CAWB
  • Home
  • About Us
    • The Right to Peaceful Assembly
    • CAWB Submissions
    • A Snapshot of Our Campaign
    • Heritage Tours
    • Some Wise Words
    • Our Campaign Song
    • The Battle for Windsor Bridge
  • The Occupation
    • Points to Ponder
    • The Writing's on the Wall
  • The Place
    • Windsor Bridge History and Significance >
      • A Bridge To The Past
    • Thompson Square >
      • History of the Square and Andrew Thompson
      • Buildings of Thompson Square
      • Amenity and Use
      • Symbolism of Thompson Square
      • Smuggler's Tunnels
      • Maps
      • Square Maps
    • Stories From The Square >
      • Andrew Thompson
      • Long Term Planning; The Age Of Enlightenment
      • An Old Photograph.....And A Poignant Story
      • The Riverfront - The Fourth Side Of The Square
      • Richard Fitzgerald (1772-1840) ; A Square Man And A Pub Man
      • Thompson Square And The Battle Of The Newspapers
      • Howes That
      • Harry And His 'Brother' Jack
      • Thomas Mina - Defender Of The Square
      • Anzac Day March In Windsor - 1935
      • Hawkesbury's Homage
      • Golfing In The Hawkesbury
      • Was there a Dr in the Square? Dr Fiaschi
      • Just for the record
      • A Wife For Sale
      • To Be Sure, To Be Sure
      • Children Of The Square
      • Napoleon's Intention to Capture the Square?
      • The Mounted Police of the Square
      • The Blood and Passion of Thompson Square
      • The Lost Fitzgerald House
      • The Steamer "St Albans"
      • Part One: No. 6 Bridge St
      • No. 6 Bridge St - Sisters of Charity
      • No. 6 Bridge St - The Armstrong Century
      • No.6 Bridge St - Leo Armstrong
      • No.6 Bridge St - Dark Days of WW2
      • 10 Bridge St - Part One
      • Part 3: No. 10 Bridge St
      • Windsor Court House - In The Beginning Part One
      • Thompson Square - The Big Picture
      • Mr Huggins and The Carrington/Jolly Frog
      • Mr Huggins and the Jolly Frog Part 2
      • Every Picture Tells A Story
      • A Painter's Love of This Spiritual Home
      • What Was And What May Be
      • Thompson Square and Windsor's First School
      • Lionel Lindsay
      • Another artist of the square
      • William Hardy Wilson
      • In The Beginning
  • The Project
    • Nowra Bridge
    • Upper House Inquiry Submission Template
    • Background
    • Community Consultation
    • Why Say No? >
      • Impacts on the Square
    • An Alternative
    • Myths >
      • Myth - Bridge Condition
      • Myth - Lane Width
      • Myths - Enhanced Heritage
      • Myths 4 - Enhanced Greenspace
      • Myths - Flood Immunity
      • Myths - Improved Traffic
    • Political Interference
    • Statement of Heritage Impact 2008
  • News and Media
    • Press
    • News >
      • PROPOSED NIGHT MAINTENANCE
    • Gallery
    • Video
    • Radio
    • Media Releases
    • Correspondence >
      • Sandstone Correspondence
      • ASM Corro
    • Hansard
  • Contact
    • Tell Gladys How You Feel
    • Donations
    • Supporter Registration
    • What Can You Do To Help?
Picture
"The River and this crossing of it has defined the life of several generations of local inhabitants on both sides of the River. As the suburban outskirts of Sydney widen and come closer to the still distinct and distinctive Macquarie towns, the rich history of the area and its physical remains become increasingly important to the community’s senseof identity. The Windsor Bridge is thus an important part of Windsor’s history and identity." 
                                                                                                                                            Quoted in Government Architect's Office, 2011, p 5.


Picture
View of Windsor Bridge caisson deck supports. Photo property of CAWB.

About

From the lower area of Thompson Square you are able to see the existing historic Windsor Bridge, which will be demolished as a result of the Project  (also known as Option 1). Windsor Bridge crosses the Hawkesbury River from Bridge Street, Windsor. Over 18,000 vehicles per day use the bridge. Over 70% of the traffic using the bridge is through traffic.  It not only provides a local link for communities on either side of the river, but is also an important regional link between western Sydney and the Hunter Valley and Blue Mountains.

History

The Windsor Bridge is the oldest, existing bridge crossing over the river at Hawkesbury. It was opened in 1874 and parts of it (such as the caisson deck supports) are original and over 130 years old. It was designed by the Public Works Department and constructed, between 1872-1874, by contractors Andrew Turnbull and William K. Dixon. 

A plaque that was placed on the bridge to celebrate Australia's Bicentenary quoting the then Minister for Public Works John Sutherland, who opened the bridge in 1874, states:
    I hope this bridge will last longer than the life of the youngest child who passes over it today.

After completion of the bridge in 1874 the level was raised by 2.5 metres in 1897 and the hardwood superstructure was replaced by reinforced concrete in 1922. 

In 1934 a new approach road was created in order to meet the needs of modern motor traffic. 

Prior to the construction of the Windsor Bridge, the crossing of the Hawkesbury River at Windsor was made by ferry. Approval for John Howe to operate a ferry across the Hawkesbury River from Windsor was granted in October 1814. 

Howe’s regular service operated from 1814 and was taken over by the government in 1832. This service would have ceased on completion of the bridge in 1874.   
Picture
View of the existing Windsor Bridge from the lower area of Thompson Square. Photo courtesy of ozroads.com.au.
Picture
Looking east across Windsor Bridge, showing the approach cut in 1934 and the old approach over the hill crest (top left).
Picture
Plaque placed on the Windsor Bridge to celebrate the Bicentenary in 1988. Photo property of CAWB
Windsor's old punt wharf is a maritime archaeological site identified by timber beams protruding from the bank. The date of this remnant wharf is currently unknown but the punt wharf site may provide evidence and information about the earliest river crossing in Windsor. The site is wholly within the proposed road reserve of the Project.   

Picture
Click here to learn more about the history and significance of Windsor Bridge
Picture
Water colour of Windsor Bridge. Artist unknown. Circa 1860s.
Picture
Windsor Bridge and the western bank of the Hawkesbury River, not dated. Source: State Library of NSW (Work and Play – 04404).
Picture
The wharf beside the Windsor Bridge, not dated. Source: Mitchell Library Small Picture File – Windsor.
Picture
The wharf beside the Windsor Bridge, not dated. Reproduced in Bowd, D. G., Up the Windsor Road from Baulkham Hills, Library of Australian History, Sydney, 1986.


Sources:
  • Austral Archaeology. (2011). Final Draft Report: Built Heritage and Archaeological Landscape Assessment: Windsor Bridge Options Preliminary Investigation.  Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW (RTA), August 2011. 
  • Government Architects Office. (2011).  Landscape and visual investigation for bridge options at Windsor.  Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW (RTA), August 2011.
  • Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW (RTA). (2011). Windsor Bridge Replacement: Options Report. RTA, August 2011. 
Home
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.