Lachlan River railway bridge, Cowra

The Lachlan River Railway Bridge is a three-span iron lattice structure crossing the Lachlan River in Cowra. The bridge features a geometric open framework typical of late 1800s railway engineering, with triangular bracing visible along its length.

Engineer John Whitton designed the bridge, which was completed between 1886 and 1887 by Fishburn & Co during a major railway expansion in New South Wales. It was part of the growing network that connected different parts of the colony by rail.

The bridge holds meaning for local residents as a symbol of Cowra's railway heritage and serves as a gathering point for those interested in transport history. Visitors can learn how rail travel once shaped the region's development and connections.

The bridge is accessible from Cowra Railway Station and can be reached on foot from the town center. Visiting during daylight hours allows you to see the iron structure and river setting clearly from nearby pathways.

While the bridge was originally built with cast iron piers, these were later replaced with concrete supports to improve durability and safety. This change reflects how engineers modified 19th-century structures to keep them functioning safely over time.