**** Lithgow to Oberon Road, McKanes Fall Lithgow 2790
Local Government Area
Lithgow City
Owner
Local Government
Current Use
Road bridge
Former Use
Road bridge
Statement of significance
Statement of significance
The McKanes Falls Bridge in Lithgow is of State significance. Completed in 1893, it is one of the seven McDonald timber truss road bridges remaining in New South Wales. Timber truss road bridges were extensively used in New South Wales because of the high quality of local hardwoods and the shortage of steel during the early decades of settlement of the state. The timber truss was highly developed for bridges in New South Wales, perhaps more so than anywhere else in the world at that time. The McDonald truss is a significant evolutionary link in the development of timber road bridges in New South Wales and has three standard span lengths, 65 ft (19.96m), 75 ft (22.86m) and 90 ft (27.43m). McKanes Falls Bridge is one of two with a 27.43m span and one of two in a double span configuration.
Date Significance Updated
02 April 2009
Description
Designer
John McDonald, NSW Engineer for Bridges
Builder
NSW Public Works
Construction years
1892 - 1893
Physical description
The bridge consists of two 90' (27.43m) truss spans supported at each end by sandstone masonry abutments. The centre pier was built as stone but replaced with a reinforced concrete pier in the 1980,s following flood damage. The bridge with a 4.57m (15') between kerbs at its narrowest. There is no footway. The deck is made up of lateral timber cross girders supporting longitudinal timber decking. The cross girders are bearing on the bottom chords of the trusses. The substructure consists of two sandstone abutments and a central concrete pier.
Original condition assessment: 'Generally good condition following major repairs carried out in the last few years.' (Last updated: 15/07/2002.)
2007-08 condition update: 'Fair.' (Last updated: 17/4/09.)
Modifications and dates
c1925 - brushbox decking laid
1934 - bridge screwed up
1941 - dismantling and erecting squared timber
1951 - 86 - repairs and maintenance
1986 - New reinforced concrete central pier replaced original stone pier after severe flooding.
1986+ A metal flashing has been placed over all top chords and principals to shed water. Regular maintenance by RTA.
Date condition updated
17 April 2009
History
Historical notes
The design of the McDonald Truss was greatly influenced by the needs of the time. During the period 1865-1885, the Public Works Department was attempting to tap the resources of inland Australia and to redirect the line of trade from Melbourne to Sydney. To achieve this most funds were directed at the railways. As more people were moving to the rural areas it was necessary to link farms and towns to nearby railheads, with consequent road and bridge requirements. The McDonald Truss was designed by John A McDonald M.I.C.E. and was the answer to the need for more bridges, the technical faults of the old PWD design and limited funds.
It is most probable that McKanes Falls, McKanes Crossing and McKanes Bridge are named after Archibald McKane. He was born in Edinburgh in 1807 and was trained as a joiner and ploughwright. He was convicted of cattle stealing in 1830 and transported to Australia for 7 years. He was sentenced to another 7 years for larceny in 1833. He was appointed as overseer of carpenters in the 1830s. He was involved in expeditions with Mitchell and was commended for his duties as a carpenter. He was granted his certificate of freedom in 1844.
The road on which the bridge sits was built in the late 1870s to connect Bowenfels and Hampton. With the increase in road use in the early 1890s due to tourism (Jenolan Caves) but mainly farm production, especially wool, the road was upgraded and the bridge was built in 1893.
Tenders were called to erect a bridge over Cox's River in September 1891 and was under construction by 1892. The bridge was constructed to shorten the distance for traffic going from Bowenfels to Lowther, Hampton and Jenolan Falls. The earlier route had run via Hartley.
Listings
Heritage Listing
Reference Number
Gazette Number
Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register
01473
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register
Assessment of Significance
Historical Significance
McDonald truss bridges have historical significance because timber truss bridges were developed and refined in Australia to achieve the highest level of timber bridge construction for the time of their design and the McDonald truss is an important recognisable design in the evolution of timber truss bridges in NSW. The bridge also has a historical link with the evolution of the local community. The probable association with Archibald McKane and his involvement with Mitchell's third expedition also lends some significance to the crossing itself.
