Frederick Meredith (jnr) and his brother, William Meredith were said to be in charge of the convicts who built this bridge.
Charlie Peel, a descendant of William, was told this story by his Grandmother Sophia Lucy, who was born in 1855 to William and Charlotte.
The Bridge which is is a heritage-listed road bridge that carries the northbound carriageway of the Hume Highway across Prospect Creek between Lansvale and Lansdowne. Highlights the engineering masterpiece of David Lennox in building the Lansdowne Bridge built 1834. The Lansdowne Bridge, it is shown from a bird’s eye view and is in the foreground (Google image)
The Hawkesbury sandstone used in building the bridge was quarried on the bank of George’s River at present day East Hills. The bridge was constructed entirely by unskilled convicts.
Some of the convicts had rebelled and had consumed the contents of a nearby liquor still.
Returning to the camp drunk they threatened to kill the supervisor and destroy the camp and quarrying equipment. The police from Liverpool were called and arrested the offenders. Retribution at Liverpool Court was swift and savage; those who were spared the chain gang received up to fifty lashes of the “cat”.
The sandstone arch has the largest span of any surviving masonry bridge in Australia. The size, appearance and durability make this bridge an outstanding example of colonial engineering.”
Written by Charlie Peel
Also published in the Newsletter of Frederick Meredith Descendants’ Group July 2023