Dare Truss Bridges

The final type of timber truss bridges are the Dare truss bridges. In 1903, Harvey Dare took the Allan truss design and updated it to include a steel bottom chord like the de Burgh truss but tweaked it to eliminate the pins of de Burgh's design. The result stronger and maintenance was easier. Dare trusses are pretty much an Allan truss with a steel bottom chord and from a distance, look exactly the same. Dare trusses were built from 1905 to 1936 with 44 built in this period.

Statistics
Number built:    44
Number remaining:    13
Number to be preserved:    9

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This bridge was the first Dare type truss to be built. It was constructed in 1905 over the Macdonald River in Bendemeer and carried the New England Highway till a bypass was built in the 1980s. The bridge has been preserved as a pedestrian bridge. I passed through Bendemeer after sunset so my photos were taken using long exposures with some lit with a torch.

View of the bridge from the upstream north side.

View from downstream north side

View of the original deck.

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Briner Bridge was constructed in 1908 over the Coldstream River. It is located on Coldstream Tce, east of Ulmarra and about 23 east of Grafton. This bridge has had the sloped weather shielding installed on all parts of the truss. This detracts from its looks a bit. However, the day I was here I had perfect weather and light angles for photography of this bridge! The bridge is pretty much original with the rattly, clanking deck that makes driving over it much fun for a bridge enthusiast. Update February 2021: This bridge is undergoing a major refurbishment with a temporary bailey bridge constructed alongside to carry traffic during the refurbishment.

View of the bridge from the south west side.

View from the west end.

Detail of the truss and weather shielding..

View from the south west side.

View from the west end.

View of the deck. This bridge still has the original style deck planking.

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This bridge is located on Putty Road, just north of the locality of Bulga. It is a two span bridge crossing Wollombi Brook and was built in 1912. It has the longest truss spans of a Dare truss of 31.9 metres (105 feet). The bridge has had heavy maintenance carried out which included placing new bitumen on the deck and repainting. The bridge looks good as a result especially as it does not have weather shielding installed. This bridge was not going to be preserved but has recently (2020) been added to the list of bridges to be preserved.

View of the bridge from the north east side.

View from the east end.

Closer view from the north east side.

Close view of one of the trusses.

Detail of the bottom chord. The outer rail is used to suspend maintenance gantries.

View from the east end. The bridge has quite a hump which makes it difficult to see traffic coming the other way.

View of the bridge with approaches from the east side.

View of the deck and trusses.

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Cameron Bridge is a single span bridge located on the road to Upper Rouchel (Rouchel Road) about 22km east of Aberdeen. It crosses Rouchel Brook and was built in 1930. This bridge is a council owned bridge, I am not sure if it is going to be preserved. It is completely original and was built with concrete piers. Update February 2021: This bridge is going to be replaced. It has had a 12 ton load limit applied and a temporary low level bridge has been constructed alongside it for heavy vehicles.

View of the bridge from the north east side.

View from the east end.

View of the deck and trusses.

Detail of the steel bottom chord.

Information plaque.

Side view of the truss and the river.

View of the underside showing the concrete piers.

View of the riveted bottom chord.

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This bridge crosses Leycester Creek on Union Street in Lismore. It is a two span bridge built in 1908. The bridge replaced an Old PWD truss at the same site and reused the centre iron pier. The bridge is the only timber truss bridge with a two lane deck. There is a footpath on either side of the bridge with curved sway braces to clear it. This gives the bridge quite a different appearance from the side. This bridge is going to be preserved. Update February 2021: This bridge has undergone major maintenance which included the installation of new railings. Unfortunately, the bridge has been painted white.

View of the bridge from the east side.

View from the east on the footpath. The curved sway braces are visible in this view.

View from the east end showing the two lane deck.

View of the trusses.

Nearly side on view.

