Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge

The Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge is a steel truss structure that crosses the river in New South Wales and connects Brooklyn to Cogra Bay. The bridge comprises eight spans of varying lengths that together stretch approximately 887 meters across the water.

The first bridge opened in 1889 and gained attention for having the deepest foundation piers of any bridge in the world at that time. A new structure replaced the original one in 1946 and continues to carry traffic today.

The bridge represented a connection between distant regions and became a focal point in discussions about linking Australia's colonies through rail. People viewed it as a symbol of bringing the country together during a time of political change.

The bridge carries the Main North railway line and enables train service connecting several Australian states. Visitors can view and photograph the structure from various vantage points along the river.

Rather than being assembled on site, the steel structure was built in separate construction docks and then floated into place like enormous barges. This unconventional method allowed engineers to construct the intricate framework with considerable precision.