Location 267
Location #267. The Robertshaw Bridge.
Map 0
Address

Area

Cornish Point

Description

Location #267. The Robertshaw Bridge. kawarau River, Cornish Point, approx 1.1km upstream from the confluence with the Clutha River. now under Lake Dunstan.


Still Standing

No



Construction Details

A light suspension bridge of wire cables and heavy timbers, probably recycled from old dredge timbers. It was built just above the high water level and was designed as a foot bridge.

Location Type

Other


View Location on Map

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Interested Parties

The table below shows the groups of people that had an interest in this property, either as owners, residents, tenants or shareholders. Clicking on the 'Details' link will display a list of the individuals in the group along with any known historical information about them.

Group Date Description
1 c1925/1930 Arthur Frank Robertshaw. Details
2 1962 - 1984 Michael & Peter Olds Details
3 1984 - c1989 Ian Begg Details
4 c1989 Ministry of Works and Development Details
Notes

The table below shows any historical notes about the location.

Note Date Short Description Note Text
2947 1925 Bridge construction. A light suspension bridge of wire cables and heavy timbers, probably recycled from old dredge timbers. It was just above the high water level and designed as a foot bridge. The bridge was located on the Kawarau River approximately 1.1 km upstream from the confluence with the Clutha River. this area is now under Lake Dunstan.
2948 General notes. The owner of the bridge was Arthur Frank Robertshaw. He lived with his wife and one daughter in Cromwell. His wife owned a drapery shop in Melmore Terrace, near where the power board building used to be.
2950 c 1925/1930 Building of the bridge. Mr Robertshaw was interested in getting a better means of access from Cormwell than the existing chair (location #266) and the rough track from Bannockburn. Mr James Ritchie from Bannockburn (dwelling #324) was contracted to construct a light suspension bridge for foot traffic only. The Cornish Point bridge provided access for Mr Robertshaw along with the many miners working on the point and in the lower Cairnmuir area.
2951 c1941 The bridge was moved to make way for 'The Molyneux' dredge. The Molyneux Gold Dredging Company's huge dredge "The Molyneux" was mining it's way up the Kawarau River. Unfortunately the dredge could not pass under the Cornish Point foot bridge as it only had a freeboard of about 20 ft. The bridge was dismantled to let the huge dredge pass, and was then rebuilt again.
2952 1962 Mess'rs Michael & Peter Olds purchased the bridge from Mr Robertshaw. Michael and Peter Olds purchased the Cornish Point land from Mr Robertshaw, along with the Cornish Point footbridge.
2953 1964 The bridge was repaired. The Olds planted an apricot orchard and repaired the bridge which had become unsafe. A gate was placed on the bridge and it was not intended for public access. Orchard workers from Cromwell continued to use the bridge.
2954 1984 Mr Ian Begg purchased the orchard and the bridge from the Olds. Mr Ian Begg purchased the Cornish Point orchard from the Olds, along with the footbridge. By now there was a good public road from Bannockburn. The bridge had again become unsafe and was not in regular use.
2955 c1989 The bridge was taken over by the Ministry of Works and Development. The Ministry of Works and Development took over the ownership of the Cornish Point foot bridge as part of the power project, as it would be flooded by Lake Dunstan. The Cornish Point foot bridge was dismantled by the power project workers as part of lake shore clearing for Lake Dunstan. No records of any building consent or any structural drawings for this bridge have ever been found.
Images

The table below shows a list of images related to the location. Click on 'View Image' to display more details about the image, and to view the image.

Image Id Source Date Short Description
593 J Connelly Collection - Cromwell 1953 Robertshaw Bridge (location #267), Kawarau River View Image
666 J Connelly - Cromwell 1953 Location #267 - Robertshaw Bridge - Cornish Point, Kawarau River View Image
1026 NZ Aerial Mapping. 9 Mar 1949 Cornish Point - Aerial photo showing various locations as marked. View Image