It is Deniliquin’s link between the north and south - a vital piece of infrastructure considered the centrepiece of our Edward River town.
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It is the National Bridge, which this year is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
For southerners the National Bridge is a concrete causeway to Conargo, the Hay plains and beyond.
For northerners the bridge is a passageway to the central business district, a sturdy construction that many of them pass over daily.
In Deniliquin’s early years, crossing the Edward River was more difficult than it has been since the first bridge was built.
Deniliquin was settled because it was considered the best crossing place on the Edward River, and in the days of early settlement a punt was the only means of crossing the river until the erection by subscription of a narrow, low structure in January 1861.
This was replaced in 1864 by the first National Bridge to be built at the end of Napier St, with the second National Bridge opened in 1896.
This structure stood proudly for 73 years before being demolished to make way for today’s National Bridge, which was officially opened in 1969 by then Acting Minister for Highways Mr A H Jago.
More than 500 people watched Mr Jago cut the ribbon and declare the $621,000 construction open.
At the time this new National Bridge was one of the longest and most modern river crossings in NSW.
This year it received a fresh coat of paint, but apart from these cosmetic upgrades it is unlikely we will see any major changes to the National Bridge for many years to come.