...------...... TAMWORTH /TOURISM REGIONAL TAMW IQ"H ENGINEERS COUNCIL AUSTRALIA
CEREMONY REPORT & RE-ENACTMENT for the
as an HISTORIC ENGINEERING MARKER celebrating its centenary on 1 October 2005
This composite steel and timber Dare truss bridge over the MacDonald River was opened on 29 September 1905.
Prepared by Don Fraser for Engineering Heritage Australia (Newcastle) , Engineers Australia, and Bendemeer Community Development Association December 2005 . .
Berldemeerfinds, .':,t 0., -
> . ' reasons", i.': tocelebrafe. " ' ...,.',. _ ' , "" .... TInS long weci:e.'1d don't miss The weekend!s official Council's Col MW1'2Y will b~' . danc~ Of heritage buildings, the centenary of the opening is on Saturday morn-, re-enacting the speech of his and the weekend willlndud~ lkndemecr Rd ~ridge . Get ing and ",ill include re-enact- great-great grandfather, who 'self-drive tours of beritag~ Back to Bendy wi:.b a nnge of ments of the Original speeches was vice-chainnan of the origi properties . in and around awesomeactivitie..foc1amilies ' .. from the bridge opening in nal bridge com.nrlttee. . Bendcmc:cr. and people of all ages. 1905, followed by a celc:bra- For a copy of the program, The program (" er the four tion dinner at the Bcndemcc:r Bridge centenary pick one up from th~ days includes a ' gala night, Town Hall. Visitors will be comlng from , Tamwortb ViSitor Centre 01 street matkeu,stabs,old work" EnjOy j1 three • • • • • • I , •• • I , , , , , , , , , • , , , , , • , I " ~, . , \ , , . '.'.'.' .' • .' .•. '.'.'. ' .•.•. '.1' I • , • In• L •••• mood to By RHecc. ar.c&. Hall with entertainment by the Heartland 'BENDEMEER will party all weekend Duo. wi!h celebrations marking !he centenary At 10.lOam the Engineers of Australia of the McDonald River bridge and 120 will unveil a plaque at the Bendemeer years since Bendemeer was proclaimed a bridge on a boulder near the historic land· viJIllge. mark. A time capsule will be buried at The Get Back to Bendy weekend Ilam. inch:des a range of activities for families Tamworth Regional Council's Col and people of all ages. MUttay will be re-enacting the speech of Jnc,luded on the four-day program are his great great grandfather, who was street markets. stalls. old working vice-chainnan of the Original bridge machinery displays, Devonshire teas, conunittee, and local poUticians will be historic photo displays, art and craft · filUng the roles of other dignitaries of the demonstrations and a Bendemeer ceme· . time. . lery tour. Bendemeer has an abundance of her· On Friday night musician Andrew itage buildings and the weekend will C:~nnont and guest Belinda Walmsley willenlertain guests at the gala night at include self-drive tours of heritage prop-- . tl.e town hall presented by the Hourglass . erties in and around the village. Players. . , . Togetyourhandsonacopyofthevar The festivities' official opening is on .ious tour routes, pick one up from the Saturday afternoon at the bridge with re Tamworth VisitorCentreor from around enaclments of the original opening Bendemeer and ror further details con· speeches back in 1905. followed by acel· tact event organiser 10 Osbome on ebration dinner at the Bendemeer Town 67696480. HAYSTONE COTfAGE L.(AIT Sch""l. - CI',lCh Illlu"t: .. Fllrm~~ &: 1'.0. - Centenary of the , . \ 5.00 P.M. F ...... · Stitch Instruction Lesson. The Sa\\' Mill. - W.lr i\kmnri,'l.·: C~,\;ctery .. BENDEMEER COMr.IUN ITY DEVELOPMENT Bcndl'm~'Cr J lutd. " ASSOC. \'\'ill b<' your ho;;t s for the R~'-Enactmenl of Ihe 1905 MONDAY 3RD OCTOBER. ZOOS OFFICIAL CELEB I{ATlON DINNER 7. p.m. Guests gather allhl' Town Hall fOT pre-dinncr BENDEMEER RODEO GROUND. drinks. 7.30 p.m. Dinlll'r. S25.00p. 7 - 9 a.m. F.1rC'well "5.1Usagt' Sillll-" R~". "\'alion~ ~'l'scntild Coin Donation. Cutting of the ribbon ete. 10 Town Hall BENOEMEER.: SI. Andrews Church. 10 a.m.-4.00 p.m. Display of 3.15 - 3.45 p.m. phe>togr(lphs &: history of various Organised festivities then cease to prepare for the SI. Stcphen's Church of England. - Polire Station. General Store. - Haning. fami1i{·s. Morning &: Afternoon Celebration Dinner at the Town Hall. 4.00 p.m. ~ T~·.1s by C.W.A. Longford .. Old Butchers Shop. - Si te of Original Pruudly Suppork-d by: T~RJ" --- HISTORIC BENDEMEER \ f ~\ 11 ::;: M~ :'. ~ ~ "'- t.J. 1'1 011 'I.\X & o,,~ 1908 Town Hall, venue of Gala Dinner and Celebration Dinner • I-Iole\ Ol.(y Tow",,: Sa'MTldl- begun on thIS SIte '" 1953 Currently owned and operated by RIChard. Bryan and Oavtd Fanell 2 Tank 3 Cefllolcry - eaJ1ie51 gravestone cs for Mrs M.lher, 1873 • ANlAC Memonal Gales and Pat1c. - gales erected III 1927 OffICIally opc:nc.:d by W~ Ctanslon MtJrr3Y who daed three mofIth'S later. aged 77. and dcdlCJlcd by Robcrt Oangar 0"':00 5 Footb.lll Oval and Town TcoOls Courts 6 Police StaOOn - pt'esent building bLbl1." 