Physical description
A single sandstone arch bridge spanning 91 feet (27.73m), the clear span of the arch being 23.16 m across the Parramatta River with approaches on the line of Church St.
In 1901-2 a width of 10 feet of the stone arch was strengthened internally for the purposes of carrying the Parramatta-Castle Hill Tramway. The parapet on the western side was removed in 1912 and a continuous footway 5'3" wide was added.
The western pedestrian way was removed 1934-5 when Department of Main Roads further widened the western side in reinforced concrete faced with sandstone to take more traffic and replaced the original balustrading with an open concrete type. AZP Cross Reference: PN 100
Modifications
1901-2 a width of 10' of the stone arch was internally strengthened for the purpose of carrying the Parramatta-Castle Hill Tramway.
1912 the parapet on the western side was removed to provide a cantilevered pedestrian way 5'3"wide.
1934-5 above parapet removed by Dept of Main Roads, further widened its western side to take more traffic. An extension was built in reinforced concrete faced with sandstone. The balustrade was replaced with an open concrete type.
Condition
In 1912, the parapet on the western side was removed to provide a cantilevered pedestrian way; this in turn being removed 1934-5 when Department of Main Roads further widened the western side in concrete faced with sandstone to take more traffic and replaced the original balustrading with an open concrete type.
History
One of Australia's most historic bridges, Lennox Bridge is still used to cross the river at Church Street, Parramatta.
The first simple footbridge over the river was in a line with Pitt Row (later Pitt Street), which in the earliest days of the colony extended to the river.This was washed away in a flood in 1795. The second bridge crossed the river at Church Street. Erected in 1802, it was a wooden bridge on piers which remained until the 1830s.
About 1833, David Lennox, (then NSW Superintendent of Bridges for the Colony of NSW)* submitted plans for a new structure, and in 1835 the Governor instructed the surveyor-general to make arrangements to place a handsome stone bridge at Parramatta without delay. Lennox's plans were finally approved in May 1836 by Governor Bourke and the foundation stone was laid by hm on 23 November 1836. The bridge was completed in 1839 at a cost of 1797 pounds but was not named until 1867 (Parramatta & District Historical Society, 1970, 16).
Lennox Bridge is one of the earliest bridges in NSW and Australia (and the Commonwealth)*. In 1867 it was named Lennox Bridge by (the young) Parramatta Municipal Council in honour of its designer as it was the last bridge built by Lennox in NSW.
In 1888 Parramatta's first public baths were located just west of Lennox Bridge.
The bridge has been altered substantially since erection. In 1901-2 a width of 10 feet of the stone arch was strengthened internally for the purposes of carrying the Parramatta-Castle Hill Tramway.
The parapet on the western side was removed in 1912 and a continuous footway 5'3" wide was added.
In 1934-5 the bridge was widened under the direction of the Department of Main Roads. This included removing the western footway and erecting a new reinforced concrete structure. A brass plaque on the western side of the bridge (footway) records this work.*
Several other similar bridges are found near Goulburn and the Blue Mountains.
*(Source: 1935 plaque on bridge erected by HH Newwll, Commissioner for Main Roads)