Timber Railway Bridge
Peel Road INVERLEIGH, Golden Plains Shire
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Statement of Significance
What is significant?
The Inverleigh Railway Bridge is located on Peel Road at the crossing of the Gheringhap - Maroona Railway Line approximately 800 metres east of the township of Inverleigh.
The timber bridge, designed by the Leigh Shire Engineer, comprises three spans, across two cross-brace timber piles. The timber decking is transverse, with kerb beams and high white railings located on six beams fixed by angle irons. A single steel utility pipe is fixed to the western kerb and spans the length of the decking. It was constructed in 1912 to provide permanent access to the rural allotments located to the south of the Hamilton Highway, that were severed from the township by the Gheringhap to Maroona railway line. The railway line was constructed to link the Western District of Victoria to the port of Geelong. Originally a mixed service, daily passenger services concluded in 1952 and the line was used to transport goods and local produce. In 1995 the Gheringhap to Maroona line was gauge converted to the western standard gauge to form a link in the chain of the Melbourne - Adelaide railway line. The line is operated by Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) for the bulk haulage of intrastate and interstate freight. The bridge is in very good condition and retains a high degree of integrity.
How is it significant?
The Inverleigh Railway Bridge is of historical and architectural (engineering) significance to the Golden Plains Shire.
Why is it significant?
The Inverleigh Railway Bridge is of local historical significance as a surviving example of an early timber bridge constructed to provide access to properties that were isolated from the township by the Gheringhap to Maroona railway line. It is also of historical significance for reflecting the role of the railway line in linking small rural townships to broader trade opportunities.
The bridge is of local architectural (engineering) significance as a surviving example of a timber bridge, constructed in 1912 by the Leigh Shire.
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Timber Railway Bridge - Physical Description 1
The Inverleigh Railway Bridge is located on Peel Road at the crossing of the Gheringhap to Maroona Railway Line approximately 800 metres east of the township of Inverleigh.
Peel Road is a narrow residential roadway that runs in a southerly direction from the Hamilton Highway for approximately 200 metres at which point it crosses the railway line then continues in an easterly direction (parallel to the line) for approximately 1 km. The approach to the bridge is relatively flat, with the decking rising steeply from two timber abutments, located on the plateau of each side of the railway cutting. The timber bridge comprises three spans, across two cross-brace timber piles. The total length of the three spans is approximately 50 metres. The timber decking is transverse, with kerb beams and high white railings located on six beams fixed by angle irons. A single steel utility pipe is fixed to the western kerb and spans the length of the decking. Repairs to the bridge have been recently undertaken, including the replacement of timber decking and the north-western timber pier. The bridge is in very good condition and retains a high degree of integrity.Timber Railway Bridge - Historical Australian Themes
The Australian Heritage Commission devised the Australian Historic Themes in 2001. The following themes have influenced the historical development of the Inverleigh Railway Bridge.
3 Developing Local, Regional And National Economies
3.8 Moving goods and people
3.8.6 Building and maintaining railways
Timber Railway Bridge - Physical Description 2
Extent of Registration: to the extent of the timber railway bridge, located on the Gheringhap to Maroona railwayline.
Timber Railway Bridge - Integrity
The bridge is in good condition and retains a high degree of integrity.
Heritage Study and Grading
Golden Plains - Golden Plains Shire Heritage Study Phase 2
Author: Heritage Matters P/L
Year: 2009
Grading:
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INVERLEIGH BRIDGEVictorian Heritage Inventory
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21 COMMON ROAD INVERLEIGHVictorian Heritage Inventory
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Tower Hill HomesteadGolden Plains Shire
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