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Joe Armour's Tour of Bridges and Dam. Itinerary

17 May 2017 Take the first Campbelltown Exit off the Hume Highway at Campbelltown Rd. Travel on Campbelltown Rd., to the Kennard’s storage facility and meet Joe at 10.00am Drive along Campbelltown Rd., (which becomes Moore - Oxley Street). Turn right into Narellan Rd., and then quickly into left lane to turn left into Kellicar Rd. Get quickly into centre lane and turn next right into Tindall St., which is sign posted Menangle Park and Picton. At the end of that short road, after the Party shop, turn left into Menangle Rd. You are now travelling along behind Macarthur Square shopping centre. Approximately 10km along Menangle Rd., pull over to the left at the roadside parking area (there is a toilet block there). This is Menangle Railway Bridge over the Nepean River.

Travel along Menangle Rd., through the township of Menangle and straight ahead following signs to Douglas Park. Turn left into Douglas Park Rd and follow signs to Wilton down under the overhanging rock to the causeway across the Nepean River (Hawkesbury). Look up to the underside of the Hume Highway at the Moolgun Creek Bridge. No stopping here.

The 1863 Menangle Bridge is the first large iron railway bridge erected in NSW. The iron superstructure was manufactured in England at the Canada Works, Birkenhead (opposite Liverpool) and shipped out to Australia in December 1861 and in 1862

The bridge was completed in July 1980. The overall length is 235.9m and the height of the deck is 52m above water level, (higher that the Gladesville Bridge).

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Continue along Douglas Park Rd., to the intersection with Wilton Rd. Turn right into Wilton Rd., and within 100m turn left into Macarthur Dr. Follow Macarthur Dr., to Picton Rd. Turn left into Picton Rd., towards Wollongong. Follow Picton Rd., for 6km and look for the right hand turn lane to Cordeaux dam. Turn right to Cordeaux Dam and follow the Water Board road all the way down to the dam wall car park. WARNING there are several high speed humps.

Return to Picton Road and turn left towards Picton. Travel approx. 20km where Picton Rd., has become Menangle St. Just after the now shut down Imperial Hotel on the right turn left into Webster St. Go to the end of the street and park. View Picton Railway Viaduct over Stonequarry Creek. (NOTE snakes are know to be in this area).

Leave the viaduct and turn right back onto Menangle street. Take the second street on right , Prince Street and proceed to the single lane Victoria bridge.

The dam was completed in 1926. It is 57 metres high, holds water from a 91 square kilometre catchment, and forms a lake of 780 hectares with a capacity of 93,640 mega litres. The valve house and pylons are built in a Neo-Egyptian style.

Joe and Lenore’s dog viewing the five arches of the 40ft clear span of the viaduct, which is a total length of 276 ft. The middle arch is the highest above the creek bed at 78ft. It was built in 1862 and is the oldest arch bridge in NSW.

The bridge named after Queen Victoria opened in 1897. Its 20m high timber trestles are the highest in NSW and it is classified by the national trust.

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Drive to the end of Prince St., and turn right carefully into Argyle St., also known as Remembrance Dr., which is the old Hume Highway. Continue at 50kph through the Picton Railway Underpass.

Proceed down Argyle St., and pass the Shell service station where you will see Lenore’s Collectables shop closed since the storm/flood that devestated Picton in June 2016

Continue 3km and pass the golf club on your left until you reach our lunch destination at the Old Razorback Inn. Park inside the property but avoid parking under the trees.

This road tunnel is believed to have been constructed in 1919 to underpass the then new double track railway from Picton to Mittagong. This replaced the old Redbank tunnel which became a mushroom tunnel and ghost tour location.

Over 100 businesses were lost in the main street of Picton with 1.6m of water flooding the street due to an intense storm. Many have been rebuilt and are thriving again. Lenore is still waiting for her renovations to be completed.

Originally a residence built in 1845 it soon became an Inn located conveniently on the Great South Road from Sydney to Melbourne (later renamed Hume Highway). The Twelve Tribes Community now operates it as a bakery and café. The group live together on a nearby farm, as an extended family, sharing all things in common.