Work has been completed on the Hawkesbury’s historic Thomas James Bridge on Settlers Road at Lower Macdonald, marking the end of a two-year project to restore one of Australia’s oldest and most significant pieces of infrastructure.
The $17.5 million restoration not only preserved the bridge’s heritage but also ensured a more flood-resilient connection between Wisemans Ferry and the Macdonald Valley.
Jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), the project was managed by Hawkesbury City Council with support from Transport for NSW and the NSW Reconstruction Authority.
The bridge — built in the 1830s using convict labour — is recognised as the oldest bridge still in use on the Australian mainland. It adjoins the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Great North Road, an 1820s convict-built transport route connecting Sydney to the Hunter Valley.
During the February–March 2022 floods, the eight-metre-high sandstone retaining walls that supported the bridge’s abutments suffered near-total collapse.
Engineers and heritage experts were brought in to develop a bespoke reconstruction plan that respected the bridge’s 19th-century design while adding structural resilience for future storm events.
The process involved excavating the site to bedrock and installing new steel and concrete footings, modern drainage systems, and carefully cataloguing sandstone blocks.
Each original hand-cut sandstone block was numbered, recorded, and stored before being reassembled in its historical position.
The timber bridge deck, an integral feature of the original structure, was also reinstated to preserve its authenticity.
Parallel to the bridge work, Council teams cleared and stabilised a 250-metre rock slip between the bridge and Wisemans Ferry that had partially buried Settlers Road.
The work, done in collaboration with Central Coast Council, maintained access for residents during construction.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain, said the project reflects a national commitment to improving local infrastructure resilience.
“The Australian government is partnering with state and local governments to not only repair roads damaged in natural disasters, but to build them back better and more resilient to future events,” Ms McBain said.
“As we step deeper into the higher risk weather season, it is important that we ensure roads and bridges are safe to use so that communities remain connected when emergencies hit.
“The completion of restoration works on the historic Thomas James Bridge… outlines the federal government’s commitment to keeping Australians safe and connected.”
Local Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, called the restoration an “extraordinary engineering achievement”.
“Unlike road damage from previous floods in other parts of the Hawkesbury, this restoration was done with a view to continuing to provide access for residents… and I thank the community for their patience in the years of this work being done.”
NSW Minister for Roads and Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison, said the outcome shows the power of collaboration.
“Rebuilding the Thomas James Bridge has been a careful, complex and deeply collaborative effort, and the result is something the whole region can be proud of.”
NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin added: “This bridge gives communities confidence that they can reach safety during a disaster and that emergency services can reach them when it matters most.”
Hawkesbury City Council Mayor Les Sheather said the bridge’s enduring design is a testament to local resilience.
“Behind the original and iconic hand-cut sandstone retaining wall lies a carefully engineered and extremely robust foundation… This bridge stands as testament to our Council’s commitment not just to our special history but also to the wellbeing of our residents.”
According to heritage records, the Thomas James Bridge remains one of the most historically intact examples of convict-era infrastructure still serving a modern transport purpose.
