Spikey Bridge

From Engineering Heritage Australia


Spikey Bridge is a convict-built stone arched culvert serving a causeway built across Lafarelle Gully on the East Coast of Tasmania near Kelvedon. The sides of the causeway have been faced with blocks of dolerite laid flat and buttressed on the downstream side to provide stability. The bridge was constructed between 1843 and 1848 by convict gangs from the Rocky Hills Probation Station under the charge of Major Willliam de Gillern. Design work and local supervision were carried out by Thomas Lafarelle.

The causeway wall has been topped with hundreds of columnar dolerite spikes to form a distinctive decoration.

Spikey Bridge, Looking West
Source: Graeme Nichols
Dolerite Spikes on Parapet Wall
Source: Graeme Nichols
Buttress on Downstream Wall
Source: Graeme Nichols
Spikey Bridge c1920
Source: QVMAG 1991:P:2878
Detail from County Chart Glamorgan 3
Source: Copyright N/A
Survey of Kelvedon c1841
Source: Copyright N/A

[[|thumb|Road Between Kelvedon and Swansea]]

Road Between Kelvedon and Swansea
Source: Copyright N/A
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References: Lindy Scripps
[[|thumb|Proposal to Nominate]] Graeme Nichols Proposal to Nominate - Spikey Bridge

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