Janus: New South Wales. Photographs of Roads and Bridges. W.C. Bennett M. Inst. C.E., Commissioner and Engineer

RCS contains:
<-- See earlier
Y308698A	Norfolk Island: Outline of its history from 1788 to 1884, Sydney : Thomas Richards, Government Printer, 1885
Y3086A	The Burning of the Garden Palace, 1882
Y3086B	Photographs of the Dalwood Vineyards, near Branxton, New South Wales, Australia, 1886
Y3086C	Photographs - New South Wales, circa 1904
Y3086D	Government Railways of New South Wales rolling stock 1885
Y3086F	New South Wales. Photographs of Roads and Bridges. W.C. Bennett M. Inst. C.E., Commissioner and Engineer
Y3086H	Photographs of the National Park, 1888
Y3086I	Cataract Dam and Broughton's Pass Weir
Y3086J	Photographs - New South Wales, circa 1885
Y3086K	New South Wales, 1908
Y3086N	The University of Sydney, New South Wales: The Fisher Library, circa 1915
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New South Wales. Photographs of Roads and Bridges. W.C. Bennett M. Inst. C.E., Commissioner and Engineer

Title	New South Wales. Photographs of Roads and Bridges. W.C. Bennett M. Inst. C.E., Commissioner and Engineer
Reference	GBR/0115/Y3086F
Creator	Bennett, William Christopher, 1824-1899
Covering Dates	circa 1885
Extent and Medium	71 images; Prints in varying condition but all showing some degree of fading at the edges.
Repository	Cambridge University Library: Royal Commonwealth Society Library

Content and context

William Christopher Bennett (1824-1899), who was the fourth Commissioner for Roads from 1865-1889, and some of whose work this album illustrates, was made Engineer to the Department of Roads, which he helped form, in 1859. Under his direction the main roads of the colony were extended to nearly 6000 miles, plus 4000 miles of unsurfaced roads and 40 miles of bridgework.

An album containing mounted prints of various sizes showing views, roads, bridges and engineering construction work on the New South Wales Roads. The title is blocked in gold on the cover. All prints are captioned in neat printing, giving details of locations, and most of the bridges also have their technical dimensions noted, and in some cases the name of the engineer under whose supervision the work was done. The photographer is unknown.

Road building in New South Wales in the nineteenth century shows a history of steps forward followed by lapses back into inertia. Like the railways, the roads played a major part in the expansion and exploitation of the Colony's resources, but for some years little attempt was made to build lastingly for the future. In the early years lack of equipment, or trained surveyors, engineers and bridge-builders determined the slow progress made: roads were unsurfaced and little provision was made for maintenance or drainage, and were moreover made with the unwilling labour of convicts.

Governor Macquarie was perhaps the first official to make a serious attempt to provide New South Wales with adequate roads. In his second term of office, from 1810-1821, he caused 276 miles of roads to be built, and in 1814 sent William Cox to build a road through the Blue Mountains in the path of the explorers who first crossed the range in 1813. Cox and his team of convicts accomplished the feat of building 101 miles of road in six months.

In 1832, through the recommendation of the Surveyor-General Thomas Livingstone Mitchell (1792-1855), the Colony employed its first skilled bridge builder in David Lennox (1788-1873), who had been employed by Thomas Telford when in England. Mitchell had been commissioned by Governor Darling in 1827 to organise a systematic approach to road building, and he used Lennox to construct many of the bridges. After this start, however, Mitchell's retiring report in 1855 paints a dispiriting picture of the lack of response to his efforts: '[the roads which] might have still continued good, are in a state of dilapidation by no means extraordinary when it is for a moment considered that during the last twenty years many of them have been left to the mercy of the elements and the public... a public, which instead of approving, finds grounds for censure, even in the ruin which it itself creates'.

Access and Use

Please cite as Cambridge University Library: Royal Commonwealth Society Library, New South Wales. Photographs of Roads and Bridges. W.C. Bennett M. Inst. C.E., Commissioner and Engineer, Y3086F

Further information

For photographs of the railways in New South Wales see Y3086E.

Indexed

This collection level description was entered by KS using information from the original typescript catalogue.

This collection is available on microfiche: Australasia, fiche numbers 37-39.

Index Terms

Australia

New South Wales

Oceania

Bennett, William Christopher (1824-1899)

RCS/Y3086F contains:

Lansdowne Bridge. 244 x 255 mm. A three-quarter front view of the fine stone bridge with one arch of 150 foot span. Designed and built by David Lennox in 1834-5, it was opened to traffic in 1836, and is still in use. The bridge crosses Prospect Creek near Liverpool. Sir T.L. Mitchell's name is printed at the corner of the page.
Fair condition, some yellowing..

