BEECHY RAIL TRAIL FIVE SPAN BRIDGE
CHARLEYS CREEK ROAD GELLIBRAND, COLAC OTWAY SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
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BEECHY RAIL TRAIL FIVE SPAN BRIDGE - History
Promoting settlement in the Otway Ranges
A series afland acts were passed in the 1860s in an attempt to create small farm holdings, whilst at the same time recognising the pioneering efforts of the squatters. Under the first land acr, the 1860 Land Sales Act, three million acres were surveyed into allotments of between 80 to 640 acres. No person could select more than 640 acres annually, and the land had to be paid for outright, or half paid and halfleased. Subsequently more land was made available for selection under the Land Act (J 862) and the 1865 Amendment Act. Then in 1869, most land - including unsurveyedland - became available for selection under the Land Act. (Sheehan, 2003: 19)
The Otway Ranges, in south west Victoria, were first opened to agricultural selection in 1884, under the LandAct 1884, when allotments were selected from pre survey maps prepared by the Lands Department (Minchinton 20 II :2). Within ten years more than 200 allotments had been taken up (Houghton 2005: I). Yet it wasn't until the arrival of the railway, during the 1870s, that Victoria's isolated south western region was considered penetrable. Until this time, the Otway Ranges were virtually impassable and as .such, were oflitrle economic value. The introduction of the railway provided the first all weather, fast and reliable transport service into the area, which as Houghton noted was 'characterised by dense timber and high rainfall' (Houghton 2003:5).
Narrow gauge railways
The role of the Colonial government in surveying the area in 1884 and 1889 was
instrumental in the change from the design of a broad gauge to a narrow gauge
railway, with the resulting decrease in cost. Although initially against the policy of
the Victorian Railways, narrow gauge tailways were eventually recommended for
sparsely settled districts including Beech Forest (1902), Gembrook (1900) and
Whitfield (1899) and Walhalla (1910), were eventually built as narrow gauge lines.
The fourth line, initiilly recommended as narrow gauge was built as a broad gauge
line at Warburton. The Beech Forest line, is therefore not the eariiest nor the latest,
but constructed at the peak of construction in the sparsely sertled areas.
During the 1890s pressure rose to find the means to construct cheap railways to the
underdeveloped parts of Victoria, as the government realised that the cost of
providing communications to the outlying communities by means of railways was
excessive for the small populations served. In 1894 the Parliamentary Standing
Committee on Railways considered the use of narrow gauge railways. The idea was
opposed by the Victorian Railways (VR) in that it would introduce a non-standard
operating regime, which would without doubt incur extra costs, especially when
stock had to be transferred between the rwo gauges.
In 1895 the Committee recommended that narrow gauge lines be only introduced
in sparsely settled areas. The first of the four narrow gauge lines, berween
Wangaratta and Whitfield opened in March 1899. It was followed by the Upper
Ferntree Gully to Gembrook line in December 1900, the Colac to Beech Forest line
in March 1902 and the Moe to Walhalla in May 1910. The Colac to Beech Forest
line was extended to Crowes in June 1911 (see Houghton 2003:6 and Thompson
2004:2).
BEECHY RAIL TRAIL FIVE SPAN BRIDGE - Interpretation of Site
Fifteen bridges were constructed along the entire length of the Colac-Beech Forest-Crowes line. Houghton notes thai earth filled embankments were preferred on economic and maintenance grounds, with timber bridges being only used in wet areas and over the more 'substantial watercourses and very sleep gullies' (Houghlon 2012:14). The bridges were built to a standard VR narrow gauge design and were constructed from Northern Victorian and Gippsland timber. Although originally built from local timber, this was eventually found to be too soft and other timber was employed. The use of timber bridges was confined to the wettest areas, the steepest gullies and more substantial watercourses where earth fill was a liability.
BEECHY RAIL TRAIL FIVE SPAN BRIDGE - Archaeological Significance
Medium potential to contain archaeological deposits.
BEECHY RAIL TRAIL FIVE SPAN BRIDGE - Historical Significance
The timber bridge is of historic importance through its association with the Colac-Beech Forest- Crowes railway line that contributed to the settlement of the Otway region.
Heritage Inventory Description
BEECHY RAIL TRAIL FIVE SPAN BRIDGE - Heritage Inventory Description
The site consists of a straight timber railway bridge composed of timber abutments and earthworks constructed as a part of the former Colac-Beech Forest-Crowes railway line. The approach to the bridge is flat and at its northem bank, the bridge stands at 1 metre high. The bridge has been obliterated by two fallen trees, but five timber piles (cross braced) remain in situ . Only remaining intact section of the bridge is the longitudinal rail-deck (constructed from rail-sleepers), located at the northem side of the gully.
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BEECHY RAIL TRAIL FIVE SPAN BRIDGEVictorian Heritage Inventory
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