Bendemeer Bridge - Historic Engineering Marker #81 Bendemeer, New South Wales, Australia
By Team MavEtJu on 11-Oct-15. Waypoint GA7562

Bendemeer Bridge - Historic Engineering Marker #81

Completed in 1905, it is one of the first examples of the Dare truss designed by H H Dare in 1903 and placed in service from about 1904 until at least 1912. This type was a composite Howe truss bridge with timber upper chords and compression diagonals, a metal lower chord and metal tension rods for the verticals. It was designed for spans of 22.4m and 31.7m. The Bendemeer Bridge is of considerable age for a timber bridge; The span is also considerable for a timber truss bridge. The bridge is thus of considerable technological significance.

The bridge carries a 52m roadway and has spans of 9m, 10.6m, 10.6m, 10.5m, 31.6m, 9.3m and 9.2m. The six approach spans are timber girders. The main span is a half through composite truss of the Dare type. The main piers are concrete.

The contents of the plaque:

Public Works engineer Harvey Dare designed this composite steel and timber truss bridge. It was constructed by promlnent bridge builder W F Oakes and opened on 29 September 1905. The truss type, now known as a Dare truss, was the zenith of timber truss development, being technically superior to previous types. The bridge was in service for the New England Highway for 80 years before being bypassed in 1985.
THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA, TAMWORTH REGIONAL COUNCIL, COMMUNITY OF BENDEMEER 2005

When logging this virtual, please add a photo of yourself or your GPSr at the plaque.

For more information, please see the nomination PDF at the Heritage Register at the Engineers Australia website: Nomination and Report