to determine their present condition. The bridge has since 1998 been subject to significant repairs, some of them intrusive, so as to make the structure safe. The bridge cannot be updated to Higher Mass Limits (HML) without the introduction of modifications so intrusive as to substantially degrade its heritage significance.
	Date condition updated:19 Mar 18
Modifications and dates:	1984: Deck reconstructed after spot failures. Date unknown: Reconstruction of some elements of approach spans and trestle pier; steel sway bracing installed. 2004: Introduction of highly visible and intrusive steel monorail beams to underside of main truss. 2009: Encasing of southern abutment in highly visible and intrusive reinforced concrete to prevent the collapse of the existing timber abutment.
Further information:	The structure has been progressively improved so as to bear loads exerted by heavy vehicles, but cannot be improved to Higher Mass Limits (HML) standard without modifications so intrusive as to substantially degrade its heritage significance.


Current use:	Road bridge
Former use:	Road bridge

History

Historical notes:

Timber truss road bridges have played a significant role in the expansion and improvement of the NSW road network. Prior to the bridges being built, river crossings were often dangerous in times of rain, which caused bulk freight movement to be prohibitively expensive for most agricultural and mining produce. Only the high priced wool clip of the time was able to carry the costs and inconvenience imposed by the generally inadequate river crossings that often existed prior to the trusses construction.
Timber truss bridges were preferred by the Public Works Department from the mid 19th to the early 20th century because they were relatively cheap to construct, and used mostly local materials. The financially troubled governments of the day applied pressure to the Public Works Department to produce as much road and bridge work for as little cost as possible, using local materials. This condition effectively prohibited the use of iron and steel, as these, prior to the construction of the steel works at Newcastle in the early 20th century, had to be imported from England.

Ernest DeBurgh, the designer of DeBurgh truss and other bridges, was a leading engineer with the Public Works Department, and a prominent figure in early 20th century NSW.

Timber truss bridges, and timber bridges generally were so common that NSW was known to travellers as the "timber bridge state".

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
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)-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Through the bridge's association with the expansion of the NSW road network, its ability to demonstrate historically important concepts such as the gradual acceptance of NSW people of American design ideas, and its association with Ernest DeBurgh, it has historical significance.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The bridge exhibits the technical excellence of its design, as all of the structural detail is clearly visible. In the context of its landscape it is visually attractive. As such, the bridge has a small amount of aesthetic significance.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	Timber truss bridges are prominent to road travellers, and NSW has in the past been referred to as the "timber truss bridge state". Through this, the complete set of bridges gain some social significance, as they could be said to be held in reasonable esteem by many travellers in NSW.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	Rare - an early example of DeBurgh trusses
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	Representative of DeBurgh truss bridges
Integrity/Intactness:	Intact
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.

Recommended management:

On 7/3/2018, a request was received from RMS NSW for the removal of the bridge from the SHR persuant to the Heritage Council-endorsed RMS NSW Timber Truss Bridge Strategy 2012. This request was made under S38(1)(2)(3) of the Heritage Act 1977 (NSW), on the grounds that the bridge is incapable of reasonable or economic use; that its conservation is not necessary in terms of the Heritage Council-endorsed RMS NSW Timber Truss Bridge Conservation Strategy (2012); and that after the construction of the proposed replacement bridge on a site nearby, management of Beckers Bridge would revert to Singleton Council, which submits that such reversion would cause it economic hardship.

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		01457	20 Jun 00	-	-
Heritage Act - Under consideration for SHR/IHO listing	SHR Nomination received under Heritage Act for REM
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register	Roads & Traffic s.170

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Tourism	Attraction Homepage	2007	Beckers Bridge over Webbers Creek	View detail
Written	Department of Main Roads, NSW	1987	Timber Truss Bridge Maintenance Handbook
Written	Fletcher, Robert and Snow, J.P.	1934	A History of Development of Wood Bridges
Written	Fraser D J	1985	Timber Bridges in NSW
Written	Martindale, Capt. B.H.	1857	Reports on Inland Communication
Written	Roads and Traffic Authority		S. 170 Register	View detail

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:	5051355

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