1873 Fltst trooper statJoncd 10 8endcmeer was Constable _ OIl 1856 7 Bendetneef Hote4 - ooginal butIdtng (part of present grOUnd f\oof') built by Robert Murray and Jal'lll!S McCrOSSUl as the 4MacDooaJd Inn" aboull854. From 1870 was known as ·Gk>ver's Inn" for Thorn.-, and Fraoerska GIoYet, lnen from 1902 as the "Fcdefal Hater. PO$$IbIy eaIed "Hoeel Bendemeef" 'rom about 1946 8 Bow 1865 Laminated timber arches, replaced 1905 The plaqued bridge, 1905 extant composite bypassed 1985 1985 prestressed concrete bridge, east of 1905 bridge 2918105 Henry Harvey ARE - Designer r.;;;;;;;;;;;;;==::::;iiii.l Harvey Dare (1667-1949) was one of Australia's foremost engineers of the late colonial period and the early 20th century. He was bom in Gou! burn but attended Sydney Grammar School. He received his engineering education at Sydney University's School of Engineering under Prof. ENGINEERS W H Warren, graduating with a BE and University AUSTRALI A Medal in 1888. In 1894 he gained a second S)'dney 0MaI0Il Medal for his ME Degree. He assisted in Prof. Warren's extensive programme of testing most of PLAQUING CEREMONY TO CELEBRATE THE the timber species of NSW for their engineering properties which proved so useful in the design of timber infrastructure such as the timber truss CENTENARY bridges. In February 1889 he joined the NSW OF l Department of Public Works. '------' By 1901 , he had been associated with many major bridges under the BENDEMEER BRIDGE direction of Percy Allan and E M de Burgh , and had become a bridge specialist. In 1905 he developed the composite timber and steel truss that as an now bears his name. In 2004, 27 were still in service with six on the State Historic Engineering Marker Heritage Register. Harvey Dare and J J C Bradfield were closely involved with the preliminaries for the Sydney Harbour Bridge. He pioneered a Saturday 1 October, 2005 distinctive type of bascule bridge which had counterweights moving down a curved track so as to maintain balance with the opening span . In 1910 he was transferred to the Irrigation and Drainage Branch as Principal Assistant Engineer to LAB Wade and was engaged in preparations for the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Scheme including Burrinjuck Dam . In 1911 he was appointed Engineer for Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage and assumed responsibility for planning three dams of the Upper Nepean Scheme (Cordeaux, Avon and Nepean). He concluded his career with Public Works Department as Chief Engineer for National Works. With the establishment of the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission in 1913 he was appointed Chief Engineer and then the first Commissioner in 1916 during which time he oversaw the completion of Burrinjuck Dam. In 1923 he represented NSW on the River Murray Commission. He was prominent in professional bodies, receiving two Telford Premiums This Dare truss bridge was opened on 29 September 1905 from the Institution of Civit Engineers, London and the Peter Nicol Russetl Medal from the Institution of Engineers, Australia. He retired in May 1935 Proudly supported by the Tamworth Regional Council after 47 years in public service. He was one of Australia's outstanding civil engineers. PROGRAMME oiValter Frank OAKES 10.30am Welcome ...... Mayor James Treloar or a career in bridge building Deputy Mayor Phi I Betts (Notes from Ma/colm and Peter Oakes) Tamworth Regional Council. W F Oakes, in partnership with his brother Percy, was a prominent and successful th 10.35 Ruth Mathews ...... Historic Bendemeer and its bridges. bridge builder in New South Wales during the first 25 years of the 20 century. They appeared to have followed on from their father, William Frank's bridge 10.45 Frank Oakes ...... Oakes Brothers bridge builders. building exploits in New Zealand in the 1880s. Young Waiter Frank showed Introducing other bridge descendants. scholarly skills by receiving the prestigious UK award of VVhitworth Scholar, endowed by famed 19th Industrialist Sir Joseph VVhitworth (VVhitworth screw 10.55 Malcolm Clark or nominee, Engineers Australia Newcastle • thread). what is Engineers Australia and its Historic Engineering Plaquing The Oakes brothers specialised in heavy timber constructions mainly in like Programme. structures of wharves and bridges. Family records show in excess of 60 projects 1905·1933 mostly in the North East quarter of NSW. The range of bridge sizes 11 .00 Unveiling the plaque ...... Photographs, speakers group stretched from small timber beam structures for Local Government Councils, then other combinations. through a series of timber truss bridges plus a large steel truss bridge, all for the Department of Public Works, such wor1 Festival