On the 14th of May 1938, the Macksville Shire Council decided to build two bridges across Taylor’s Arm – one at Congarinni and the other at Wilson Road – thus dispensing with two punts. The Government made a commitment to cover 16,000 pounds of the cost of the bridge. It was estimated that the bridge would save council 200 pounds annually by the abolition of the punts.
On the 19th April 1940 the two bridges were officially opened to traffic. According to the Nambucca and Bellinger News “ it was a beautiful day with a large crowd assembled, and the proceedings were carried out with commendable smoothness, those present feeling happy in the knowledge that transport difficulties across the stream had now been solved satisfactorily for all time”
The ceremony to open the bridge took place beneath a canopy of flags in the middle of the bridge, with the official party consisting of minister for Local Government – Mr Spooner, representative from the company who built the bridge Mr C.W Kearns (Allen Taylor and Co.), Mrs C. Houley long time descendent of the first family to reside on Wilson Road in 1882, and the Shire President Mr C.J. Jarvis.
The ribbon was duly cut by Mrs C. Houley and Councillor C.J. Jarvis. The severing of the ribbon was a sign for vociferous jubilation which concluded with the national anthem played by the Macksville Band, which rendered lively tunes between speeches at both bridges.
New Bridge
Some 70 years on and a new bridge has been constructed and officially opened on 9th December 2000. This new bridge cost $ 3.8 million dollars involving bridge, and all associated roadworks and land purchases.
Total length of the new bridge is 132 metres with 4 spans of 33 m each. Girders were delivered from Yackandandah in Victoria by Road.
Bridge consists of 20 girders each weighing 42 tonnes, 209 tonnes of steel reinforcing, 3000 tonnes of concrete and 15 piles each driven to about a depth of 30m.
Funding for the project was 100 % Nambucca Shire Council.
Cache has been placed near the northern banks of the old bridge abutment. If you walk down to the River you can see the old sandbag embankment which is now a great spot to drop in a line and catch some fish.
Container is metallic bison tube.