The Gasworks Bridge over the Parramatta River is one
of 32 lattice girder bridges built between 1870 and 1893 throughout NSW. Twenty
were road bridges, twelve were railway bridges e.g. Meadowbank railway bridge. Gasworks
Bridge, Parramatta is also known as Newlands Bridge.
The Gasworks Bridge has the same deep, rectangular
lattice trusses of John A McDonald’s early designs. Bridge is supported on
large sandstone piers. It has three main spans each 31m in length and two steel
beam approach spans. The overall length is 110m and is still in use.
Just east of the Gasworks Bridge is the site of the
first official landing place in Parramatta where Governor Phillip and a small
party of Marines arrived in 1788 to establish the colony’s second settlement. Gasworks
Bridge is named after thriving industries such as flour and woollen mills at
that time. Boatsheds and inns were located on the riverfront here to support
the settlement.
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