Smythe's Creek Railway Viaduct
151.3 km mark on Ballarat-Skipton Railway,, NEWTOWN VIC 3351 - Property No B7086
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Statement of Significance
What is significant? Nimons Bridge was built in 1890, as part of the then Ballarat-Linton railway. The bridge is 17 spans with tall timber piers of four driven piles each, with triple sets of diagonal cross-bracing and walers and a single row of longitudinal horizontal bracing between piers. The spans are of a uniform twenty feet (6.1 metres), originally supported by four 21-inch x 9-inch (535 mm x 230 mm) Kauri timber beams per span, following the standard V.R. design of the period. When the superstructure was rebuilt after the 1953 fire, the timber beams were replaced with two 24-inch (610mm) deep rolled-steel-joists on each span. These are marked 'Lancashire Steel Co., Scotland' and are believed to have been second-hand. The deck of transverse-timber planks is 103.6 metres in length. Overall the bridge has an impressive appearance with its exceptionally tall triple-cross-braced piers creating a 'three-tiered' effect, with the deck 19.2 metres above the Woady Yaloak River.
The Ballarat-Skipton line closed in 1985. Nimons Bridge has been recently restored, as part of the Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail.
How is it significant? Nimons Bridge is significant for technical, historic and aesthetic reasons at a State level.
Why is it significant? Nimons Bridge is technically significant as Victoria's fourth-tallest timber trestle bridge when built, and as the third-tallest surviving example. It is also the second-largest composite bridge combining traditional timber piers with RSJ spans and a timber deck and falls within a select group of fewer than ten timber railway bridges with horizontal longitudinal bracing between the piers and three sets of double cross-bracing on its tallest piers, creating a visually striking 'three tiered' effect that enhances its viaduct form.
Nimons Bridge is historically significant as having served initially the mining community at Linton, then the Western District agricultural area and in later years a kaolin quarry at Pittong.
Nimons Bridge is historically significant as a representative of the 'light' branch line methodology that stimulated the explosion of railway construction in Victoria during the 1880s, and provides an interesting contrast with the more solid and vastly more expensive railway viaducts built in similar terrain on Victorian main lines, at Moorabool and Taradale, in the late 1850s. Approached by a deep cutting and high embankment at either end, the bridge represents a very cost-effective late 19th century engineering solution to the characteristic physiography of western Victoria with flat basalt plains intersected by deep wide valleys occasionally subject to severe flooding.
Nimons Bridge is aesthetically significant for its visually impressive viaduct form, crossing a deep and steep-sided valley that is part of a rich cultural landscape. Within close proximity of the bridge are mullock dumps, tailings, shaft sites and other relics of the deep-lead alluvial mining era. The bridge is the most visually spectacular timber-trestle rail bridge in Western Victoria and is among the most spectacular timber-trestle rail bridges surviving anywhere in Victoria. It is part of the Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail.
Classified:02/10/2000
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Smythe's Creek Railway Viaduct - Physical Description 1
Nimons bridge has 17 spans with tall timber piers of four driven piles each, with triple sets of diagonal cross-bracing and walers and a single row of longitudinal horizontal bracing between piers. The spans are of a uniform twenty feet (6.1 metres), originally supported by four 21-inch x 9-inch (535 mm x 230 mm) Kauri timber beams per span, following the standard V.R. design of the period. When the superstructure was rebuilt after the 1953 fire, the timber beams were replaced with two 24-inch (610mm) deep rolled-steel-joists on each span. These are marked "Lancashire Steel Co., Scotland" and are believed to have been second-hand. The deck of transverse-timber planks is 103.6 metres in length. Overall the bridge has an impressive appearance with its exceptionally tall triple-cross-braced piers creating a "three-tiered" effect, with the deck 19.2 metres above Smythe's Creek.
The deck has been recently reinforced with steel beams and has safety barriers running the full length, to comply with safety regulations as a pedestrian/ cycling bridge.
Context
Nimons Bridge is situated within a rich cultural landscape that bears evidence from a century and a half of farming and extensive deep-lead gold-mining activity - a rare combination for the setting of a timber railway bridge in Victoria.
The bridge is visible from a considerable distance across the cleared and well-grassed, steep-sided Woady Yaloak (or Smythe's) Creek valley. The steep escarpments of the valley, the massive earth and rubble approach embankments and several prominent mullock dumps in close proximity, provide many vantage points from which to view the bridge. They also help to accentuate its great height and striking viaduct form.
Intactness:
Nimons bridge, currently part of the Ballarat-Skipton rail trail, is in excellent condition.
Assessment against Criteria
Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria's cultural history.Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria's cultural historyPotential 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 objectsNimons Bridge was Victoria's fourth-tallest timber trestle bridge when built, and is the third-tallest surviving example. It is also the second-largest composite bridge combining traditional timber piers with RSJ spans and a timber deck and falls within a select group of fewer than ten timber railway bridges with horizontal longitudinal bracing between the piers and three sets of double cross-bracing on its tallest piers, creating a visually striking "three tiered" effect that enhances its viaduct form.
Importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristicsNimons Bridge is a visually impressive viaduct, crossing a deep and steep-sided valley that is part of a rich cultural landscape. Within close proximity of the bridge are mullock dumps, tailings, shaft sites and other relics of the deep-lead alluvial mining era. The bridge is the most visually spectacular timber-trestle rail bridge in Western Victoria, and is among the most spectacular timber-trestle rail bridges surviving anywhere in Victoria
Importance in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular periodNimons Bridge is a representative of the "light" branch line methodology that stimulated the explosion of railway construction in Victoria during the 1880s, and provides an interesting contrast with the more solid and vastly more expensive railway viaducts built in similar terrain on Victorian main lines, at Moorabool and Taradale, in the late 1850s. Approached by a deep cutting and with high embankment at either end, the bridge represents a very cost-effective late 19th century engineering solution to crossing a deep wide valley occasionally subject to severe flooding.
Smythe's Creek Railway Viaduct - Usage/Former Usage
former rail bridge, now part of rail trail
Smythe's Creek Railway Viaduct - Physical Conditions
The deck has been recently reinforced with steel beams and has safety barriers running the full length, to comply with safety regulations as a pedestrian/ cycling bridge.
Nimons bridge, currently part of the Ballarat-Skipton rail trail, is in excellent condition.
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Smythe's Creek Railway Viaduct - Intactness
excellent
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GALATEA COVictorian Heritage Inventory
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GOLDEN STREAM NO.2Victorian Heritage Inventory
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GOLDEN STREAM NO.3Victorian Heritage Inventory
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