Opened on 4 May 1883, the North Bourke Bridge was designed by J H Daniels and modified in 1895 and 1903 by E M de Burgh. Its construction was begun by David BailIie and completed by McCulloch & Co. The 1895 modifications led to improved designs for subsequent lift-span bridges. The bridge is the oldest moveable-span bridge in Australia and is the sole survivor of its type in New South Wales. It served for 114 years before being bypassed in 1997 when a new bridge carrying the Mitchell Highway was opened just downstream.