Tooleybuc Bridge
| Tooleybuc Bridge | |
|---|---|
 A road train crosses the bridge in 2012. | |
| Location | 222 Main Road, Tooleybuc, Murray River Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Coordinates | 35°01′50″S 143°20′07″E / 35.0305°S 143.3353°ECoordinates: 35°01′50″S 143°20′07″E / 35.0305°S 143.3353°E |
| Built | 1925 |
| Owner | Murray River Council |
| Official name: Tooleybuc Bridge over Murray River | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 20 June 2000 |
| Reference no. | 1482 |
| Type | Road Bridge |
| Category | Transport - Land |
  Location of Tooleybuc Bridge in New South Wales | |
The Tooleybuc Bridge is an heritage-listed road bridge across the Murray River located at 222 Main Road, Tooleybuc in the Murray River Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was built in 1925. The bridge is owned by the Murray River Council, and was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 20 June 2000. The bridge is also called the Tooleybuc Bridge over Murray River.[1]
History
Tooleybuc lies on the extreme west fringe of the saltbush plain, a semi-arid or arid area created by sediments from the Murray-Darling flood waters. The saltbush provided useful fodder and the Murray frontage in this area, as in others, was largely taken up by 1847. Tooleybuc was on the Puon Buon run, part of the 1840s pastoral empire of Ben Boyd, the whaling entrepreneur of Twofold Bay. In the 1850s Puon Buon was owned by William Degraves and then Christopher Bagot: in the 1860s the Trust and Agency Co. ran 32000 sheep there and in the late nineteenth century J. Lawrence held the property and ran 50000 sheep. The high stocking was encouraged by the almost permanent lakes on Puon Buon.[1]
Development of the township of Tooleybuc was assisted by the sub-division of the huge station just before the First World War. The Tooleybuc area subsequently became the seen of intensive agriculture, with fruit-growing the principal cash-crop. The river steamers were fundamental to the wool-trade in the nineteenth century; so was easy communication across the river. A vehicular punt was in operation by the 1870s, with a riverside hotel (the Tooley Buc) on the New South Wales side.[1]
Finally in 1925, in response to pressure from fruit-growers, the present lift-span bridge was erected by the Department of Public Works, just upstream from the old privately-owned punt. The bridge was designed by Percy Allan, and was his final lift span bridge.[1]
Description
The Tooleybuc Bridge is a timber truss and steel lift span bridge across the Murray River at Tooleybuc. The main axis of the bridge is north-south. There are three main spans including one lift span, supported on concrete piers. On the northern approach there are no approach spans, and there are three approach spans at the Victorian end.[1]
The two main truss spans of 21.8 metres (72 ft) are of the Allan Type. These trusses support timber cross girders and steel longitudinal stringers. The latter are unusual and are probably replacements of the original timber stringers. The deck is timber. The 17.8-metre (58 ft) lift span superstructure is of riveted lattice steel, including the main support girders. The lift span has been converted recently to allow hydraulic operation. The lift span deck is timber on steel girders. The piers to the main spans are concrete with oval diaphragms giving a similar appearance to the cast iron piers under older bridges. The piers are protected by sheet pile cofferdams and filling.[1]
The approach spans (two being 9.1 metres (30 ft) long each, and one being 7.3 metres (24 ft) long) are timber girders. There are five girders to each span supported on timber corbels. The piers to the approach spans, and the junction of approach span to main truss, are all timber trestles.[1]
There is no footway, but there is a timber handrail except on the lift span which has a pipe handrail.[1] The deck is 8.5 metres (28 ft) above flood level.
Condition
As at 23 June 2005, the bridge was in fair condition having had considerable maintenance in previous years.[1]
Heritage listing
Tooleybuc Bridge over Murray River was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 20 June 2000 having satisfied the following criteria.[1]
The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales.
The only two surviving Murray River bridges with Allan truss spans, or Allan designed lift spans are Swan Hill and Tooleybuc. Swan Hill was the first of its type to be constructed anywhere, and Tooleybuc the last. The bridge has regional historical significance through this association with Percy Allan. It also has local historical significance in the evolving pattern of river traffic.[1]
The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.
The Tooleybuc Bridge has aesthetic significance due to its setting and size. Within the town it has landmark qualities. The bridge provides a gateway to NSW and the town of Tooleybuc. It dominates the river valley which provides the focus of recreational activity in the township. The setting is not rare on the Murray River, being similar to Swan Hill.[1]
The place is ihas strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in New South Wales for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.
The Tooleybuc Bridge has significance to the adjacent towns as the main crossing of a major barrier to communication (the Murray River). The bridge is a focal point to transport, and also provides the only gateway between the States of Victoria and NSW.[1]
See also
References
Bibliography
- "Tooleybuc Bridge over Murray River". 2007.
- Attraction Homepage (2007). "Tooleybuc Bridge over Murray River".
- Ronald, R B (1960). The Riverina People and Properties.
Attribution
| Next crossing upstream | Murray River | Next crossing downstream |
| Nyah Bridge | Tooleybuc Bridge | Robinvale-Euston Bridge |