Upper Colo Heights Road Bridge Replacement
Client: Hawkesbury City Council
Year: 2022
Services
- Historical Heritage Assessment (HHA)
- Statement of Heritage Impact (SoHI)
- Historical interpretation
Background
Biosis was commissioned by Hawkesbury City Council to undertake an Historical Heritage Assessment (HHA), Statement of Heritage Impact (SoHI) and an Interpretation Strategy on the Upper Colo Heights Road Bridge which had been badly damaged from an extraordinary flood in 2021.
The request was understandable given various parts of the upper Hawkesbury catchment, including Colo River, were some of the earliest colonised parts of Australia, alongside significant evidence of Aboriginal settlement of Darkinjung families for tens of thousands of years. Upper Colo River is roughly 20 kilometres north of Richmond and 70 kilometres northwest of the Sydney’s central business district (CBD).
Upper Colo Heights Road Bridge damaged by floodwaters in 2021
What is the the process to produce an Historical Heritage Assessment (HHA)?
By conducting historic research into publicly available records and checking heritage listed items from state and federal listings, along with an on-site visit, a heritage consultant can determine their recommendations.
Biosis staff followed the following process:
- Identified and assessed the heritage values associated with the project area.
- Identified sites and features within the study area which are already recognised for their heritage value through statutory and non – statutory heritage listings.
- Assessed the impacts from the development on any heritage values of the project area or in the vicinity.
- Recommended measures to avoid or mitigate any negative impacts on the heritage significance of the study area.
What was the outcome? Replace the bridge but acknowledge its history
Biosis determined that the original (damaged) Upper Colo Heights Road Bridge did not meet the threshold for significance at state or local level and therefore its preservation was not required. It was a simple and functional stringer bridge which was badly damaged and needing to be replaced. However, an interpretation strategy (historical recognition) was recommended because the river crossing and the ‘floating stores’ which ferried local fruit up and down the Colo River are an under-recognised chapter of NSW agricultural history, along with the importance of acknowledging the traditional Country of Darkinjung Peoples.
Read a more detailed case study to learn more about the history of the Upper Colo Heights Bridge and the crossing location here.
Interpretation
Biosis completed an interpretation strategy to the council recommending the use of salvaged wood from the old bridge into the landscape design nearby, including interpretation signage.
A more sustainable concrete bridge was built in 2023 following the Biosis recommendations (despite more flooding in 2022) and pleasingly the original bridge was honoured in the design with the inclusion of wooden kerbs along its edges, which is a gentle nod to the original ‘stringer’ bridge that collapsed.
Biosis also recommended some historic interpretation, and the council installed bench seating and interpretive signage reflecting on indigenous history in the Colo region, post-colonisation agricultural history and the history of the timber bridge. The benches were fashioned from the original bridge timbers and installed near the bridge.
New Upper Colo Heights Bridge bench seating near the bridge
New Upper Colo Heights Road and Bike Bridge (Built 2023)