After two years of painstaking reconstruction, the Thomas James Bridge, considered by experts as the oldest road bridge still in use on the Australian mainland, has reopened, restoring a vital link between Wisemans Ferry and the Macdonald Valley.

The $17.5-million project, jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, was managed by Hawkesbury City Council with support from Transport for NSW and the NSW Reconstruction Authority.

The 1830s-era bridge, built by convicts and adjoining the World Heritage–listed Old Great North Road, sustained severe damage during the 2022 floods, when eight-meter sandstone retaining walls supporting its abutments nearly collapsed.

Engineers and heritage specialists designed a custom restoration plan that required excavating the site down to bedrock to install new steel and concrete footings and drainage meant to withstand future floods. The bridge’s hand-cut sandstone retaining wall was dismantled block by block, where each stone was numbered and catalogued, before being reassembled. The timber bridge deck was also reinstated to preserve the structure’s historic character.

Crews simultaneously worked to clear and stabilise a 250m rock slip that partially buried Settlers Road between the bridge and the Wisemans Ferry crossing. The effort, completed in partnership with Central Coast Council, ensured access to the valley remained open throughout construction.

Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain says the restoration reflects a national push to strengthen infrastructure in the face of more extreme weather: “As we step deeper into the Higher Risk Weather Season, it’s important that we ensure roads and bridges are safe… The completion of restoration works on the historic Thomas James Bridge outlines the Federal Government’s commitment to keeping Australians safe and connected.”

Local MP Susan Templeman says the reconstruction was “an extraordinary engineering achievement,” highlighting its role in maintaining access for residents during recovery efforts and praising the project’s close engagement with the community.

NSW Roads and Regional Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison says the bridge’s renewal shows “what we can achieve when all levels of government work together,” adding that “the strengthened structure is designed to endure future storms and floods.”

Hawkesbury Mayor Les Sheather notes this was unprecedented in Australia for a bridge of this age. “We won’t see a repeat of the damage that threatened to cut off communities north of the bridge following the 2022 floods,” he says.

The council describes the renewed Thomas James Bridge as both a safeguard for residents and a preserved piece of the region’s heritage, and one that is expected to last for generations.

Image: The Thomas James Bridge’s hand-cut sandstone retaining wall was dismantled block by block, where each stone was numbered and catalogued, before being reassembled and the timber bridge deck was also reinstated to preserve the structure’s historic character. / Supplied.

Architecture & Design Team

Let’s connect!