Queanbeyan Suspension Bridge 2.52

Prior to the construction of the original suspension bridge in 1901, the people of Queanbeyan had to make do with only one bridge crossing of the river. At the point where the suspension bridge was later built, there was another crossing consisting of stepping stones. These stones had been laid down at the instigation of the Church of England rector in 1861 to make it easier for the millowner and employees of the Severne Mill on the east bank of the river to attend Christ Church. After St Benedict's Convent became the town's Catholic school at the beginning of 1883, the river crossing was heavily used by pupils of the school. Similarly, the nuns of St Benedict's used the stepping stones to cross the river so that they could attend mass each morning at St Gregory's Church. As the crossing could be dangerous in times of wet weather, agitation commenced for the construction of a footbridge that would provide a safe and convenient crossing. At the same time, recurring problems with Queanbeyan's water supply prompted calls for the building of a weir on the river. The two issues coalesced in 1901. Approval was given for the construction of a weir about 500m downstream from the stepping stone crossing. Since the weir would raise the height of the river and cover the stepping stones, the construction of a suspension footbridge was also approved. When built, the bridge became known colloquially in the local community as the 'Nuns' Bridge'.

The original footbridge was washed away in the great flood of 1925. For the next thirteen years, the nuns and pupils of St Benedict's and other residents of Queanbeyan were served once again by only the main bridge crossing of the river. Eventually, in 1938, a replacement suspension bridge was built on the same site as the original. The 1938 suspension bridge is a timber decked footbridge with timber framing and straight back stays suspended by steel cables from concrete obelisks at each end, the obelisks being linked in pairs by concrete beams at the tops. The span is approximately 30m. The engineers who designed and supervised the building of the bridge were James and William Pike and Henry Hungerford. The cost of construction was 400 pounds.