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Coonamit Bridge is a two span bridge was built in 1929 over the Wakool River. It is located on Moulamein Road about 30km north of Swan Hill. It is quite interesting as it is not on the list of bridges to be preserved but it has been rebuilt from the ground up. Almost everything was replaced. About the only parts reused from the original bridge are the steel bottom chords and the iron footings. The new main bridge piers are steel, while the approach span piers are timer. The result is a mix of modern bridge with old timber truss!

View of the bridge from the west side.

View from the west end with sign.

View from the west end showing the concrete approach span decks and the stress laminated truss deck.

Side view of the bridge and Wakool River.

View of the bridge showing the steel main piers and the timber approach piers.

Detail of the riveted steel bottom chord and the maintenance gantry rail.

Before the rebuilt, the trusses had weather shielding. This has not been reinstalled.

Close view from the west end showing the concrete approach decks.

Underside view of the truss showing the stress laminated timber deck.

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This bridge was constructed in 1906 over the Williams River. It is located on Stroud Hill Road on the north east edge of Dungog. This bridge is mostly original and is not going to be preserved. It is located next to a small park.

View of the bridge from the south west side.

View of the deck and trusses from the north end.

View from the north end from the pedestrian alcove.

Close view from the south side.

View of the bridge from the north end.

View showing the original railing and the pedestrian alcove.

Detail of the truss.

View of the whole bridge from the park.

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Gee Gee Bridge is located on the Swan Hill - Barham Road, 36km east of Swan Hill in a beautiful, peaceful area. The single span bridge crosses the Wakool River and was built in 1929. The bridge has undergone maintenance recently which included repainting the bridge in white - it would be nice if not all the truss bridges were painted in this colour. Update February 2021: This bridge has been bypassed with a new bridge constructed just to the west of the old bridge. Unsure if the old bridge has been demolished yet. Update May 2022: The old bridge has been demolished.

View of the bridge from the north east side.

View from the north end.

View from the south east side.

Detail of the bottom chord.

View of the bridge deck and trusses.

Closer view from the north east side.

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This bridge is located on Davis Creek Road, about 2km east of Upper Rouchel. This bridge was likely built around the same time as the nearby Cameron Bridge and it crosses the same waterway. Junction Bridge has the same type of concrete piers, but it has low profile trusses. It is unique in that it has crosswise planks on the deck. This bridge will be preserved.

View of the bridge from the hill the road crosses between the bridge and Upper Rouchel.

View from the north side.

View from the north end.

Mirror side view.

Detail of the steel bottom chord and the cross beams.

View of the low profile truss.

View of the bridge and signage.

Closer view from the north side.

View of the entire bridge and landscape.

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Korns Crossing is a single span bridge located about 8km west of Murwillumbah on the Nerang-Murwillumbah Road. The bridge was built in 1916 and crosses Rous River. It has been modified over the years with the addition of weather shielding and new railing. Korns Crossing Bridge is not going to be preserved.

View of the bridge from the east side.

View from the West end.

View from the west side.

Closer view from the east side showing the double pier..

View of the deck and truss.

Side view of the truss and river.

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This bridge is located on Clarence Way, about 12km south of Bruxner Highway near Tabulam. It is a single span bridge over an unnamed waterway. The bridge was closed to all traffic in March 2014 due to its poor condition. It is unlikely to be opened before a new bridge is built. This bridge is surrounded by dense vegetation and is difficult to photograph. Update February 2021: This bridge was demolished and replaced in 2016.

View of (some of) the bridge from the north side.

View from the north end.

View from the north end showing the blockade.

View of the bottom chord and tension rods with weeds.

View of the truss.

View of the deck and trusses.

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New Buildings Bridge is a three span truss built in 1921 over the Towamba River. It is located on New Buildings Road at the locality of New Buildings, about 38km west of Pambula. It was constructed using parts recovered from the original Towamba Bridge built in 1911. This bridge was located several kilometres downstream and was washed away in a flood in 1919. It was replaced with a low level bridge and New Buildings Bridge was constructed as a high level bridge. New Buildings Bridge is completely original and will be preserved. It is the only surviving three span Dare truss.

