Rossi Bridge over Wollondilly River

{{Infobox bridge

| name = Rossi Bridge over Wollondilly River

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| image = 1479 - Rossi Bridge over Wollondilly River - SHR Plan No 2826 (5051383b100).jpg

| image_upright = 1.4

| alt =

| caption = Heritage boundaries

| coordinates = {{Coord|-34.7336|149.6780|region:AU-NSW_type:landmark|display=inline,title|format=dms}}

| os_grid_reference =

| carries = Range Road

| crosses = Wollondilly River

| locale = Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia

| official_name =

| other_name = Rossi's Crossing

| named_for =

| owner = Transport for NSW

| maint =

| heritage =

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| preceded =

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| design = Allan truss

| material = Timber

| material1 =

| material2 = Granite

| length = {{Convert|348|ft|m|1|order=flip}}

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| depth =

| traversable =

| towpath =

| mainspan = {{Convert|90|ft|m|1|order=flip}}

| number_spans = 5

| piers_in_water = 4

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| lanes = 1

| life =

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| builder =

| fabricator = J. J. Taylor and H. F. Littleproud

| begin =

| complete = 1899

| cost = A£2,545 17s 5d

| open =

| inaugurated =

| rebuilt =

| collapsed =

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| replaces = An earlier bridge {{small|(details unknown)}}

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| traffic =

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| mapframe = yes

| mapframe-zoom = 14

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{{Designation list

| embed = yes

| designation1 = New South Wales State Heritage Register

| designation1_offname = Rossi Bridge over Wollondilly River

| designation1_type = State heritage (built)

| designation1_date = 20 June 2000

| delisted1_date =

| designation1_partof =

| designation1_number = 01479

| designation1_free1name = Type

| designation1_free1value = Road Bridge

| designation1_free2name = Category

| designation1_free2value = Transport – Land

| designation1_free3name = Builders

| designation1_free3value =

}}

The Rossi Bridge over Wollondilly River is a heritage-listed road bridge that carries Range Road across the Wollondilly River, Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. The bridge is owned by Transport for NSW. It is also known as Rossi's Crossing. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 20 June 2000.{{cite NSW SHR|5051383|Rossi Bridge over Wollondilly River|hr=01479|fn=H00/00313/1|access-date=2 June 2018}}

History

Rossi's Crossing was a ford over the Wollondilly River used by the locals for access north west of Goulburn towards Wheeo and Crookwell.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article98677560 |title=Rossi's Bridge. |newspaper=Goulburn Evening Penny Post |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=20 October 1898 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}} Built near the estate of F. R. L. Rossi, a well known local, near his estate, Rossiville. G. J. Clarke built the approaches.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225825582 |title=Government Gazette Tenders and Contracts |newspaper=New South Wales Government Gazette |issue=340 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=23 October 1877 |page=4174 |via=National Library of Australia}}

At some stage a bridge had been built, meetings being held,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article100826418 |title=LOCAL AND PROVINCIAL. |newspaper=The Goulburn Herald and Chronicle |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=10 June 1865 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} but it was in disrepair as early as 1873{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28410542 |title=Untitled |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |volume=LXVIII |issue=((11,034)) |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=27 September 1873 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}} needing repairs by Government tender;{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13397964 |title=GOVERNMENT NOTICES. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |volume=LXXVI |issue=((12,238)) |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=8 August 1877 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}} and again in 1887,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article99905009 |title=ROSSI'S BRIDGE. |newspaper=The Goulburn Herald |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=10 May 1887 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia }} and in 1893.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103408167 |title=Rossi's Bridge. |newspaper=The Goulburn Herald |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=3 February 1893 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Tenders for the new super structure were called in 1898.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article98669784?searchTerm=Rossi |title=Advertising |newspaper=Goulburn Evening Penny Post |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=4 June 1898 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}} The bridge over the Wollondilly River at Rossi's Crossing was re-built in 1898-99. The contractors were J. J. Taylor and H. F. Littleproud of Bega, who had submitted a tender of A£2,545 17s 5d.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14153033 |title=PUBLIC TENDERS |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=((18,817)) |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=6 July 1898 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article98679161 |title=A.H.C. Guild. |newspaper=Goulburn Evening Penny Post |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=26 July 1898 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Description

The bridge is a good example of the {{convert|90|ft|m|0|order=flip|adj=on}} Allan truss span bridge. This type was developed in 1893 and used at least until 1920. It is a [Howe-type bridge and has a number of design features. It has tension rods for verticals and these can be used to adjust the geometry and counteract shrinkage; the diagonal members were cut off square at their ends and pressed against special cast iron details and double timbers were used to allow for replacement. This bridge is unusual for its type in that it has granite piers and abutments, said to date from 1860 or earlier. The bridge was early for its type, and its design and span give it considerable technological significance.

The Rossi Bridge is a large scale example of an Allan composite timber truss bridge. The bridge is unusual because of its support by elegant masonry piers (which have not been noted under any other truss bridge in New South Wales). The truss structure and piers complement an already attractive rural landscape.