Historic Brunner Bridge
The Brunner Bridge is clearly visible from the road. It never closes and can be accessed from either side via State Highway 7 and Taylorville-Blackball Road, and by rail via Brunner Station.
Aerial shot of Brunner Bridge
A walk through the restored box girder is an experience that will excite most visitors - something they will photograph and recommend to friends.
The bridge defines and differentiates the Brunner site and helps to trigger visitors to stop and explore. It also provides an essential link between parts of the site on opposite banks of the river and a great viewpoint to help with interpretation. Added to this, coal trains laden with Paparoa coal still pass through several times daily.
The Brunner Mine Historic Area combines fascinating history, extensive mining ruins, a great natural setting, and attracts some 30,000 visitors annually.
2004 restoration
The 2004 bridge restoration project has significantly increased cultural heritage values by strengthening interpretation and landmark aspects. The Brunner Industrial Site Co-ordinating Committee resolved that the bridge should be retained at all costs. In fact a restored bridge, as a landmark, would rejuvenate the cultural status of the site.
A conservation plan was developed for the site (Kelly 2000) and then a more specific conservation plan developed for the bridge (Kelly 2002). The bridge, already in its fifth reincarnation, still retained most of its original form, a 'evolving heritage' approach was acceptable and a full reconstruction of the 1887 bridge was decided.
The engineering design and cost estimates were undertaken by Montgomery Watson Harza, Consulting Engineers of Greymouth. The task of fundraising got under way and the major contributors were: Grey District Council, Historic Places Trust, Department of Conservation, Solid Energy
Further reading
2004: The Heritage and Environment of Coal Gorge and the Brunner Suspension Bridge; Brian Wood, Greymouth
2002: Brunner Bridge Conservation Plan; M. Kelly, BISCC
2000: Brunner Mine Concept Plan; M Kelly, DOC.
1998: Disaster at Brunner; Brian Wood, Greymouth