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Suspension bridge for access to Benge farm, west of Te Marua
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PhotographerSylvia Williams’s father
DescriptionSylvia Williams's family may have migrated to New Zealand; they initially stayed in the Provincial Hotel. From a photo taken there, they must have arrived in the summer of 1947-48. Her father worked on the construction of the Dunlop tyre factory, and probably took this series of pictures.
Benge Bridge.
The suspension bridge spanned the Hutt River just south of Te Marua and was built by Ted Salisbury for Frank 'Pop' Benge in 1935; he used it for foot access to his farm, and for transporting milk cans from adjacent milking sheds. According to Frank's grandson Vinnie ('Snow') Benge, the decking had come from a boat called the 'Matipo' and the bridge had been known by that name. The mirror(?) frames were matai; most of the rest of the timber was thought to be teak.
It was demolished in 1996.
It was identified via a group of photographs of children from Te Marua (Brown Owl) school swimming here; the preceding notes came from there.
DescriptionSylvia Williams's family may have migrated to New Zealand; they initially stayed in the Provincial Hotel. From a photo taken there, they must have arrived in the summer of 1947-48. Her father worked on the construction of the Dunlop tyre factory, and probably took this series of pictures.Benge Bridge.
The suspension bridge spanned the Hutt River just south of Te Marua and was built by Ted Salisbury for Frank 'Pop' Benge in 1935; he used it for foot access to his farm, and for transporting milk cans from adjacent milking sheds. According to Frank's grandson Vinnie ('Snow') Benge, the decking had come from a boat called the 'Matipo' and the bridge had been known by that name. The mirror(?) frames were matai; most of the rest of the timber was thought to be teak.
It was demolished in 1996.
It was identified via a group of photographs of children from Te Marua (Brown Owl) school swimming here; the preceding notes came from there.
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ReferenceSylvia Williams Upper Hutt 1947-1949 008
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Suspension bridge for access to Benge farm, west of Te Marua. Upper Hutt City Library, accessed 04/04/2026, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/17410