This book was built through a network of local people and organisations, engineering and heritage professionals, businesses and government. Roads and Maritime Services New South Wales and the Heritage Council of New South Wales ensured a collaborative approach to assemble this comprehensive record of the State’s legacy of timber truss bridges.
As a result many thanks are due. The team of twelve authors drew widely for their raw material of their chapters, from local communities as well as government agencies, libraries and archives. Appreciation for use of the rich collection of historic images included is expressed to David Sciffer; Bill Phippen, Manager of the Australian Railways Historical Society (NSW); Colin Mackellar at honeysucklecreek.net; Trish Hill and the Wollondilly Heritage Centre & Museum; the Woodville School of Arts; Glen Innes & District Historical Society; the Royal Commonwealth Society Library at Cambridge University; City of Ryde Library; City of Sydney Archives; the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences; Museums Victoria; the National Archives of Australia; the National Library of Australia; the National Museum of Australia; Newcastle Region Library; the State Archives and Records Authority of New South Wales; University of Melbourne Archives; the State Library of New South Wales; and the State Library of South Australia. The work of the Heritage Committee of the Institution of Engineers Australia and of the National Trust (NSW) has also contributed to the development of this book.
In the management team, Louisa Rebec and Daniel Percival provided sterling service. With the manuscript, Michael Clarke and Don Godden were indefatigable in checking facts and clarifying expression to shape the book for a wide readership. Those who contributed particular expertise include Ros Maguire, whose research on William Weaver fills a gap in the story of the bridge designers and Jack Pulczynski, whose diagrams facilitate a grasp of their truss designs.