|
---
|
Adelaide River Railway Bridge
| Source: |
Go to the Register of the National Estate for more information. |
| Identifier: |
52 |
| Location: |
Stuart Hwy, Adelaide River |
Local
Government: |
Unicorporated NT |
| State: |
NT |
| Country: |
Australia |
Statement of
Significance: |
The bridge is historically significant for its association with the North Australian Railway which brought rail transport to the Northern Territory late last century (Criterion A.4).
A large metal bridge of the period, the structure reflects technical accomplishment and achievement particularly in view of its remote location (Criterion F.1).
The bridge is a notable feature of the Adelaide River landscape (Criterion E.1). |
| Description: |
The railway bridge is a steel lattice girder bridge, 155m long, approximately 10m wide, spanning the Adelaide River. The bridge carries the railway line of the former North Australian Railway (NAR), on wooden sleepers. There is also wooden decking for road traffic which formerly used the bridge in times of flood (this is now obsolete since the opening of a high level road bridge in 1980).
The bridge is built in five 31m spans, on transoms supported by four pairs of cylindrical steel piers. The transoms carry the cast imprint Lanarkshire Steel Company Ltd. Scotland.
The bridge components were manufactured in Scotland and erected in 1888 during construction of the NAR; the bridge was opened the following year. The bridge was used by rail traffic until the NAR closed in 1976.
It is probably one of the largest single extant features of the NAR system, and is one of three large metal bridges built in the Northern Territory as part of the NAR. The bridge is one of thirteen similar bridges built in Australia between 1865 and 1889 but few of the others were built in such a remote location.
Being of substantial length and scale, and constructed of steel and timber according to late nineteenth century design, the bridge is a major feature of the landscape at Adelaide River.
SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATIONS; SIGNIFICANT DATES
1888-89. |
|
---
|
