McFarlane Bridge
Coordinates29°27′54″S 153°11′48″E / 29.464956°S 153.196666°E / -29.464956; 153.196666
CarriesLawrence Road
CrossesSouth arm of the Clarence River
LocaleMaclean, New South Wales, Australia
Named forJohn McFarlane
OwnerTransport for NSW
Characteristics
DesignBeam bascule bridge with lifting span
MaterialTimber and wrought iron
Longest span20.3 metres (67 ft)
No. of spans17:
  • 1 x 20.3 metres (67 ft)
  • 16 x 13.7 metres (45 ft)
History
Engineering design byErnest de Burgh
Constructed byMountney and Company
Construction start1904 (1904)
Construction end1906 (1906)
Opened9 April 1906[1]
Location

The McFarlane Bridge is a road bridge that carries Lawrence Road across the south arm of the Clarence River at Maclean, New South Wales, Australia. The bridge connects the communities of Maclean and Woodford Island.

Description

The bridge has 16 timber beam spans of 13.7 metres (45 ft) and one wrought iron and timber lifting span of 20.3 metres (67 ft) supported by cast iron piers. The deck of the whole bridge is sawn hardwood. It was designed by Ernest de Burgh and constructed by Mountney and Company between 1904 and 1906.

The central bascule-type lifting span, notable for its cardioid counterweight track, became redundant and it was last opened for shipping in 1962.[2] The bridge was named in honour of John McFarlane, the Member for the Clarence.[1]

The history of the bridge was memorialised in a book The Centenary Of Mcfarlane Bridge Maclean 1906-2006 published by the Maclean District Historical Society.[3]

The bridge is an important link in the area carrying significant road traffic. As a number of components of the bridge require replacement, the major refurbishment work of the bridge was carried out from June 2012 to June 2013.[4]

Engineering heritage award

Historic Engineering Marker

The bridge received a Historic Engineering Marker from Engineers Australia as part of its Engineering Heritage Recognition Program.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "McFarlane Bridge, Clarence River, Maclean, 1906". Engineers Australia. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  2. ↑ "McFarlane Bridge". Tasmanian Timber Promotion Board. University of Tasmania. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  3. ↑ "The Centenary of Mcfarlane Bridge". Angus & Robertson. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  4. ↑ "McFarlane Bridge Project". Roads & Maritime Services. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  5. ↑ "McFarlane Bridge, Clarence River, Maclean, 1906-". Engineers Australia. Retrieved 3 May 2020.


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