WANNON RIVER ROAD BRIDGE (FORMER)
Victoria Valley Road DUNKELD, Southern Grampians Shire
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Statement of Significance
The former Wannon River Road Bridge is located on the Victoria Valley Road over the Wannon River, immediately beside the present bridge, about 2.2kms north-west of the centre of Dunkeld.
The bridge dates from the Interwar period, although from early on, this place was used as a crossing. A crossing over the Wannon River was of critical importance for road access to and from the squatting runs in the Victoria Valley and the Wimmera and central goldfields via Hall's Gap. This position offered a single crossing before the two roads separated and was also strategically located to take advantage of the gap between Mount Sturgeon and The Piccanniny. There has been no architect or engineer associated with the design. The bridge remains in good condition with a very high degree of integrity. It should be viewed in comparison to other concrete structures built in the Interwar period, such as the Monier bridge at the Wannon.
How is it significant?
The former Wannon Road Bridge is of historical significance to the township of Dunkeld and the Southern Grampians Shire.
Why is it significant?
The former road bridge is historically significant as it represents an early an important crossing point of the Wannon River, which continued to be used and eventually had permanent structures built to span the Wannon. This allowed easy access between squatting runs in the Victoria Valley and the Wimmera and central goldfields via Hall's Gap.
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WANNON RIVER ROAD BRIDGE (FORMER) - Physical Conditions
The bridge is in good condition with some localised failure due to corrosion of the reinforcing cables.
WANNON RIVER ROAD BRIDGE (FORMER) - Physical Description 1
The former road bridge is a reinforced concrete structure. Damaged concrete with exposed rusting reinforcing indicates that cables rather than rods were used to reinforce the side beams of the bridge. It has three spans supported by two very thin piers. The piers have flanges to connect structurally with the bed of the road. The marks of timber boards used for formwork remain on the concrete surface but this is not done for aesthetic reasons. The road remains asphalted. The balustrading is steel pipe with Cyclone wire. There are moulded concrete piers at either end of the bridge. The south-west pier has a marker "SN 9061" on top. The former bridge is lower than the present and aligned at a different angle. There is no indication of an earlier structure.
WANNON RIVER ROAD BRIDGE (FORMER) - Historical Australian Themes
Theme 3 Developing local, regional and national economies
3.8 Moving goods and people
3.8.7 Building and maintaining roadsWANNON RIVER ROAD BRIDGE (FORMER) - Usage/Former Usage
Disused
WANNON RIVER ROAD BRIDGE (FORMER) - Integrity
Excellent degree of integrity
WANNON RIVER ROAD BRIDGE (FORMER) - Physical Description 3
Road Reserve
Heritage Study and Grading
Southern Grampians - Southern Grampians Shire Heritage Study
Author: Timothy Hubbard P/L, Annabel Neylon
Year: 2002
Grading:
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