Views on Mount Victoria Pass, Western Road. 342 x 255 mm. A view, looking down, of the road which winds up along the side of a wooded hill. Mount Victoria (3424 feet) lies at the far side of the Blue Mountains from Sydney and is near the start of the descent towards Lithgow.
Poor condition with dirt marks and yellowing..

Views on Mount Victoria Pass, Western Road. 342 x 262 mm. A view showing the road between a cutting through rock about 10 feet high on either side, with a figure standing in the background. Sir T.L. Mitchell's name is printed at the corner of the page.
Fair condition, some yellowing..

Lansdowne Bridge. 236 x 207 mm. A view of Lennox's bridge from the water, showing its fine proportions. Sir T.L. Mitchell's name is printed at the corner of the page.
Poor condition, with yellowing and dirt stains..

Weatherboard Falls, Blue Mountains, Western Road. 193 x 237 mm. A view of the drop of the falls, with heavily wooded hills behind. Also known as the Wentworth Falls, water drops 614 feet into Jamieson Valley.
Fair condition, some yellowing..

Mount Victoria Pass, Western Road. 346 x 265 mm. A view showing a cutting in the road. A figure is standing on the road between the rock walls on either side. Sir T.L. Mitchell's name is printed in the corner of the page.
Fair condition, some yellowing..

Views on Mount Victoria Pass, Western Road. 346 x 250 mm. A view looking down on the road from above, with wooden fencing on either side of the road which curves up and around an outcrop of rock.
Fair condition, some fading and yellowing along two edges..

Views on Mount Victoria Pass, Western Road. 346 x 231 mm. A view from a rock above the road, showing the curve of the road, fenced on either side, between rocky, wooded hillside. Sir T.L. Mitchell's name is printed at foot of page.
Fair condition, some fading and yellowing along two corners..

Union Bridge, Murray River, Albury. 275 x 215 mm. A view of the bridge from the river bank, with three spans of 80 feet built of iron girders, resting on two wooden supporting structures. With the 17 approach spans, not visible in the picture, the total length of the bridge was 630 feet.
Fair condition, some yellowing..

Punt and Pontoon Bridge. 245 x 195 mm. A scene on the Murray River near Echuca, with the punt ferry in the foreground with men, carts and horses on board. In the background a small pontoon bridge crosses the river.
Fair condition, some yellowing..

Union Bridge, Murray River, Albury. 92 x 55 mm. A view of the bridge from the river bank.
Poor condition, fading and with some tears..

Deniliquin Bridge, Edwards River. 205 x 153 mm. A view of the bridge from the bank, constructed of girders on wooden supports. With 4 spans of 80 feet and a total length of 560 feet.
Fair condition, slight yellowing..

Hay Bridge, Murrumbidgee River. 270 x 199 mm. The information given states '2 spans of 60 feet fixed, 2 swing spans of 60 feet, 19 approach spans, total length 732 feet'. A view from the side showing the centre section of the bridge constructed of iron girders on iron supports.
Poor condition, with yellowing and some staining..

Hay Bridge. 270 x 200 mm. A view looking along the length of the bridge, from slightly below and to one side, and showing the use of wooden supports on the approach spans.
Fair condition, but considerable yellowing..

Yass Bridge, Yass River. 255 x 241 mm. Information given states '1 span of 180 feet, 2 approach spans, Total length 240 feet'. A view from the river bank showing the white lattice bridge, with two iron supports on the river bank.
Good condition, apart from slight fading in from edges..

Yass Bridge, Yass River. 335 x 255 mm. A view looking down on to and across the bridge, showing the wooden roadway and the small township on the far side of the river. The town of Yass lies west of Goulbourn.
Good condition, apart from slight fading in at edges..

Jugiong Bridge. 270 x 225 mm. Information given states '3 spans of 90 feet each on iron cylinders, with 7 approach spans. Total length 480 feet'. A view from one side, and from slightly above the bridge, showing the wooden roadway and superstructure resting on iron girders and supports. With various figures standing in the foreground.
Good condition apart from some yellowing and fading in from edges with black marks at corner of print..

Tumut Bridge. 198 x 146 mm. Information given states '2 spans of 75 feet each with 9 approach spans. Total length 340 feet'. A view from along the river bank towards the bridge, a wooden superstructure resting on wooden supports.
Good condition, some yellowing..

