Members of the Mount Rankin Landcare Group have begun preparing the site for a big tree planting day on October 16, when the community will be invited to help beautify the site.

Bathurst Regional Council has already levelled and drained the surrounding area following the bridge’s closure.

This valuable piece of local heritage was damaged when a vehicle struck it, knocking down one of its stone walls.

Although the single lane bridge was structurally sound, council was forced to close it, diverting traffic to the new section of Freemantle Road, which was unfinished at the time.

Mount Rankin Landcare Group secretary Terry Rath said the group was very appreciative of council’s support of the project.

Mr Rath said council has engaged a stonemason who will start repair work on the bridge in October.

Who built the bridge remains a bit of a mystery, but historians believe it was constructed around the 1850s.

“I am thrilled the bridge will be restored,” Mr Rath said. “The work we are doing will add to that and make the area more picturesque.”

Mr Rath said a lot of the historical research on the structure was done by local resident Kevin Boule, who has a passionate interest in the bridge.

Volunteers have smoothed out the site before the revegetation work begins.

“Our plan is to restore the area, which was stripped of trees by the roadworks,” Mr Rath said.

“We received a small landcare grant from the Catchment Management Authority. There was special interest because of the historic stone bridge.

“This area was once called Frog Hollow, because of its beautiful trees and the environment around the road, but now has been laid bare because of the earthworks.

“If we replant now, in some years it will be beautiful again,” Mr Rath said.

He said in the future a small carpark will be added and people will be welcome to come and visit the old bridge and enjoy the tranquillity.