With no restoration work scheduled, the dilapidated Yass Railway Bridge faces an uncertain future. Photo: Supplied.
Despite the fact it is the first Pratt truss bridge to be built in Australia and that it received state heritage listing in 1999, the historic railway bridge over the Yass River is in danger of collapse.
The bridge was built in 1892 to link the Yass Town Railway Station with Yass Junction, with the former railway bridge over the Yass River officially listed on the NSW State Heritage Inventory.
There was great controversy at the time when, in the 1870s, it was decided that the line between Sydney and Melbourne would bypass Yass by 5 km. The answer was Yass Town Station and the connecting tramway which opened in 1892.
Today, the railway bridge is falling to pieces. All rail services were withdrawn from the branch line in 1988. Signs saying: “Warning. Risk of Falling Debris” and “No Stopping: Collapsing Structure” are plastered across one of the pylons with ownership of the structure listed as a Transport for NSW asset and an email address for enquiries.
The perilous state of the bridge, which has historic significance for the Yass Valley, was “extremely concerning”, according to president of the Yass and District Historical Society, Cheryl Mongan, adding that such concern was due to it being allowed to “deteriorate to its present dangerous condition”.
“Historically, the bridge is a major component of the Yass tramway infrastructure in Dutton Street that allowed a rail link to be made from the Southern Rail Line at Yass Junction which had bypassed Yass town when it was constructed in 1876,” she said.
“Up until the tramway link was made in 1892, access to Yass Junction station for passengers and goods relied upon horse-powered transportation over 5 km of poorly maintained roads, far from ideal at night or in bad weather and residents lobbied for a terminus in Yass town.
“Technologically, the bridge is important as it was the first Pratt truss bridge that was constructed in Australia. These American-designed bridges replaced fully imported English designs previously used. The bridge was recognised with state heritage listing in 1999 but despite this there has been little or no maintenance to the structure.”
The last train into Yass town in 1988, crossing the Yass River bridge. Photo: Yass Railway Museum.
The Yass Valley Council had been approached about the condition of the bridge but had said it was not its responsibility.
Ms Mongan said restoration of the bridge could be a significant tourist attraction for the Yass Valley, bringing with it a new influx of visitors.
A Transport for NSW spokesperson said it had no current plans to demolish either the timber or steel parts of the former railway bridge over the Yass River.
But it said it was “being considered” as part of Transport for NSW’s Regional Rail Heritage Strategy which is in development.
The spokesperson said Transport for NSW would consult the community on the strategy, but a date for such consultation had yet to be determined.
It is understood that because of its age and condition, the warning signs and security fencing around the bridge were installed to prevent public access.
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