Gundagai Bridge, Murrumbidgee River. 199 x 146 mm. Information given states '3 spans of 100 feet each, piers of Fitzroy (N.S.W.) iron, with 25 approach spans. Total length 1050 feet'. A view from one side along the bridge which crosses the river, here seen in spate. The main section is an all-metal construction, changing to wooden supports on the far side of the river.
Fair condition, some fading at right hand side..

Bombola Bridge. 145 x 95 mm. Information given states '2 spans of 100 feet with 2 approach spans, total length 270 feet'. A view from the river bank showing a bridge similar in design to Tumut Bridge, with wooden superstructure and supports.
Fair condition, but some yellowing..

Warri Bridge, Shoalhaven River. 235 x 186 mm. Information states '4 spans of 90 feet each, 1 of 65 feet, with 1 approach span. Total length 455 feet'. A view from the side of the bridge, a small, all-wooden construction.
Fair condition, apart from fading in from left hand edge..

Warri Bridge. 233 x 184 mm. A view from close-up and underneath the bridge, showing the underside of the planking and the way the supports are joined to the superstructure.
Poor condition, fading at right hand side..

Warri Bridge. 234 x 185 mm. A side-on view of the bridge from a distance.
Poor condition, considerable fading and yellowing..

Views of Fern-Tree Gully, Clyde Road. 183 x 228 mm. A view down the Clyde Road, with woods and ferns on either side. With two men and a horse on the road.
Poor condition, yellowing and fading..

Views of Fern-Tree Gully, Clyde Road. 182 x 229 mm. A close-up view of various types of ferns.
Poor condition, fading in from two corners..

Molonglo Bridge, Molonglo River. 232 x 183 mm. Information given states '3 spans of 75 feet each with 2 approach spans, total length 300 feet'. A side view of the bridge across a small river, with wooden supports and superstructure.
Fair condition, some yellowing..

Queanbeyan Bridge, Queanbeyan River. 232 x 183 mm. Information given states '(New superstructure on old piers), 3 spans 75 feet each, 2 spans 60 feet, total length 345 feet'. A view showing the bridge beyond a curve in the river, with figures in front of the bridge which is a wooden superstructure on wooden supports.
Poor condition, yellowing and some fading..

Picton Bridge, Main Southern Road. 346 x 250 mm. Information given states 'Stone abutment, 2 spans 55 feet each, total length 110 feet'. A side view of the wooden bridge, on wooden supports, with the abutment visible below the piers. A mill of some kind is visible behind the bridge.
Good condition, some fading along two edges..

Araluen Valley, Goldfield. 233 x 191 mm. A view of the valley from a hillside, showing the river flowing through with workings on its banks. Araluen goldfield was discovered in 1851 but the main alluvial rush was from 1868-72. With the introduction of dredging in 1899 Araluen became the State's main source of dredged gold.
Poor condition, considerable yellowing and fading..

Denison Bridge, Macquarie River, Bathurst. 534 x 174 mm. 2 joined prints. Information given states '3 spans of 110 feet each, 6 approach spans, total length 510 feet'. A side view from the river bank, showing the whole length of the bridge across the river. The bridge is constructed of iron girders, with cylindrical iron supporting piers.
Fair condition, but considerable yellowing..

Denison Bridge. 328 x 192 mm. A view from the road, looking down the length of the bridge, and showing the girders of the superstructure in detail.
Good condition, apart from fading along one edge..

Denison Bridge. 337 x 285 mm. A view from the riverbank, taken close to a pier, and showing the outside edge of the superstructure.
Fair condition, yellowing and fading along one edge..

Rankin Bridge, Macquarie River, Bathurst. 275 x 226 mm. Information given states '2 spans of 90 ft each, 2 of 65 ft and [blank] approach spans, total length 665 ft'. A slightly blurred print showing the bridge from a point away from the river. The wooden bridge crosses two tributaries of the river, with approach spans joining the two sections of the bridge.
Poor condition, considerable fading in from one corner..

Wellington Bridge, Macquarie River, Wellington. 285 x 215 mm. Information given states '4 spans of 80 feet each with 9 approach spans, total length 590 feet'. A view of the bridge from the river bank, with the structure partially obscured by trees. A wooden superstructure with wooden piers.
Good condition, apart from fading along one edge..

Dubbo Bridge, Macquarie River, Dubbo. 287 x 215 mm. Information given states '3 spans of 80 feet each with 5 approach spans, total length 390 feet'. A view of the bridge partially obscured by trees, from the river bank. With a figure reclining on the bank in the foreground. The bridge is a wooden structure with wooden supporting piers.
Good condition, apart from fading along two edges..

