American Bridges in New South Wales, 1870–1932

Abstract

New South Wales Government Railways and the Department of Public Works began with British technology, particularly for rail and road bridges such as the expensive iron lattice girders. Long-serving Engineers-in-Chief, John Whitton and W. C. Bennett, applied their authority to exclude contemporary American bridge technology. However, by 1890 the merits of American bridges were well known and had economic appeal for Government funding. The effect was that in 1894 there was an abrupt and complete change to American Pratt truss bridges, which became the standard for the next 50 years. The first uniform application to railways was for the new standard gauge North Coast Railway, 1911-1932. They are now an historic class of bridges of high heritage significance. For road bridges, American Howe timber trusses were dominant post-1894, and 29 are on the State Heritage Register. Also, steel Pratt truss road bridges from this period are still in-service. This paper details the change to American bridge technology.