Sponsor The Irving Bridge may be seen as his crowning achievement. Feted at a farewell function, he was made an honorary citizen of the town. He received many ~ . -...... commendations for his work including that from eminent Public Works engineer E /TOURISM M de Burgh. Bendemeer bridge is the only EXTANT Oakes timber truss bridge not in service but it is a worthy representative of the contribution he made to road TAMW IQ"H infrastructure 100 years ago. THE PLAQUING CEREMONY RIVER • • ":<"~~~ fieiQ,J~;"~~;:;RegiOnal Council , opened proceedings. Joanne Osborne, President, Bendemeer Community Development Association, welcoming all. three bridges. Frank grandson, spoke on behalf of the Oakes family attendance, about bridge builder W F Oakes and their pride in his achievements. - .. Malcolm Clar1<. Engineers Newcastle Division , spoke about the organisation and its Historic Engineering Plaquing Programme. He proclaimed the bridge an Historic Engineering Marker. The plaque unveiled with i Engineering Heritage Australia, Mayor Treloar. Frank Oakes, Jo Osborne and Ruth Mathews. Foreground is the Time Capsule pit. • • I • The• plaque. "Public Works engineer Harvey Dare designed this composite steel and timber truss bridge. It was constructed by prominent bridge builder W F Oakes and opened on 29 September 1905. The truss type, now known as a Oare truss, was the zenith of Timber truss development, being technically superior to previous types. The bridge was in service for the New England Highway for 80 years before being bypassed in 1985.· Members of Engineers j Bill Jordan, Malcolm Clark and Peter Cockbain. men, descendants of bridge building brothers W F and Percy Oakes, I to r Malcolm (grandson of W F), Peter (grandson of Percy), Frank (grandson of W F, elder brother of Malcolm), Alistair (son of Malcolm) and Geoffrey (cousin of Peter), and joined below by wives Frances (Frank) and Sandra (Geoffery). In period dress are Loretta Satterty, Ruth Ma,th.owi:aiid THE TIME CAPSULI<: 95-year old Esma O'T oole loading the time capsule at base of the bridge plaque. THE OPENING RE-ENACTMENT Attendees ready for the opening re-enactment. and Peter Draper (State Descendants of the Official Party of the 1905 opening ceremony. Peter Dixon (wheelchair), Gil Dixon (electric scooter) cutting the ribbon, standing on right War Murray, Bernie Reid and Cedric Fisher (order?) VIPs standing behind are Tony Windsor. Col Murray and Peter Draper. groups. ___ . , Cerlten,ary ;;i~;;;;;m cake made by Faith OLD BENDEMEER BRlDGE -CENTENARY They came from places far and wide Wives and husbands side by side Some singles too, both yOlUlg and old To build a future strong and bold. They chose this village ofBendcmeer To work and raise their families here Before this day a century ago They thought,"What shall we do to make it grow?" lbe problematic MacDonald River Left no answer to deliver When the tide was down it was alright Jack But when it flooded - no way back! Hence the "Bendy Bridge" was born Despite some criticism, even scorn But !The Powers That Be" pressed on and on Until this mighty job was done. It's been a focal point since then For visitors et. cetera, especial1y when Their forebears heritage they sought to trace Meet friends and relatives face to face A place for kids to swim and fish And realise each cltildhood wish Teen' lovers making their first date Leading to a life-long fate "Wrinklies" stroll down "Memory Lane" And act like they were young again All sorts of good things happen here Fulfilling dreams ofyester year. Now upon this auspicious date We've come together to recreate And keep this historic occasion alive To commemorate 29.9.05 So welcome descendants large and small And a toast to settlers who were first of all. Charles R. Mathews 17th June, 2005. YOUR HOSTS DJ & GREG S.\fART ~E\V Ef\C,LANn HIGH\\AY BE~~EMEER I\SW 2355 PI!,02 6769 6604 FAX, 02 6769 6736 EMAIL, bendyrivers idcrcsl(a' bigpond .com.1I u \\ .... lY.htmv. orl h.nsv. .go.a olbcn d Y"in'rsidcresl Narrandera and timber truss bridge. It was constructed by prominent bridge builder W F Oakes and opened on 29 September 1905. The truss de Burgh composite timber truss bridges type, now known as a Dare truss, was the zenith of timber truss 1902 Black Creek, Rothbury - EXTANT development being technically superior to previous types. The bridge 1902 WebbersCreek- EXTANT was in service for the New England Highway for 80 years before being bypassed in 1985. Dare composite timber truss bridges 1905 MacDonald River, Bendemeer - EXTANT 1906 Williams River, Dungog - EXTANT The Institution of Engineers, Australia 1908 Colemans Bridge , Lismore - EXTANT WF Oakes Tamworth Regional Council (Frank Oakes photo) Community of Bendemeer, 2005 Steel truss bridge 1908 Irving Bridge, Casino