Murrumbidgee River railway bridge, Narrandera, Heritage railway bridge in Narrandera, Australia
The Murrumbidgee River railway bridge is an iron structure spanning about 48 meters (160 feet) across the river, connecting Narrandera to Gillenbah with two wrought iron lattice spans. The bridge sits at a crosspoint where the landscape meets the water, with the river flowing beneath its framework of crisscrossing metal beams.
Engineer John Whitton designed the bridge in 1884, with Halliday & Owen constructing it using ironwork from the English firm Westwood Baillie. It operated as part of the Tocumwal railway line until the line closed in 1988.
The bridge linked rural communities to larger towns, carrying people and goods for decades and shaping how settlements developed along the rail corridor. It represents how railways once served as the lifeblood of regional transport in New South Wales.
Access to the bridge is restricted as it no longer operates as part of the rail network, but the structure remains visible from the surrounding area. Daytime visits offer better views to examine the iron lattice work and understand the engineering details.
The bridge demonstrates the shift from locally sourced timber to imported cast iron in Australian railway construction during the 1880s. This change in materials reflects how Australian engineering became increasingly shaped by British industrial methods and expertise.
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