The Denison Bridge - Bathurst
Bathurst became and still is the “gateway to the west” by road and the Denison Bridge is an important element of that history.
The Denison Bridge that you see today sitting high above the Macquarie River in Bathurst, New South Wales is actually the second Denison Bridge and in excellent condition for a bridge that carried the Great Western Highway over the Macquarie River for over 120 years. The Denison Bridge is now a heritage-listed footbridge, These days it is used by people out on there daily walk with their families or a fantastic spot to walk your dog as there is a footpath that circuits around the Macquarie River. The Denison is one of my favourite places to visit with my dog as you get an amazing view looking up and down the river as well as the Bathurst Show Grounds with some of the historic buildings being recently painted so they look fresh and vibrant again.
The Denison Bridge that you see today was completed in 1870, replacing an earlier bridge that was built in 1856 and destroyed in 1867 floods. It was designed by Gustavus Alphonse Morrell and built from 1869 to 1870 by P. N. Russell & Co.
In the early 1990s a realignment of the Great Western Highway resulted in the Evans Bridge replacing the Denison Bridge, with the latter converted to pedestrian traffic only. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 1 August 2003, having earlier been listed on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate in 1978.
Nadine Travels West Image. Taken on 18 December 2021.
Denison Bridge Facts
It is documented as the fifth oldest metal truss bridge existing in Australia by the Engineering Heritage Committee in November 1994. The bridge is actual the second oldest metal truss bridge in New South Wales.
Is the oldest Pratt truss in New South Wales.
Is the oldest of the four colonial bridges of Bathurst.
The bridge structure, except for the deck is original.
The Denison Bridge is 151 years old.
Most of the angle irons and bars were specially rolled for the job at P. N. Russell & Co's Pyrmont Rolling Mills and at Bathurst's two iron foundries of that time, including the nearby Denison Foundry.
The Bridge is named after Governor Denison.
There are two makers plates identical to each other that are opposite one another on the bridge.
Nadine Travels West Image. Taken on 18 December 2021.
Sir William Thomas Denison Born: 3 May 1804
Death: 19 January1871
Governor of Van Diemen's Land from 1847 to 1855
Governor of New South Wales from 1855 to 1861
The Denison Bridge in Bathurst is named after Governor Denison.
Photo of myself on the Denison Bridge walking to the Christmas markets at the Bathurst Showgrounds.
Nadine Travels West Image. Taken on 18 December 2021.
Timeline:
1854: In February 1854 there was a public meeting in Bathurst for a bridge over the Macquarie River on or near the line of the Great West Road.
1854: On the 1 April 1854 the Government sent an offical from Sydney to Bathurst to select the site. It was also proposed to build the same type of Bridge that had just been completed in Yass, NSW.
1855: In January 1855 workers started driving piles.
1856: The first Denison Bridge was opened on New Year's Day 1856 by Governor Denison.
1867: The first Denison Bridge was washed away in the 1867 floods.
1867: Planning by William C Bennett for the new bridge had begun shortly after the first bridge was washed away.
1870: The second Denison Bridge was built by P.N. Russell & Co at a cost of 18,818 pounds.
1870: In early June the second Denison Bridge was opened by the Governor the Earl of Belmore by crossing the bridge with a horse and carriage.
1964-1965: Six piles were driven under the timber approach spans, 23 stringers were replaced, 6 round timber girders renewed, longitudinal sheeting replaced and deck bitumen sealed, timber decking replaced by high tensile bolts in three top chord joints, expansion bearings were repaired and one girder replaced. The deck was emulsion-sprayed and grit-covered.
1981: A concrete deck was laid.
Early 1990s: closed to vehicular traffic and adapted for use as a footbridge.
2020: The Denison Bridge turned 150 years old.
Sydney Morning Herald - 31 December 1855
Opening of the first Denison Bridge, Bathurst.
Sadly many parts of the bridge and signs have been vandalised.
Nadine Travels West Image. Taken on 18 December 2021.
Below you will see a number of photos and drawings of the Denison Bridge over the years.
Unsure of date.
Unsure of date.
Guessing this image was taken in the late 1970 to early 1980 by the Holden Kingswood sedan.
Photo dated as early 1990’s as the white truck has an early brown rego sticker on the window.
While searching for information on the Denison Bridge I came across a 52 page document to nominate the 1870 Denison Bridge Bathurst for a Historical Engineering Marker in November 1994. I have not seen any markers, plaques or signs on the bridge in reference to this document or the construction to the bridge.
Page 4 of the 1870 Denison Bridge Bathurst document.
Do you know where the sign is?
If you know where the sign is please comment below as I would like to find it. If the Denison Bridge was not approved for one do you believe it should have one?
As always please leave a comment below if I have any information incorrect so I can amend it or if there are any key factors I have missed that I should add to this blog post.