The proposed demolition of Cuttagee Bridge is no doubt a highly contentious issue in the Bega Valley Shire.
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Those sitting in the bridge-saving camp often speak about its heritage value to the community and as a symbol of the way of life of its people.
But what is the history of the bridge? Why was it built in the first place? How much of the original bridge is still in place?
These are some of the key questions answered in a heritage report prepared by consultant Pip Giovanelli ordered by the Bega Valley Shire Council in June 2021.
The report suggests that the value of Cuttagee Bride stems from its place within a group of historic wooden bridges constructed in the late 19th Century to connect Tilba Tilba, Tanja, and the port at Bermagui.
Designed by the NSW Public Works Department in 1892 it was one of many that used the 'simple beam' structural system and was constructed using native Australian hardwood.
At the time the area produced butter, pigs, wattlebark and timber for Sydney tanneries and mills and boats were used to transport the products to market.
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The site for Bermagui was proclaimed in 1868, a time when most transport was by sea. Some years after gold was discovered at Montreal Goldfield, a deep-sea wharf was built in Horseshoe Bay and the first bridge across the Bermagui River opened in 1888.
The issue of transport was not unique just to the area at the time, so the late 19th Century saw an explosion of public works that included many road and railway bridges across NSW.
Most of these were simple and constructed of timber. This had a lot to do with the 1861 NSW government stipulation for a preference for local materials and labour whenever possible. Steel and iron were also in short supply, expensive, and had to be imported.
Within a short period of time timber bridges were built at Wallaga Lake, Bermagui River, Cuttagee Lake, Murrah River and quite possibly the smaller bridges at Barragoot, Wapengo and Sandy Creek.
Ms Giovanelli's report indicates that the bridges opened a reliable road network from Tilba Tilba, via Bermagui to Bega and Tathra linking population, production and ports.
Planning documents reveal that the original bridge, built in 1892, was less than half its current length.
The southern side of the four-span bridge was constructed on unstable sand, so six years after the bridge was built it became necessary to double its length to eight spans.
Within a few years the shifting sand, erosion and water on the already unable southern side caused problems again, and eventually the bridge was extended to 10 spans, the length it is today.
In 1934 the NRMA Touring Department declared it a significant tourist drive, but in the very same year wild weather caused the collapse of piers 2 and 3.
The Department of Main Roads chose to rebuild the collapsed piers in reinforced concrete and replace the timber girders that spanned the piers with four steel beams for each of the four spans.
A traditional timber deck with timber side rails was fixed to the surface of the steel beams.
By 1965 the steel girders that had been installed on Cuttagee Bridge after its collapse had rusted and needed to be replaced.
In 1974 the southern side of the bridge was washed away during floods that left the pylon and guard rails hanging off the side.
More recent times haven't been favourable to the bridge and there have been extensive repairs done to it in an attempt to shore it up.
It's thought that the bridge is in even worse condition than others like it due to its location, which leaves it vulnerable to salt spray, changing tides, storms and flooding.
Ms Giovanelli's report indicates that most of the timber is decaying and the metal has rusted.
The substructure has been altered extensively over time from the original and most of the deck, kerbs, and handrails have been repaired or replaced.
Despite its condition, the aesthetic attributes that make it a key site are held close to the heart of the community.
The deck is considered a good example of the original deck type called the 'simple girder', however below the deck has had a slew of moderations over the years.
The bridge in its current state is considered to be quite rare though, as many of these country bridges have since been replaced with concrete or other alternatives.
