Kingower Stone Bridge
Kingower-Brenanah Road,, KINGOWER VIC 3517 - Property No B6835
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Statement of Significance
What is significant? The Kingower Bridge most probably dates from 1864, and is a two span bridge built on a coach road. It consists of crafted granite masonry abutments and a central pier, with very large timber-beams and transverse-timber-decked superstructure, with running boards. The granite masonry substructure work is finished with draft margins. It is still in daily use.
How is it significant? Kingower Bridge is of historical and aesthetic significance at the State level.
Why is it significant? Kingower Bridge is of historical significance as an extremely rare example of a gold-era stone and timber-beam main road bridge, and is the only known unmodified example of this once-common design still in regular traffic use. It is also one of the oldest surviving local government bridges in Victoria, from the period of District Road Boards preceding rural shires.
Kingower Bridge is of aesthetic significance for its fine masonry craftmanship in local granite, with substantial stone abutments and wing walls and a central masonry pier. It is well proportioned and the soft-coloured granite and old timberwork combine attractively. The bridge is set among vineyards on a former goldfield, close to significant old mining relics and the site of the original Gold Commissioner's 'Government Camp' site.
Classified: 06/10/1997
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Kingower Stone Bridge - Physical Description 1
DESCRIPTION:
Kingower Bridge is a two-span road over creek bridge built for a coach road of the 1860s, consisting of crafted granite-masonry abutments and central pier, with a traditional timber-beam and transverse-timber-decked superstructure with running planks. The granite-masonry substructure work is finished with draft margins.
Context
Kingower Bridge is on the edge of the very small town of Kingower, on what was once a significant gold-rush coach and mail route connecting Maryborough via Dunnolly with Wedderburn. The road now dwindles into a bush track heading into the Kooyoorah State Park, and this track remains historically authentic - unsealed, and with archaic grades and curves - adding a rare context.
The bridge is situated close to various other historical artifacts, in a goldfields heritage area and on a tourist route. Nearby are the workings of the Union Reef Mine. Just past the bridge is a winery, with vineyards on either side of the road.
ASSESSMENT AGAINST CRITERIA:
Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria's cultural history.The crossing of the Kingower Creek at the site of this colonial masonry-and-timber bridge was associated with the earliest phases of the Victorian gold rushes in one of the richest gold-producing districts. Kingower's rich 'Union Reef' was located just up from the creek-crossing site of the current bridge.
Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria's cultural historyKingower Bridge is an extremely rare example of a gold-era stone and timber-beam main road bridge, and is the only known unmodified example of this once-common design still in regular traffic use. It is also one of the oldest surviving local government bridges in Victoria, from the period of District Road Boards preceding rural shires.
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 objectsKingower Bridge is in a class of a considerable number of gold-era stone-and-timber road bridges whose condition in the earlier 20th century was still largely true to the original design. Simple bridge structures with squared-timber beams seated upon solid hand-crafted stone abutments and featuring handsome stone wing-walls were once common in Victoria, but in 2011 such bridges are extremely rare.
Importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristicsKingower Bridge is of aesthetic significance for its fine masonry craftmanship in local granite, with substantial stone abutments and wing walls and a central masonry pier. It is well proportioned and the soft-coloured granite and old timberwork combine attractively. The bridge is set among vineyards on a former goldfield, close to significant old mining relics and the site of the original Gold Commissioner's 'Government Camp' site.
Importance in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular periodKingower Stone Bridge - Usage/Former Usage
road bridge; in use
Kingower Stone Bridge - Intactness
intact
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.
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LEVERS GULLY DIGGINGSVictorian Heritage Inventory
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HARD GULLY PUDDLER & DAM SITE.Victorian Heritage Inventory
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HAND OF FAITH NUGGET SITEVictorian Heritage Inventory
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