Dubbo Bridge. 280 x 221 mm. A view from slightly to one side of the bridge, showing the approach road and supporting piers.
Good condition, apart from some yellowing, and fading along one edge..

Cowra Bridge, Lachlan River, Cowra. 280 x 104 mm. 2 prints joined. Information given states '3 spans of 130 feet each, (McCallum Truss), 3 of 75 feet with {blank] approach spans. Total length 700 feet'. A view from the roadway to one side of the bridge, showing wooden superstructure and supporting piers.
Fair condition, slight fading in at one edge..

Cowra Bridge. 158 x 108 mm. A side view of the bridge, looking along the almost dry river bed.
Fair condition, but yellowing and slight staining..

Slasher's-Flat Bridge, Cudgegong River. 538 x 192 mm. 3 prints joined. Information given states '1 span of 75 feet, 9 approach spans, total length 350 feet'. A panoramic side view of the bridge over an almost dry river, with wooden superstructure and wooden supporting piers.
Poor condition, with some fading and dirt stains..

Slasher's-Flat Bridge. 146 x 96 mm. A view taken near to the side of the bridge and looking along it.
Good condition apart from some yellowing..

Mudgee Bridge, Gudgegong [probably Cudgegong] River. 536 x 195 mm. 3 prints joined. Information given states '2 spans of 80 feet each on iron cylinders'. A panoramic side view of the bridge, with horses and carts loaded with water barrels, and riders and pedestrians on the approach to the bridge, a wooden structure resting on a single pair of iron piers.
Good condition, apart from fading in at two edges..

Mudgee Bridge. 233 x 175 mm. A side view of the bridge, a wooden structure resting on a single pair of iron piers.
Poor condition, considerable fading and yellowing..

Forbes Bridge, Lachlan River (in flood). 148 x 100 mm. Information given states '3 spans of 68 feet each with 7 approach spans, total length 420 feet'. A side view of the bridge, a wooden structure with wooden supports, with the river reaching high up the piers and overflowing its banks.
Fair condition, apart from considerable yellowing..

Forbes Bridge, Lachlan River. 93 x 58 mm. A side view of the bridge, a wooden structure with wooden supports, with the river level very low.
Fair condition apart from yellowing..

Tamworth Bridge, Peel River. 257 x 208 mm. Information given states '2 spans of 60 feet each, laminated arches, 3 approach spans, total length 210 feet'. A view from the river bank showing the bridge, with 2 laminated arches and wooden supporting piers. Wooden laminated arches were a development used in the railway bridges from the early 1860s and consisted of curved sections of timber bolted together.
Poor condition, fading at one edge, and some staining..

Moonbi Pass, near Tamworth. 257 x 208 mm. A view from the hillside, looking down on the pass, with the road driven through and wooded hills on either side.
Poor condition, with fading at one side..

Bendemeer Bridge, Macdonald River. 257 x 168 mm. Information given states '1 span of 100 feet, 2 of 90 feet, laminated arches, 2 approach spans, total length 340 feet'. A side view from the river bank of the bridge, resting on wooden piers and with 3 laminated wooden arches.
Poor condition, considerable fading and yellowing in from edges..

Bendemeer Bridge, Macdonald River. 196 x 147 mm. A view of the bridge showing the approach spans.
Poor condition, fading and yellowing..

Casino Bridge (Stone Pier). 148 x 128 mm. An oval print of a pier under construction, with workers standing on the pier and showing pulleys, ropes and a plank bridge to the bank.
Poor condition, considerable yellowing and some dirt marks..

Yarrowford Bridge, on the road from Glen Innes to Tentorfield. 280 x 220 mm. Information given states '2 spans of 75 feet each with 1 approach span, total length 180 feet'. A side view of the bridge from the river bank, with riders and pedestrians on the bridge. A wooden superstructure with wooden piers.
Poor condition, considerable yellowing and slight fading..

Casino Bridge, Richmond River. 220 x 183 mm. Information given states '2 spans of 140 feet each (McCallum Truss), stone piers, 4 approach spans, total length 410 feet'. A view of the completed bridge from the river bank, with one large central stone pier, and a wooden superstructure.
Fair condition, apart from fading along one edge..

Casino Bridge (during construction). 170 x 120 mm. A side view of the bridge, fairly near completion, but with parts of the superstructure unfinished.
Poor condition, faded and dirty with two small tears..

Casino Bridge (in half flood). 210 x 147 mm. A side view of the completed bridge with the river in full spate.
Fair condition apart from considerable yellowing..

Wollondilly Bridge, near Goulbourn. 280 x 220 mm. Information given states '1 span of 90 feet, 2 spans 65 feet each, 6 approach spans, total length 325 feet'. A view from the river bank of the bridge, with wooden superstructure and wooden piers.
Poor condition, dirty, faded and with some tears..

