FROM the time Bathurst was settled, the town's residents lobbied the colonial governors and later the New South Wales Government for a bridge over the Macquarie River that flowed through Bathurst and Eglinton. This week's article highlights a postcard image of the old timber Ranken's bridge over Macquarie River at Eglinton.
Fording the Macquarie River became a problem within weeks of Governor Macquarie's visit to Bathurst in May 1815, when the river started to rise.
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There seemed to be floods quite frequently, such as the 1844 flood, which caused problems but did not rise for any length of time.
Though it was not a big flood in 1849, the mail bags from Sydney did not reach their destination on time. The Cox's River was swollen and many of the creeks between it and Bathurst were all but impassable for many days.
George Ranken, a farmer, pastoralist and pioneer, emigrated from Ayrshire in Scotland and received a land grant at Eglinton. Mr Ranken, being an engineer, came up with numerous ideas which he usually funded himself.
He decided to design a private bridge over the Macquarie River which was of an unusual shape. He announced his "A" frame design plans in August 1854.
His bridge attracted reports in several newspapers in the colony, which commented on it or published a drawing of it.
Mr Ranken laid out the lower parts of his Saltram property into farm and village allotments in 1855, which he sold for up to £30 an acre. The "A" frame bridge across the Macquarie River was part of this development plan.
He named the village "Eglinton", after the Earl of Eglinton.
Mr Ranken's bridge was opened on January 12, 1856 with great celebrations and a lavish picnic. The official opening was carried out by Ellen Palmer, daughter of the then Bathurst Police Magistrate.
The Governor Sir William Denison was in town to open the NSW Government's bridge at the time and travelled to Eglinton to commend George Ranken on his initiative and generosity, the latter totalling some £6000.
In August 1857, we again see the high water mark along the Macquarie causing problems for the varying residents, both in Bathurst and along the river.
Mr Ranken's flour mill was waterlogged and erosion along the banks was triggering problems, with crops being swept away.
Mr Cassidy's pound-house at Kelso was "carried away with a large slice of land". The body of an unfortunate man was found in Ryan's paddock on the flat at Kelso.
Mr Ranken went to England in 1859 to patent improvements to his screw propeller and the paddle wheel design for steamers, and these were made and tested at Portsmouth dockyard.
By this time, however, he was suffering from serious afflictions of the liver and he died at Woolwich in London on October 17, 1860.
Then, on June 20, 1867, the first timber Denison Bridge in Bathurst was washed away in the flood which then hit Mr Ranken's "A" frame bridge and took it away as the floodwaters swept it further downstream.
After the waters subsided, residents found Mr Ranken's bridge still almost intact about half a mile down the Macquarie River lying on the bank.
In order to reach Bathurst, the Eglinton residents were compelled to travel round by Kelso, thus adding several miles, over a bad road, to the length of their journey.
Landowners and others in the neighbourhood claimed on the Government for a new structure, and petitions were prepared, numerously signed, and forwarded to the authorities.
The claims of the petitioners were strongly urged by Members of Parliament and others, and at length the promise was given that a new bridge should be erected near the site of the old one.
The bridge was finally completed and remained the only bridge in use until the new cement Ranken's bridge was built downstream.
