Each of 1,641 hand-cut sandstone blocks was numbered, stored and reinstalled in its exact original position when the Thomas James Bridge reopened in November 2025. No restoration of this type and age had ever been attempted in Australia.
The 1830s convict-built bridge in the Hawkesbury region has won the Judges’ Excellence Award in Heritage at the IPWEA NSW & ACT Engineering Awards 2026. The $23.5 million reconstruction followed near-total collapse during the 2022 floods.
The bridge carries vehicle traffic between Wisemans Ferry and the Macdonald Valley. It is the oldest continuously-used vehicle bridge on mainland Australia and forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Great North Road.
Acting General Manager of Hawkesbury City Council Will Barton said the recognition validated years of meticulous work. “This is an incredible achievement and a testament to the hard work a great many people put in to rebuild Thomas James Bridge,” he said.
The restoration took two years to complete. Archaeologists supervised every stage as each heritage stone was removed, catalogued and stored before being returned to its precise 1830s position. Modern steel and concrete footings were excavated to bedrock beneath the original structure.
Mayor Les Sheather described the project as unprecedented. “A restoration of this nature on a bridge this old has not been attempted or achieved in Australia before,” he said.
Built by convicts under Road Party 25, the bridge was named after Thomas James, a ticket-of-leave convict who supervised its construction. Only eight of the original 22 Great North Road bridges survive today.
Social media posts from engineering professionals at Delaney Civil noted how the team maintained community access during construction to prevent isolation of Macdonald Valley residents.
The bridge handles regular vehicle crossings and connects to heritage walking trails through Dharug National Park. Unlike previous flood repairs that restored original vulnerability, this reconstruction added flood resilience while maintaining 1830s authenticity.
Quick Facts
Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia NSW & ACT
The leading professional association for public works and local government engineering professionals in NSW and ACT. IPWEA hosts annual engineering excellence awards recognising outstanding projects that directly impact community lives.
Old Great North Road
A UNESCO World Heritage-listed convict-built road constructed between 1826-1836 connecting Sydney to the Hunter Valley. One of 11 Australian Convict Sites recognised for demonstrating large-scale convict transportation and colonial expansion.