View of the bridge from the west side.

View from the west end.

View from west side of the river bed.

Underside view.

Closer view from the west side.

Close up of one of the centre truss.

View of the deck and trusses.

View of the truss and Towamba River.

View of one of the piers.

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This two span bridge was built in 1916 over the Macquarie River. It is located on Rawsonville Bridge Road just north of Mitchell Highway, about 15km east of Dubbo. It features concrete piers. Rawsonville Bridge is going to be preserved. Update February 2021: This bridge is no longer going to be preserved and will eventually be demolished and replaced.

View of the bridge from the north side.

View from the north end.

View from river bank on the north side.

View of the pedestrian alcove. Not all timber truss bridges have these.

The alcoves give good vantage points to photograph the outside of the truss.

Close view from the north side.

The iron parts are from England as very little iron or steel was made in Australia at the time.

View from the north end.

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Scabbing Flat Bridge is a two span truss over the Macquarie River. It is located on Arthurville Road about 4km south of Geurie. It has iron piers and was constructed in 1911. It has not been rebuilt or upgraded and is going to be preserved.

View of the bridge from the south west side.

View from the south end.

Closer view from the south west side.

Many of the truss bridges have these signs.

Side view of the bridge and Macquarie River.

Close view from the south west side.

View of the bottom chord and cross beams.

View of the truss.

View from the south end.

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Sportsmans Creek Bridge is a two span truss located on Bridge Street on the south side of Lawrence, about 30km north of Grafton. It crosses Sprotmans Creek at the same location as a former Old PWD bride, and the central iron pier was reused. This bridge was built in 1911 and is not going to be preserved. Update February 2021: This bridge was bypassed and demolished in 2019.

View of the bridge from the south west side.

View from the south end.

Closer view from the south west side.

The bridge is located near a grassy park.

Side view of the truss.

Close view of the original decking.

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This bridge is a small single span truss over the Lachlan River. It is located on Waroo Bridge Road, just off Lachlan Valley Way, about 45km west of Forbes. The bridge is completely covered with weather shielding and is one of the few bridges that is not painted white. This bridge was built in 1909 and is going to be preserved. Update February 2021: This bridge is no longer going to be preserved and will eventually be demolished and replaced.

View of the bridge from the south side.

View from the south end.

Closer view from the south west side.

View from the north side.

View from the south end.

View of the deck and trusses.

Bridge Name	Date Built	# of Spans	Location	Waterway Name	Status	To be preserved?
Bendemeer	1905	1	Bendemeer	Macdonald River	Preserved	Yes, as footbridge
Briner	1908	1	East of Grafton	Coldstream River	Rebuilt	Yes
Bulga	1912	2	Bulga	Wollombi Brook	Partially rebuilt	Yes
Camerons	1930	1	Upper Rouchel	Rouchel Brook	Not rebuilt	No
Colemans	1908	2	Lismore	Leycester Creek	Rebuilt	Yes
Coonamit	1922	2	South of Moulamein	Wakool River	Rebuilt	Probably
Coorei	1906	1	Dungog	Williams River	Partially rebuilt	Yes
Gee Gee	1929	1	Swan Hill - Barham Rd	Wakool River	Demolished	No
Junction	1930?	1	Upper Rouchel	Rouchel Brook	Not rebuilt	Yes
Korns Crossing	1916	1	West of Murwillumbah	Rous River	Not rebuilt	No
Minneys	?	1	Clarence Way	?	Demolished	No
New Buildings	1921	3	New Buildings	Towamba RIver	Partially rebuilt	Yes
Rawsonville	1916	2	West of Dubbo	Macquarie River	Not rebuilt	No
Scabbing Flat	1911	2	South of Geurie	Macquarie River	Not rebuilt	Yes
Sportsmans Creek	1911	2	Lawrence	Sportsmans Creek	Demolished	No
Warroo	1909	1	50km west of Forbes	Lachlan River	Not rebuilt	No