Prior to this time, the young colony of New South Wales had no skilled stonemasons, and so it was almost fate that a chance meeting with the Surveyor-General, Major Thomas Mitchell should result in Lennox—by now a Master Stonemason with twenty years' experience—becoming, provisionally, Sub-Inspector of Bridges and later Superintendent of Bridges.
The historic Lennox Bridge at Lapstone Hill is the oldest bridge on the Australian mainland.
Lennox moved to Melbourne in 1844, to take up a position responsible for bridges in the Port Phillip district.
Lennox retired in November 1853 and returned to New South Wales two years later where he lived in Parramatta.[4] He died on 12 November 1873, and was buried in old St John's cemetery, Parramatta.[4] His grave was never marked so it is not known exactly where he was interred.[4]
In 1832, the year of his arrival in the colony, Lennox was commissioned to oversee the construction of the bridges for the new road over the Blue Mountains including a bridge over Brookside Creek at Lapstone Hill. Construction began in 1832 with Lennox supervising the efforts of twenty convicts who had little, if any, masonry skills. Lennox Bridge is the oldest surviving complete bridge on the Australian mainland (it is predated by Richmond Bridge in Tasmania, completed 1825, and by the foundations of several bridges north of Wisemans Ferry including Clares Bridge on the Great North Road, built in 1830).[5]
Lennox was also responsible for the construction of historic Lansdowne Bridge over Prospect Creek which he was enlisted to build in 1832, with construction beginning the very next year using locally quarried stone.[1] After three years, it was opened in January 1836 and with a toll charged for crossing, the construction costs were soon recovered.[1]
1836 – Liverpool Dam
Lennox oversaw the construction of the Liverpool Dam, one of the first engineered weirs built in New South Wales,[6] which both supplied water to the town of Liverpool and served as a causeway across the Georges River. Constructed under the supervision of Capt. Christie of the 80th Regiment; assistant engineer and superintendent of Ironed Gangs in the Town of Liverpool.
Designed in 1835 as an elliptical arch of 90 feet (27 m) span, the bridge over the Parramatta River at Parramatta was ultimately built as a simple stone arch spanning 80 feet (24 m) and having a width of 39 feet (12 m). Construction began in November 1836, using the centring from the Lansdowne Bridge, adjusted to the new span, and the work was finished in 1839.[7] It was named Lennox Bridge by the Parramatta Council some 28 years later.[4]
1839 – Parramatta Boundary Markers
Lennox oversaw the installation of 9 carved stones which marked the former parish boundaries of Parramatta. Of the original 9, 4 can still be seen in their original locations.[8]
1844-1853 – Lennox built fifty-three bridges in the nine years he was in the employ of Victoria,[4] including the second Prince's Bridge over the Yarra River in Melbourne. The 46 metres (151 ft) stone arch was the largest built by Lennox and was opened in 1851.[4][9] It was to last until the river was widened some thirty-five years later, and in 1888 was replaced by the present Prince's Bridge. It is possible that he designed Towrang Bridge (1839) that once carried the Hume Highway.
As well as bridges, Lennox was also in charge of roads, wharves and ferries in the Port Phillip district.
Referencesedit
^ abc"Lansdowne Bridge over Prospect Creek". Roads and Maritime Heritage and conservation register. 25 January 2023.
^"Lennox Bridge – Lapstone Hill", Blue Mountains Info
^ abcdef"Lennox, David", Australian Dictionary of Biography
^Karskens, Grace (1985). The Grandest Improvement in the Country – An Historical and Archaeological Study of the Great North Road, NSW 1825-1836. Thesis.
^"Liverpool Weir". Heritage Branch, New South Wales Department of Planning.
^"Lennox Bridge, Parramatta". Roads and Maritime Heritage and conservation register. 25 January 2023.
^"History Services Blog: Of Boundary Stones and Markers". 10 April 2011.
^"Some significant dates in the History of the City of Melbourne 19 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine", City of Melbourne
External linksedit
. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008.