McKanes bridge is a relic of the NSW government's policies of the late nineteenth century which focused on the provision of land areas to facilitate an increase in production and trade throughout the state.
Is associated with John A McDonald, designer of the McDonald Truss and a significant figure in the area of bridge design and construction in NSW.
Historical Association
****
Aesthetic/Technical Significance
McDonald truss bridges have aesthetic significance because they are evocative of Australian methods of bridge construction, in their materials, scale and configuration they reflect and express nineteenth century technologies and experiences and for the time of their design and construction they demonstrate the best quality design available. The dark green painting and the valley setting complement the surrounding rural environment.
McKanes Bridge is an excellent example of a twin span McDonald Truss type bridge
The scale of the structure, the natural timber and other materials allow the bridge to meld with the surrounding landscape.
Social Significance
McDonald truss bridges have social significance because their size and location contribute directly to the local area and they are a strong element in the local environment. McKanes Bridge is located in farming country and is isolated, with few residents nearby. For these reasons there is little contemporary community association. However, the bridge forms part of local school bus routes and consequently is well known to the children of the wider community.
The bridge has been an important feature of one of the old routes to the Jenolan caves tourist area since its construction in 1893.
Built to provide better access for traffic from Bowenfels to Lowther, Hampton and Jenolan Falls, it played a significant role for those people living, working and holidaying in the surrounding area.
Research Significance
McDonald truss bridges have technical/research significance because they exhibit advanced technical use of Australian hardwoods and economical bridge construction of the period.
The visually simple form helps to demonstrate itself in structural terms and can be easily interpreted by non technical observers.
The use of local hardwood and the dimensions in which they were used demonstrates the nature and availability of local timber at the time of the construction.
Rarity
One of six remaining McDonald truss bridges, one of two 90' span bridges. One of very few timber truss bridges remaining in the Lithgow area.
The only surviving example of a twin span McDonald Truss road bridge in NSW and one of only five surviving in NSW and still in use.
Representativenes
Representative example of a two span, 90' McDonald truss bridge. Representative of the first truss bridge design which can be considered uniquely Australian due to its local design and use of native timbers.
Is an example of the design which led to a rapid expansion in bridge construction throughout NSW and an excellent example of a twin span McDonald Truss in in good condition and easily accessible
Integrity/Intactness
Elements of truss true to original design although most or all of the timbers have been replaced as part of routine maintenance as with other parts of the bridge. The Central stone pier replaced with concrete pier.
Assessed Significance
State
References
Type
Author
Year
Title
Written
unknown
1939
A Survey of Bridge Building in Australia
Written
NSW Dept of Main Roads ( DMR )
1987
Timber Truss Bridge Maintenance Handbook
Written
Allan, Percy
1924
Highway Bridge Construction - The Practice in NSW
Written
Trueman, E. G.
1982
Timber Bridge Conservation in NSW
Written
Colin O'Connor
1985
Spanning Two Centuries
Written
Gutteridge Haskins & Davey (GHD) and Austral Archaeology
2002
McKanes Falls Bridge, Lithgow. Conservation Management Plan April
Written
unknown
1951
Main Roads Vol XVII, No. 1
Study details
Title
Year
Author
Inspected by
Guidelines used
Heritage Assessment and Conservation Management Plan McKanes Bridge
1998
RTA and Hughes Trueman Reinhold (Peter Seligman)
Yes
McDonald Truss Road Bridges in NSW
1998
NSW RTA and Hughes Trueman Reinhold
Yes
New Bridge over Bombala River at Bibbenluke - Heritage Significance Study
1996
NSW RTA and HTL Reinhold
Yes
New Bridge over Bombala River at Cunningham's Point - Heritage Significance Stud
1997
NSW RTA and HTL Reinhold
Yes
Custom fields
RTA Region
Western
Bridge Number
1302
CARMS File Number
General File: 258.62 Parkes Regional Bridge Maintenance File No: 258.B1302 Dubbo District Office Bridge File: B1302
Property Number
Bridge
Conservation Management Plan
Yes - Completed December 1998 - Hughes Trueman Reinhold - contact Dave Manchanayake, Western Region
Images
Provision of Curtilage Information - Bridge over Cox's River at McKanes Falls
Heritage and conservation register
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