Annan River Bridge

The Annan River Bridge, south of Cooktown, is a rare example of a low level, plate girder, screw-pile bridge. It is 275 metres long, the second longest of its type remaining in Australia. It was designed by John Henry Daniells, Queensland Engineer for Bridges, and constructed between 1886 and 1889. It was built by GH Royce and Co of Sydney and London. Bridgework was imported from England and the ironwork produced at Robertson’s Victoria Foundry in Mackay. The bridge connected Cooktown with the mining settlements of Rossville, Laura and the Palmer River. Prior to the bridge construction, the river crossing had been notorious for its reptilian inhabitants and local stories suggest that no dog had ever successfully crossed to the other side. During the planning for the bridge, misinformation about the sub-strata of the riverbed had been sent to the engineer. Some of the piers were unsuitable for screw piles which meant concrete sleeve cylinders had to be sunk by divers working in the river. The bridge opened to great celebrations on 13 February 1889 and remained in use for over 100 years. It is now a favoured fishing spot as a new, adjacent concrete road was built recently.