December 15, 2023
david, lennox, this, article, about, bridge, builder, american, inventor, dave, lennox, confused, with, david, thomas, lenox, 1788, november, 1873, scottish, australian, bridge, builder, master, stonemason, born, scotland, bornayr, scotlandbaptisedfebruary, 17. This article is about David Lennox a bridge builder For the American inventor see Dave Lennox Not to be confused with David Thomas Lenox David Lennox 1788 12 November 1873 was a Scottish Australian bridge builder and master stonemason born in Ayr Scotland David LennoxBornAyr ScotlandBaptisedFebruary 1788Died12 November 1873 1873 11 12 aged 85 New South WalesNationalityBritishKnown forPioneering bridge buildingLansdowne Bridge over Prospect Creek on the Hume Highway at Lansdowne Opened in 1836 it carries traffic to this day Contents 1 Personal details 2 Partial list of works 3 References 4 External linksPersonal details edit nbsp Lennox s house at 39 Campbell Street ParramattaTrained as a stonemason Lennox worked on Telford s Menai Suspension Bridge at Anglesey in Wales and on Over Bridge at Gloucester before emigrating to Australia 1 following the death of his wife 2 He arrived in August 1832 aboard the ship Florentia 3 Prior to this time the young colony of New South Wales had no skilled stonemasons and so it was almost fate that a chance meeting with the Surveyor General Major Thomas Mitchell should result in Lennox by now a Master Stonemason with twenty years experience becoming provisionally Sub Inspector of Bridges and later Superintendent of Bridges nbsp The historic Lennox Bridge at Lapstone Hill is the oldest bridge on the Australian mainland Lennox moved to Melbourne in 1844 to take up a position responsible for bridges in the Port Phillip district Lennox retired in November 1853 and returned to New South Wales two years later where he lived in Parramatta 4 He died on 12 November 1873 and was buried in old St John s cemetery Parramatta 4 His grave was never marked so it is not known exactly where he was interred 4 Partial list of works edit1832 Lennox BridgeIn 1832 the year of his arrival in the colony Lennox was commissioned to oversee the construction of the bridges for the new road over the Blue Mountains including a bridge over Brookside Creek at Lapstone Hill Construction began in 1832 with Lennox supervising the efforts of twenty convicts who had little if any masonry skills Lennox Bridge is the oldest surviving complete bridge on the Australian mainland it is predated by Richmond Bridge in Tasmania completed 1825 and by the foundations of several bridges north of Wisemans Ferry including Clares Bridge on the Great North Road built in 1830 5 1832 1835 Lansdowne BridgeLennox was also responsible for the construction of historic Lansdowne Bridge over Prospect Creek which he was enlisted to build in 1832 with construction beginning the very next year using locally quarried stone 1 After three years it was opened in January 1836 and with a toll charged for crossing the construction costs were soon recovered 1 1836 Liverpool DamLennox oversaw the construction of the Liverpool Dam one of the first engineered weirs built in New South Wales 6 which both supplied water to the town of Liverpool and served as a causeway across the Georges River Constructed under the supervision of Capt Christie of the 80th Regiment assistant engineer and superintendent of Ironed Gangs in the Town of Liverpool nbsp The Lennox Bridge over the Parramatta River opened in 1839 1836 1839 Lennox Bridge ParramattaDesigned in 1835 as an elliptical arch of 90 feet 27 m span the bridge over the Parramatta River at Parramatta was ultimately built as a simple stone arch spanning 80 feet 24 m and having a width of 39 feet 12 m Construction began in November 1836 using the centring from the Lansdowne Bridge adjusted to the new span and the work was finished in 1839 7 It was named Lennox Bridge by the Parramatta Council some 28 years later 4 1839 Parramatta Boundary MarkersLennox oversaw the installation of 9 carved stones which marked the former parish boundaries of Parramatta Of the original 9 4 can still be seen in their original locations 8 1844 1853 Lennox built fifty three bridges in the nine years he was in the employ of Victoria 4 including the second Prince s Bridge over the Yarra River in Melbourne The 46 metres 151 ft stone arch was the largest built by Lennox and was opened in 1851 4 9 It was to last until the river was widened some thirty five years later and in 1888 was replaced by the present Prince s Bridge It is possible that he designed Towrang Bridge 1839 that once carried the Hume Highway As well as bridges Lennox was also in charge of roads wharves and ferries in the Port Phillip district References edit a b c Lansdowne Bridge over Prospect Creek Roads and Maritime Heritage and conservation register 25 January 2023 Lennox Bridge Lapstone Hill Blue Mountains Info External Intelligence The Sydney Gazette And New South Wales Advertiser Vol XXX no 2167 New South Wales Australia 14 August 1832 p 3 via National Library of Australia a b c d e f Lennox David Australian Dictionary of Biography Karskens Grace 1985 The Grandest Improvement in the Country An Historical and Archaeological Study of the Great North Road NSW 1825 1836 Thesis Liverpool Weir Heritage Branch New South Wales Department of Planning Lennox Bridge Parramatta Roads and Maritime Heritage and conservation register 25 January 2023 History Services Blog Of Boundary Stones and Markers 10 April 2011 Some significant dates in the History of the City of Melbourne Archived 19 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine City of MelbourneExternal links edit History of the Lennox Bridge Archived from the original on 9 May 2008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title David Lennox amp oldid 1156305422, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
