Registration Type
Historic Place Category 1
Register Number
4161
Date Registered
30-Aug-1990
City/District Council
Hamilton City
Region
Waikato Region
Summary
Fairfield Bridge is a distinctive and graceful road bridge, built across the Waikato River in 1937. A ferro-concrete structure of bowstring design, it was erected on the northern outskirts of Hamilton as an alternative crossing to the steel-arched Victoria Bridge in the city centre. Its construction serviced the needs of the local farming community but also encouraged the suburban spread of the town, with the area being incorporated within the city boundaries by 1949. It was funded by a combination of local and central authorities, supervised by the Waikato County Council, and unveiled by Bob Semple (1873-1955), Minister of Public Works in the first Labour administration of 1935.
The bridge was built with three bowstring arches and a pierced balustrade of geometric style. Its main technological achievement lay in the central span of 39.6 m (130 feet), which was considered the largest in New Zealand for this form of concrete structure when the bridge was opened. Elegant piers enhanced its modern appearance, as did Art Deco lamp standards between each arch. The structure was designed by the Auckland-based firm of Jones and Adams, pioneer exponents of concrete bridges in the region. Bowstring structures using concrete had been introduced to New Zealand in 1917, but were not popularly adopted until the mid 1930s. Still in regular use, the bridge was registered as a Historic Place in 1990, after which an extensive conservation programme was carried out.
Fairfield Bridge is nationally significant for being at the forefront of using concrete technology to construct bowstring bridges. It is one of the best preserved of these structures from their 'golden age' in the 1930s. Visually, it has been considered the epitome of concrete bowstring bridge design in New Zealand, and is important for its incorporation of Art Deco style. The structure is historically valuable for its links with suburban growth and road transport in the years before the Second World War, having played a considerable role in the expansion of Hamilton. Its national and regional importance are attested to by its association with New Zealand's first Labour government and the engineering firm of Jones and Adams. It is a prominent local landmark enhanced by its river setting and the presence of Art Deco housing at both ends of the bridge. It has additional value for its association with other historic structures along the Waikato River, including Victoria Bridge in central Hamilton.
Historical Significance
The Fairfield Bridge provided more direct access to the commercial centre of Hamilton and to the Frankton area for the residents of the developing northern section of the borough, and for the people of the adjacent farming areas of Waipa and Waikato Counties. In doing so it stimulated further development of the town north-easterly into the country areas.
Physical Significance
ARCHITECTURAL QUALITY:
Sited well away from commercial development, the Fairfield Bridge can be readily appreciated in its uncluttered environment. It is noteworthy for the refinement seen in the gentle transition of the bowstring curve at the bases of adjoining trusses. This aesthetic appreciation is also seen in the walkways on the west side where they have attractively curved balustrades. As with earlier bridges by Adams and Jones in the 1920s the balustrades are pierced, in this instance in a geometric pattern whereas the others have a floriated form. The Fairfield Bridge illustrates design confidence with refinement.
TOWNSCAPE/LANDMARK VALUE:
The Fairfield Bridge has considerable landscape value, especially when viewed from the riverside walkways.
Construction Professionals
Historical Narrative
DESCRIPTION:
The first bowstring arch bridge of reinforced concrete in New Zealand was opened in Blenheim in 1917. This form of bridge was popular with French and American engineers, in USA it was known as the rainbow arch. The single bowstring arch Westshore bridge at Napier was built in 1918 and then a spate of designs appeared in the 1930s. Jones and Adams designed the Tuskan Bridge (1933). In the following year the Balclutha Bridge was opened and in 1935 the Fitzherbert Bridge at Palmerston North. Two small single span bridges were built in 1935 over the Makarau River, north of Helensville and in 1937 in the Tangahoe Valley, Taranaki. Some of these had lateral ties between the bowstring arches but the Fairfield Bridge does not.
With the expansion northwards of Hamilton city during the first three decades of the century, and with increasing traffic levels, replacement of the 1910 traffic bridge over the Waikato became necessary. As the chosen site lay outside of the then borough boundary, the work was carried out under the supervision of the Waikato County Council, with costs being contributed by the Hamilton Borough Council, Waipa County Council and the Public Works Department. The bridge was opened in March 1937 by the Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works.
Notable Features
Registration covers the structure, its fixtures and finishes. It also includes recent modifications.
The three large bowstring arches and the pierced balustrade.
Construction Dates
- Original Construction: 1935 (circa) - 1937 (circa)
- Modification: 1992 (circa) - 1993 (circa)
Construction Details
Reinforced concrete abutments, piers, deck, bowstring arch trusses and girder spans.
Other Information
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration.
The Fairfield Bridge was the winner of the Enduring Concrete Award for 2012.
Report Written By
Martin Jones
Report Completed
21-Nov-2001
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