1900: A Timber Truss Bridge in Sydney is First Opened to Traffic

December 22, 1900

In what was then the British colony of New South Wales (NSW), a new timber truss bridge built across the Lane Cove River in Sydney was informally opened to traffic. (NSW was a British colony until it became one of the states of the Commonwealth of Australia effective New Year’s Day of 1901.)

The December 15 edition of the Cumberland Argus had reported, “The bridge over the Lane Cove River at the head of navigation is at the head of navigation is now nearing completion, the men being now employed in laying the decking.” This newspaper then noted, “It is anticipated that it will be open to traffic before Christmas.”

Originally known as the Lane Cove Bridge, this structure was not officially dedicated until two months after its actual opening. (The accompanying photo of the bridge was taken on that Saturday in February 1901.) Edward William O’ Sullivan (1846-1910), NSW’s secretary for public works, took part in those inaugural festivities for the Lane Cove Bridge.

“The day was perfect,” reported the Sydney Morning Herald. “Lines of ribbons were strung across each end of the bridge, and the ceremony consisted of the cutting of the ribbons. Mr. O’Sullivan was loudly cheered.”

This bridge was designed by Irish-born Ernest de Burgh (1863-1929), the NSW Public Works Department’s assistant engineer for bridges. The Lane Cove Bridge was eventually renamed the De Burghs Bridge in his honor.

This structure was replaced in 1967 by a new bridge – more specifically a total of two standalone multilane concrete bridges that had been built side by side – that was likewise named after de Burgh. The original bridge remained intact until being destroyed by bushfire in 1994.

Photo Credit: Public Domain

For more information on the original De Burghs Bridge (and the current version that replaced it), please check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Burghs_Bridge