Ford and Approach, Patterson River. 191 x 148 mm. A riverside view, with a dirt road leading down into the river, and farms in the distance.
Fair condition, fading along one edge..

Bush Road, Patterson District. 203 x 150 mm. A view along a fenced, unsurfaced road in lightly wooded country.
Fair condition, fading along one edge..

Bush Road, Patterson District. 153 x 196 mm. A view of an unfenced, unsurfaced road, through woodland, with cleared trees and stumps by the side of the road.
Fair condition, fading along two edges..

Punt at Patterson. 203 x 151 mm. A riverside scene, with a pole-ferry on the near bank. On the horizon can be seen two cabins - a completed building with a bark roof and another cabin still being built.
Fair condition, fading along two edges..

Urara Bridge, Newton Boyd Road. 278 x 185 mm. Information given states '2 spans of 125 feet each, 4 approach spans, total length 390 feet'. A side view of an attractive lattice bridge over a gully or dry riverbed. Constructed in iron with iron supporting piers.
Good condition, apart from fading along two edges..

Urara Bridge. 193 x 247 mm. A view of a section of the bridge from underneath, showing one of the outer supporting piers, composed of two joined iron cylinders, and set into the rock face at the edge of the gully. These lattice bridges started to appear on the railways in the early 1870's.
Good condition, apart from fading at two edges..

Nimboy Bridge, Newton Boyd Road. 260 x 190 mm. Information given states '3 spans of 150 feet each (iron), 4 spans of 60 feet each (timber), with two thirty feet approach spans, total length 750 feet'. A side view from above looking down on the bridge, with bark roofed cabins on the near river bank. A bridge of similar design to Urara bridge, although longer and with small iron arches above the roadway across the width of the bridge.
Fair condition, fading in from one edge..

Nimboy Bridge, Newton Boyd Road. 247 x 186 mm. A close-up view along the bridge, showing the details of the supporting piers, which are of similar design to those of Urara bridge.
Fair condition, fading along one side..

Nimboy Bridge, Newton Boyd Road. 240 x 170 mm. A view looking down on and along the length of the bridge.
Poor condition, considerable fading in from two edges..

Nimboy Bridge (Shewing made of launching girders). 154 x 95 mm. An interesting photograph of the bridge under construction, with the two spans nearest the camera not in position, and scaffolding around parts of the bridge.
Fair condition, but considerable yellowing..

Urara Bridge. 157 x 96 mm. A view looking along Urara bridge.
Fair condition, but considerable yellowing..

Tunnel through Basalt, Newton Boyd Road. 278 x 180 mm. A view along the Newton Boyd Road, where the road goes through a tunnel carved from solid rock. Photograph probably by J.W. Lindt.
Creator: Lindt, John William, 1845-1926, photographer ?.
Poor condition, considerable fading along two edges..

Tunnel through Basalt, Newton Boyd Road. 190 x 245 mm. A view of the same tunnel, but taken from inside and looking out along the road which is perched on steep rocky hillside. With a wagon and horses on the road. Photograph probably by J.W. Lindt.
Creator: Lindt, John William, 1845-1926, photographer ?.
Good condition, apart from fading in along two edges..

View on Newton Boyd Road. 190 x 249 mm. A landscape picture, showing a creek at the left, with light woods on its banks and a mountain in the distance. The fencing on the Newton Boyd road can be discerned behind trees in the middle distance. Photograph probably by J.W. Lindt.
Creator: Lindt, John William, 1845-1926, photographer ?.
Good condition, slight fading along one edge..

View on Newton Boyd Road (showing tunnel). 247 x 190 mm. A view looking down towards a river, with the unsurfaced road in the foreground following the course of the river, and heavily wooded hills rising on either side. Photograph probably by J.W. Lindt.
Creator: Lindt, John William, 1845-1926, photographer ?.
Fair condition, but fading and yellowing along two edges..

View on Newton Boyd Road. 245 x 191 mm. A view by the side of the road, showing the river, or a pond, with a cliff and woods behind. Photograph probably by J.W. Lindt.
Creator: Lindt, John William, 1845-1926, photographer ?.
Fair condition, fading and yellowing along two edges..

Beam Bridge over the Wollondilly River, near Goulbourn. 342 x 280 mm. A side view of the long wooden bridge with supporting piers composed of closely spaced wooden beams. No water can be seen in the river. 'H. Weaver, Engineer' printed at corner of page.
Poor condition, fading and dirt marks..