Macquarie River Railway Bridge, Dubbo

The Macquarie River Railway Bridge is a three-span iron lattice structure that crosses the river with wrought iron girders and cast iron support columns. The bridge carries standard gauge railway tracks and displays the industrial construction methods typical of the late 1800s.

John Whitton designed this bridge in 1884, and it was constructed by Benjamin Barnes using ironwork supplied from England. The bridge was part of New South Wales' major railway expansion that connected remote areas of the state.

This bridge represents how railways once connected isolated towns and changed the way people traveled across the region. It stands as a reminder of the community's reliance on such infrastructure during the early development of rural New South Wales.

The bridge is best viewed from nearby roads or riverside pathways where you can see the full structure and its details. Since it remains an active railway line, visitors should view it from safe, accessible locations rather than attempting to access the tracks.

It is one of twelve similar iron lattice bridges built across New South Wales during the rapid railway development period from 1873 to 1893. This particular construction method combining cast iron piers with wrought iron girders became a standard approach for river crossings during that era.

Location: New South Wales

GPS coordinates: -32.24400,148.60000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:20