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Feel like a little drive in the country? My log-only cache at Middle Falbrook Bridge over Glennies Creek could be just the excuse you are looking for! You'll need to take a stroll onto the bridge for this cache, so you can admire the structure, there is also a viewing refuge on there. The road is fairly quiet but there are dwellings nearby. Please remember to BYO writing implement for log.
Some details about the bridge:
Owner: Local Government
Current Use:
Statement of significance: Completed in 1904, the Middle Falbrook bridge is a DeBurgh timber truss road bridge, and in 1998 was in good condition.
As a timber truss road bridge, it has many associational links with important historical events, trends, and people, including the expansion of the road network and economic activity throughout NSW, and Ernest DeBurgh, the designer of this type of truss.
DeBurgh trusses were fourth in the five stage design evolution of NSW timber truss road bridges. Designed by Public Works engineer Ernest M. DeBurgh, the DeBurgh truss is an adaptation of the American Pratt truss design. The DeBurgh truss is the first to use significant amounts of steel and iron, and did so in spite of its high cost and the government's historical preference for timber.
DeBurgh trusses were significant technical improvements over their predecessors. The Middle Falbrook bridge has piers made from Monier pipes filled with concrete, which is representative of the emerging concrete technology in bridge construction.
Middle Falbrook Bridge is located in the Hunter region, which has 15 historic bridges each constructed before 1905, and it gains heritage significance from its proximity to the high concentration of other historic bridges in the area.
In 1998 there were 10 surviving DeBurgh trusses in NSW of the 20 built, and 82 timber truss road bridges survive from the over 400 built.
The Middle Falbrook bridge is a representative example of DeBurgh timber truss road bridges, and is assessed as being State significant, primarily on the basis of its technical and historical significance.
Date Significance Updated 27 January 1999
Description
Designer: E M DeBurgh
Builder: Murphy & Taylor, Morpeth
Construction years: **** - 1904
Physical description: The bridge over Glennies Creek is a De Burgh type timber truss road bridge. It has two timber truss spans, each of 28.1m (92ft). There are single timber approach spans at each end giving the bridge an overall length of 75.4m (247ft).
The bridge super structure is supported by twin Monier concrete cylinders with metal bracing. The bridge provides a single lane carriage way with a minimum width of 4.6m. A timber post and rail guard rail extends the full length of the bridge.
Physical Condition and/or Archaeological Potential: Good
Date condition updated: 23 October 1998
History
Historical notes: Timber truss road bridges have played a significant role in the expansion and improvement of the NSW road network. Prior to the bridges being built, river crossings were often dangerous in times of rain, which caused bulk freight movement to be prohibitively expensive for most agricultural and mining produce. Only the high priced wool clip of the time was able to carry the costs and inconvenience imposed by the generally inadequate river crossings that often existed prior to the trusses construction. Timber truss bridges were preferred by the Public Works Department from the mid 19th to the early 20th century because they were relatively cheap to construct, and used mostly local materials. The financially troubled governments of the day applied pressure to the Public Works Department to produce as much road and bridge work for as little cost as possible, using local materials. This condition effectively prohibited the use of iron and steel, as these, prior to the construction of the steel works at Newcastle in the early 20th century, had to be imported from England.
Ernest DeBurgh, the designer of DeBurgh truss and other bridges, was a leading engineer with the Public Works Department, and a prominent figure in early 20th century NSW.
Timber truss bridges, and timber bridges generally were so common that NSW was known to travellers as the "timber bridge state".
Listings:
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register; Heritage Act - State Heritage Register; Register of the National Estate.
Assessment of Significance:
Historical Significance: Through the bridge's association with the expansion of the NSW road network, its ability to demonstrate historically important concepts such as the gradual acceptance of NSW people of American design ideas, and its association with Ernest DeBurgh, it has historical significance.
Aesthetic Significance: The bridge exhibits the technical excellence of its design, as all of the structural detail is clearly visible. In the context of its landscape it is visually attractive. As such, the bridge has aesthetic significance.
Social Significance: Timber truss bridges are prominent to road travellers, and NSW has in the past been referred to as the "timber truss bridge state". Through this, the complete set of bridges gain some social significance, as they could be said to be held in reasonable esteem by many travellers in NSW.
Integrity/Intactness: Intact
Representativenes: Representative of DeBurgh truss bridges
Rarity: Rare - only DeBurgh truss bridge with Monier concrete pipe piers.
Assessed Significance: State
References:
Fraser, D J 1985 Timber Bridges of New South Wales
Department of Main Roads, NSW 1987 Timber Truss Bridge Maintenance Handbook
RTA Bridge Number: 1784
Additional Hints
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