Lang Lang River Bridge
Melbourne side, Lang Lang Station,, LANG LANG VIC 3984 - Property No B6945
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Statement of Significance
What is significant? Lang Lang River Bridge was built in 1890 as part of the Great Southern Railway (South Gippsland Railway). It is a single track timber bridge. Originally of 47 spans, by 1906 it was reduced to 22 spans with earth embankments and it now has 19 spans with timber piers and a combination of transverse-timber decking and longitudinal-rail deck.
How is it significant? Lang Lang River Bridge is of historical and technical significance to the State of Victoria.
Why is it significant? Lang Lang River Bridge is of historical significance as it is by far the longest timber-trestle bridge surviving on the original Dandenong-Leongatha section of the Great Southern Railway. Lang Lang River Bridge is in the swamp section of that railway, which produced some of the most difficult engineering and construction problems ever faced by Victorian railway engineers.
Lang Lang River Bridge is of technical significance as construction elements from different periods of railways history can be found in this complex bridge. The current structure, with its unusually diverse range of timber-beam and rail-deck span lengths, illustrates the technical evolution in bridge construction since 1890, in response both to environmental changes and to traffic needs.
Lang Lang River Bridge is now a 19 span bridge with a unique range of standard Victorian Railways span lengths in the one structure: 12 of 3.3 m (11 feet), 3 of 4.5 m (15 feet), 1 of 5.4 m (18 feet), and 3 of 6 m (20 feet). The peculiar combination of 3.3 m rail-deck spans with timber-beam spans of 4.5, 5.4, and 6 m, is unlike anything elsewhere in the State. The timber piers are also very diverse, ranging from two to five piles, and varying timber-stay patterns, reflecting progressive upgrading of the structure. Piers are slightly skewed, and some main stream piers have rare stay piles.
Classified: 19/05/1998
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Lang Lang River Bridge - Physical Description 1
Description:
Lang Lang River Bridge is a 19 span bridge, with an unusual range of span lengths in the one structure: 12 of 3.3 m, 3 of 4.5 m, 1 of 5.4 m, and 3 of 6 m. It has timber piers and a combination of transverse timber decking and longitudinal rail deck. The piers are also very diverse, some having two piles and others three, four, or even five piles. The piers are slightly skewed, and some main stream piers have stay piles, but on one side only.
Context
Although the main river channel has deepened considerably since Lang Lang River Bridge was first built, the bridge site retains significant features of the original swamp environment. It is in open farmland country, with some trees, in walking distance of Lang Lang township.
Intactness:
Lang Lang River Bridge is in unusually good condition, largely because it has been in regular use into recent years. Many bridge piles have been renewed as recently as the 1980s.
Assessment against Criteria:
Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria's cultural history.Lang Lang River Bridge and the Great Southern Railway enabled the opening up of South Gippsland for agriculture and the establishment of towns such as Korumburra and Leongatha. Lang Lang River Bridge also enabled transport across the difficult Koo Wee Rup swamp.
Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria's cultural historyLang Lang River Bridge is the longest timber-trestle bridge surviving on the original Dandenong-Leongatha section of the Great Southern Railway.
Potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria's cultural historyImportance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural places or objectsLang Lang River Bridge has a very unusual combination of variant span lengths and structural types. Its 19 spans cover a unique range of standard Victorian Railways span lengths. The peculiar combination of 3.3 m rail-deck spans with timber-beam spans of 4.5, 5.4, and 6 m is unlike anything elsewhere in the State. Its piers are very diverse, ranging from two to five piles.
Importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristicsImportance in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular periodLang Lang River Bridge, with its unusually diverse range of timber-beam and rail-deck span lengths, reflects the process of technical evolution in bridge construction since 1890, in response both to environmental changes and to traffic needs.
Lang Lang River Bridge - Usage/Former Usage
rail bridge, no longer in use
Lang Lang River Bridge - Intactness
Lang Lang Bridge was originally built with 47 spans, but as early as 1906 it had been reduced to 22 spans by conversion to embankment. Further conversion has resulted in only 19 spans remaining; these are intact.
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ANZ BANKCardinia Shire
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Row housesCardinia Shire
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Former Lang Lang Butter FactoryNational Trust
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