Ross Bridge
Encyclopedia
Ross Bridge is an historic bridge in the town of Ross
in central Tasmania
, Australia
, completed in July 1836. It crosses the Macquarie River.
The sandstone
bridge was constructed by convict labour, and is the third oldest bridge still in use in Australia. Commissioned by Lieutenant-Governor Arthur
, the bridge was designed by architect John Lee Archer
, with the convict work team including two stonemasons, James Colbeck
and Daniel Herbert
, the latter being credited with the intricate carvings along both sides of the bridge.
The bridge was registered on the Register of the National Estate
in 1978.
Ross, Tasmania
Ross is a historic town in the Midlands of the state of Tasmania in Australia. Situated on the Macquarie River, Ross is located 78 km south of Launceston and 117 km north of Hobart...
in central Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, completed in July 1836. It crosses the Macquarie River.
The sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
bridge was constructed by convict labour, and is the third oldest bridge still in use in Australia. Commissioned by Lieutenant-Governor Arthur
George Arthur
Lieutenant-General Sir George Arthur, 1st Baronet KCH PC was Lieutenant Governor of British Honduras , Van Diemen's Land and Upper Canada . He also served as Governor of Bombay .-Early life:George Arthur was born in Plymouth, England...
, the bridge was designed by architect John Lee Archer
John Lee Archer
John Lee Archer , architect and engineer, was born in Ireland and emigrated to Tasmania in 1827.- Personal life :John Lee Archer, born 26 April 1791 near Thurles, Ireland, was an important factor in the development of the townships of Tasmania during early settlement...
, with the convict work team including two stonemasons, James Colbeck
James Colbeck
James Colbeck was the lead stonemason on the Ross Bridge, Ross, Tasmania. Both he and Daniel Herbert received full pardons for their work on the bridge....
and Daniel Herbert
Daniel Herbert (convict)
Daniel Herbert , a Tasmanian convict, was a skilled stonemason who, with co-convict James Colbeck, oversaw the building of the Ross Bridge and embellished it with interesting carvings....
, the latter being credited with the intricate carvings along both sides of the bridge.
The bridge was registered on the Register of the National Estate
Register of the National Estate
The Register of the National Estate is a listing of natural and cultural heritage places in Australia. The listing was initially compiled between 1976 and 2003 by the Australian Heritage Commission. The register is now maintained by the Australian Heritage Council...
in 1978.
Further reading about the Bridge
- R Smith, Early Tasmanian bridges, Launceston, 1969;
- L Newitt, Convicts & carriageways, Hobart, 1988.