Tragedy Bridge over Pyramid Creek
Lower Loddon Road,, KERANG VIC 3579 - Property No B6925
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Statement of Significance
What is significant? Tragedy Bridge is a very rare surviving large all-timber shire road bridge, dating from 1927 and in unusually authentic condition. Built to the standards of the early motor age, it has eleven spans, transverse-timber decking with longitudinal running planks, and wooden rails. The deck is 67 metres long, 4.8 metres wide. The bridge features round log-stringers and corbels, with the outer edges of those situated on each side of the bridge being squared-off for aesthetic purposes.
The bridge has been by passed.
The name refers to a tragic incident during construction: the contractor completing the timber side-rails allegedly was attacked on site by an aggressive rival bearing an adze, and retaliated, with fatal results.
How is it significant? Tragedy Bridge is significant for technical, historic and aesthetic reasons at the State level.
Why is it significant? Tragedy Bridge is historically significant as the only known surviving substantial Victorian shire bridge dating from the 1920s. It retains intact a wide range of original timber features.
Tragedy Bridge is of technical significance as an intact shire bridge of the 1920's. The systematic squaring of the external faces of round stringers and corbels represents typical practice for the 1920's, as do the spiking planks over stringers and the transverse-timber deck with longitudinal running planks. The bridge also retains traditional timber piers and abutments, timber gravel beams and timber side-rails.
Tragedy Bridge is of aesthetic significance, featuring squared side-beams and corbels and a lengthy transverse-timber deck with running planks. It is in a quiet rural setting on a country road traversing the lower Loddon River Valley.
Classified: 03/08/1998
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Tragedy Bridge over Pyramid Creek - Physical Description 1
Tragedy Bridge is an eleven-span timber-beam bridge built on a timber-pier substructure, with a total deck length of over 67 metres and a deck width of 4.8 metres. Built to the standards of the early motor age, it features round log-stringers and corbels, with the outer edges of those situated on each side of the bridge being squared-off for aesthetic purposes. The deck is of transverse-timbers topped by longitudinal running planks, and the bridge still possesses traditional timber side rails.
Context
Tragedy Bridge is situated at a major creek crossing in the northern section of the Loddon River Valley, close to the town of Kerang. When built, it was adjacent to brick kilns serving district building projects, but today it stands on, or rather, next to a quiet country road.
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 historyTragedy Bridge is the only known surviving substantial Victorian shire bridge dating from the 1920s. It retains intact a wide range of original timber features.
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 objectsImportance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristicsTragedy Bridge is of aesthetic interest, featuring squared side-beams and corbels and a lengthy transverse-timber deck with running planks. It is in a quiet rural setting on a country road traversing the lower Loddon River Valley.
Importance in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular periodTragedy Bridge is an intact shire bridge of the 1920's. The systematic squaring of the external faces of round stringers and corbels represents typical practice for the 1920's, as do the spiking planks over stringers and the transverse-timber deck with longitudinal running planks. The bridge also retains traditional timber piers and abutments, timber gravel beams and timber side-rails.
Tragedy Bridge over Pyramid Creek - Usage/Former Usage
road bridge - not in use
Tragedy Bridge over Pyramid Creek - Physical Conditions
fairly good
Tragedy Bridge over Pyramid Creek - Intactness
Kingower Bridge has been maintained by Loddon Shire in close to original condition. It has been recently (as of 2011) re-decked and the cross beams replaced, all according to its original design.
Tragedy Bridge is a rare and impressive example of a once-common type of substantial later-1920s Victorian timber-beam and transverse-decked road bridge fitted with running planks. Very few large Victorian road bridges with their outer stringers and corbels squared off by the broad axe according to the practice of that era, remain in such authentic condition today.
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Tragedy Bridge over Pyramid CreekNational Trust
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