Nellie & Tharwa Bridge
Aboriginal Queen Nellie Hamilton
Queen Nellie Hamilton was an honoured guest at the Tharwa Bridge opening in March 1895.
The official photo of the Tharwa Bridge Opening, shows what a “grand” occasion this was and the importance of Queen Nellie Hamilton to the community and within the community, at that time:
‘ … after a photograph was taken of the group of distinguished persons present, among whom was Nellie the Aboriginal Queen, the military formed a background …’ 1
Royal occassion
The local Queanbeyan newspaper reported:
‘It was a grand day, the grandest since the opening of the Queen’s Bridge nearly forty years before and a public holiday for the district as well. … Fifteen hundred dusty sightseers gathered to see a procession of carriages and horsemen follow the Queanbeyan Band and Mounted Rifle Contingent beneath a sign proclaiming “Welcome” across the bridge. 2
“Before the public crossed the bridge following its opening, it was reported that Queen Nellie Hamilton, resplendent in her new silk gown acquired for the occasion, shook hands with all the children who had been lined up as part of the procession.
“Miss Kate Gallagher, of Erindale, Tuggeranong, who was one of the children present at the ceremony, when referring to Queen Nellie in later years said, “I have never forgotten the velvety softness of her loverly hands.” 3
The ceremonial crossing of the bridge was followed by exciting entertainment a picnic, a baby show, a cricket game, a tent pegging display by the men of the Mounted Rifles and a dance at night. 4
Ngunnawal Nellie in Silk
Queanbeyan had acknowledged Nellie as Queen in 1888 during the bicentenary year when she was presented with a brass “Queen” plate by Mayor of Queanbeyan John Bull and her importance to the community was again acknowledged at the opening of the Tharwa Bridge. 5
Two years after Queen Nellie attended the opening of the Tharwa Bridge she died in the Queanbeyan District Hospital and was buried in the consecrated portion of the Catholic Riverside Cemetery because she was baptized a Catholic. 6
The Tharwa Bridge has survived to cross three centuries from 1895 to 2008 and provides links to Aboriginal occupation, the white invasion, the horse and buggy era and the industrial and human explosion that now threatens all of us through climate change. 7
Tharwa Submits 2006
The 111 year-old Tharwa Bridge was not built to withstand the demands of a capitalist, industrial, expanding society.
Speed, heavy transport and increased use pounded the old bridge into submission in 2006.
Although the ACT Government placed restrictions on the use of the bridge, and temporary repairs were made in 2006 to strengthen and prolong its life, the long detour for heavy vehicles was not always complied with. 8
The closure of the timber bridge in September 2006 and the announcement that a new cement bridge will be built close by within 18 months for vehicle traffic may be good news if it indicates that historic Tharwa Bridge will be preserved for pedestrian and bicycle use. 9
Superior Australian woods
Percy Allan (1861-1930) became chief draftsman in 1882 in the NSW Department of Public Works and was known world wide as originator of the “Allan truss” using the superior strength of Australian woods. 10
Australian grey ironbark trees are stronger than English Oak.
The four main spans of the Tharwa Bridge are supported by timber-trusses of the Allan type, which were used for the first time in the Tharwa Bridge. 11
The original timber piers and end spans were replaced by concrete in 1936 and 1945. 12
Other work was minor, but included the addition of outriggers (1958 and 1965) altered and extended truss splices and longitudinal running timbers. 13
National Significance
A twelve span timber, steel and reinforced concrete bridge of 181m overall length the Tharwa Bridge retains its integrity and is listed on the Register of the National Estate (1983) because of its significance in Australian engineering design. 14
Major restoration work required for the Allan Truss spans will take three years to complete. 15
In Queanbeyan O’Sullivan built two bridges over the Queanbeyan River - the 1900 (second) Queen’s Bridge and the 1901 Suspension Bridge. 16
The flood of 1925 swept away the Queanbeyan pedestrian (suspension) timber bridge opened in 1901 - the replacement suspension bridge (concrete, timber and iron was built during the depression in 1938 and is now heritage listed. 17
Builder of Bridges
In 1895 O’Sullivan believed the new Tharwa Bridge would open the way for tourism across the Murrumbidgee. 18
Tourism might now become a reality with the bridge the main tourist attraction like Sydney’s historic Pymont Bridge which is now restricted for pedestrian and bicycle use and was also designed by Percy Allan. 19
When the Tharwa Bridge was opened in March 1895 the member for Queanbeyan Edward William O’Sullivan MP (1849-1910) said the district would never want for bridges whilst he was member for the area. 20
O’Sullivan served for 19 years in Queanbeyan and was known as the “builder of bridges” because he built 16 bridges in the Queanbeyan District whilst NSW Minister for Works. 21 22
END
Footnotes:
FOOTNOTES
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
PLEASE COME BACK AGAIN
1. Cross, Rex, L. Bygone Queanbeyan - Revised Edition. 1985.
2. The Queanbeyan Observer & Mining Record, 1895.
3. Lea-Scarlett, Errol. Queanbeyan District and People. 1968.
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22. Connee-Colleen. Queanbeyan Outlook with Connee-Colleen, Tharwa Bridge Submits © 2006. The Queanbeyan Age, 27 October, 2006. p 17. [OL.63].
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NB: (i) CLICK on REFERENCE (at top of page) for more details on footnotes, and (ii) CLICK on GLOSSARY (at top of page) for meaning of words.