By Cathy Jones 2024
Moore’s Bridge is located on Liverpool Road at Strathfield South. The bridge enables the crossing of the Cooks River. The original bridge was built c.1814 as part of the construction of Liverpool Road (also known as the Hume Highway). The name Moore’s Bridge has fallen into disuse over time, though this was its original name.
In November 1810, Governor Macquarie toured various districts and settlements in the colony of Sydney. In a dispatch to Lord Castlereagh, he stated his belief that these visits were ‘essentially necessary for the improvement of the Country in general, and the encouragement of the Settlers in their Agricultural pursuits in particular’. In the Sydney Gazette of 1810, Governor Macquarie announced plans to establish townships at Liverpool and the settlements in the Hawkesbury district of Richmond, Windsor, Pitt Town, Castlereagh and Wilberforce. To enable transport to these towns, plans were made for the building of new roads.
A public notice issued in the Sydney Gazette of 24 October 1812:
‘It is intended to open a Public Road of equal width to Parramatta Road from Brown’s Half Way House on the latter, thence to Georges River or Liverpool, a distance of about 11 miles. Persons disposed to contract for it to send to Thomas Moore, Liverpool’.
Thomas Moore, an innkeeper of Liverpool, petitioned Governor Macquarie to build a road which linked Sydney to the town of Liverpool[1]. An agreement was made between the Colonial Government and contractor William Roberts to build the Liverpool Road[2]. Roberts was a former convict[3].
On February 22, 1814, Liverpool Road was completed and opened by Governor Macquarie and Lieutenant-Governor George Molle, Lieutenant-Colonel of 46th Regiment. Liverpool Road commenced at the crossroads of Parramatta Road at Ashfield which was described as 5 ¾ miles from Sydney. The road terminated at Georges River at Liverpool and was about 20 miles in length[4].
Moore’s Bridge was constructed across Cooks River to link both sides of Liverpool Road in Strathfield South (then known as Bark Huts or Druitt Town ). There was also another bridge constructed at Prospect Creek called ‘Moore’s Bridge’. Therefore, it is likely the comments attributed to Macquarie may have applied to the Prospect Creek bridge. Macquarie reportedly stated his satisfaction with the construction of Moore’s Bridge ‘which is at once bold, strong and workmanlike’[5]. It was reported that a toll was erected at the bridge in February 1814[6]. Again it is not known if the toll was applied at the Strathfield South bridge.
By 1895, Moore’s Bridge had fallen into disrepair and was replaced. A replacement bridge was tendered in 1895 at Cooks River, at Druitt Town (now Strathfield South), Main Southern-road, from W. J. Woodbury at the cost of £419 17s[7].
Until 1949, the bridge divided the council areas of Strathfield and Enfield.
References
‘Classified Advertising’ (1814 February 5), The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 5 February, p. 1
Classified Advertising (1813, June 26). The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, p. 1.
Sydney. (1814, February 26). The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, p. 2.
The Great South Road, (June 25 1904), Sydney Morning Herald, page 7
Suburban Notes. (1895, June 17). Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 – 1931), p. 5.
Tenders Accepted (1895, July 13), Australian Town and Country Journal, p15.
Government and General Orders. (1813, October 23). The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, p. 2.
Footnotes
[1] Public Notice in 1813 26th June notes the relationship between Thomas Moore of Liverpool supervising the construction of the road between Parramatta and Liverpool Road by William contractor Roberts “His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint Thomas Moore, Esquire, of Liverpool, to Superintend and Direct the Making and Construction of the new Turnpike Road, branching off from the present Road to Parramatta and leading to Liverpool, with all the Bridges and Works necessary to its completion.—And it is ordered, that William Roberts, the Contractor for the Making the said Roads and Bridges, and all Persons employed under him in the said Work, shall receive and obey all such Orders as Mr. Moore shall find necessary to give for the more effectual Construction of said Road and Bridges. By Command of His Excellency, The Governor, J.T. Campbell, Secretary”.
[2] Sydney Gazette October 1813 and Feb 5 1814 February 5 reports part payment of £300 and £200 respectively to William Roberts for building a road to Liverpool
[3] Roberts Road Greenacre is named for William Roberts.
[4] SMH 1904 p7
[5] SMH 1904 p7
[6] SMH 1904 p7
[7] Tenders accepted (1895), SMH
Strathfield Heritage 