Breaking News
Rising from the rubble
John Morcombe
22 April 2008
ALMOST a year after a wayward Australian Defence Force truck demolished historic Parkhill Arch at North Head, it has finally emerged from the rubble.
The keystone was gently lowered into place yesterday, so the arch is now self-supporting.
After it was accidentally demolished by the truck last May, it took until early this year for the $446,000 restoration project to begin.
With the arch now complete, traffic conditions will return to normal once safety barriers are removed.
National Parks and Wildlife Service area manager Peter Hay said: "It's fantastic to see this well- loved and significant part of North Head restored. Much of the preparation work has occurred at different locations quarrying of stone and shaping the stone to match what was there before the accident.
"Fortunately, all the damaged stone was catalogued immediately after it was damaged.
"As many of the original stones were salvaged and put back where they came from, it will last at least another 70 years."
The arch was named after local federal MP and minister Sir (Robert) Archdale Parkhill, who was successful in obtaining funds for relief works on North Head and elsewhere in the municipality during the Depression.
Sir Archdale's grand-daughter, Prue Parkhill, will be guest of honour at the official reopening of the arch, for which a date has yet to be set.
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