Southern Hemisphere's longest timber bridge to be demolished at Tabulam

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The longest, single-span wooden bridge in the Southern Hemisphere will be replaced next year, marking the end of an era for the northern New South Wales village of Tabulam.

The 300-metre timber truss bridge was built between 1899 and 1903 across the Clarence River on the Bruxner Highway at Tabulam between Casino and Tenterfield.

The design for a replacement bridge is due to be released in early 2016, with work to start on the new structure before the year's end.

The existing bridge, which is state heritage-listed, will be demolished.

The Roads and Maritime Service said extensive work had been carried out on the bridge in recent years to keep it safe, but its continued maintenance would require a "disproportionate share of the NSW Government's bridge maintenance funding".

Former Tabulam resident Val Hoare said she was devastated about the planned demolition.

"It's cutting my heart out," she said.

"I know it has to be done because it simply can't cope with the traffic these days. I hate the thought of it not being there, but I know the time has to come."

Ms Hoare grew up on a property near the bridge and her mother, Jean Winterton, was the official river-level flood reader for 60 years.

Her grandfather and uncles also helped build the bridge and her brother, Kevin, was the superintendent in charge of the bridge's maintenance for 20 years.

"When I was a kid, at night when the moon was up, we'd walk up and down the bridge trying to count the pieces of timber," she said.

"We never got the same number."

UNTOLD Tabulam

ABC North Coast will be sharing more stories about the bridge's significance as part of its second annual UNTOLD project.

UNTOLD is an ABC North Coast initiative that connects people to places that are rarely seen and heard of.

In 2014, UNTOLD focused on the community of Cabbage Tree Island.

This year the project will focus on Tabulam with stories about its rich history, strong Indigenous community, artists, musicians, athletes, farmers and much more.

The UNTOLD Tabulam live broadcast is on Friday, December 11 from the primary school.

Topics: community-and-society, regional, lismore-2480, tenterfield-2372, casino-2470