Darbyshire Hill No. 3 Bridge
Wodonga-Cudgewa Railway, between Bullioh & Darbyshire,, BULLIOH VIC 3700 - Property No B6950
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Statement of Significance
What is significant? Darbyshire Hill No. 3 Bridge was built in 1916 for the Wodonga-Cudgewa Railway. It is a single-track seventeen-span timber-beam bridge, with timber piers and a gently curving transverse-timber deck. Built along a steep slope, this bridge has unusual timber piers with raker piles on the low side being much longer than the others. All spans are of standard fifteen feet (4.6 metres) Victorian Railways design, giving a total deck length of 264 feet, or 80.5 metres. Maximum height is 25.6 feet (7.8 metres).
How is it significant? Darbyshire Hill No. 3 Bridge is significant for technical, historic and aesthetic reasons at State level.
Why is it significant? Darbyshire Hill No. 3 Bridge is of technical significance. It is unusual in having been built along the side of a steep slope, over a big depression rather than a significant waterway. This has led to an unusual pattern of timber piers, with great variation in pile length within each pier. These piers feature spectacular long raker piles on the low side of the bridge site.
Darbyshire Hill No. 3 Bridge is of historic significance as part of the Wodonga-Cudgewa line, constructed in 1916 to transport mountain cattle towards metropolitan markets. Post World War II the rail line became part of the main supply line for the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric project.
Darbyshire Hill No. 3 Bridge is of aesthetic significance for its magnificent bush land setting overlooking a series of cascades or miniature waterfalls, and located around 100 metres from the Murray Valley Highway with very easy access through public land. The bridge is in close proximity to several other equally historic, but structurally very different, timber bridges. This series of important timber rail bridges is situated along the route of the High Country Rail Trail, currently being developed (2011).
The line closed in 1981.
Classified: 10/11/1998
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Darbyshire Hill No. 3 Bridge - Physical Description 1
DESCRIPTION:
Darbyshire Hill No. 3 Bridge is a seventeen-span single-track timber-beam and timber-pier rail bridge, with a slightly curved transverse-timber deck. Built along a steep slope, this bridge has unusual timber piers with raker piles on the low side being much longer than the others. All spans are of standard fifteen feet (4.6 metres) Victorian Railways design, giving a total deck length of 264 feet, or 80.5 metres. Maximum height is 25.6 feet (7.8 metres).
Context
Darbyshire Hill No. 3 Bridge is in a picturesque setting of eucalypt forest, built over a minor depression high above a waterfall or impressive series of cascades on Darbyshire Creek. It is situated less than 100 metres from the Murray Valley Highway, and easily accessible by walking track from a car park on the southern verge. The bridge provides outstanding views over the miniature waterfalls immediately below, and over more distant cleared valleys and surrounding forested hills.
INTACTNESS:
Darbyshire Hill No. 3 Bridge retains its all-timber integrity.
Being situated in relatively 'high and dry' conditions, the substructure of this bridge is subject to less damage from erosion and damp than many other timber bridges.ASSESSMENT AGAINST CRITERIA:
Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria's cultural history.Darbyshire Hill No. 3 Bridge is of historic significance as part of the Wodonga-Cudgewa line, constructed in 1916 to transport mountain cattle towards metropolitan markets. Post World War II the rail line became part of the main supply line for the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric project.
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 objectsDarbyshire Hill No. 3 Bridge retains its original all-timber-beam structure and is a good unmodified example of a common original type of bridge on this line.
Importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristicsDarbyshire Hill No. 3 Bridge is in a magnificent bush land setting overlooking a series of cascades or miniature waterfalls, located within 100 metres of the Murray Valley Highway with very easy access through public land.
The bridge is in close proximity to several other equally historic, but structurally very different, timber bridges. This series of important timber rail bridges is situated along the route of the High Country Rail Trail, currently being developed (2011).
Importance in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular periodDarbyshire Hill No. 3 Bridge is unusual in being built along the side of a steep slope. This has led to an unusual pattern of timber piers, with great variation in pile length within each pier, and spectacular long raker piles on the low side.
Darbyshire Hill No. 3 Bridge is on a very steep and winding section of the Wodonda-Cudgewa line; over the 12.8 km section of the line between Darbyshire and Bullioh, the altitude changes by 992 feet (302 metres).
Darbyshire Hill No. 3 Bridge - Usage/Former Usage
rail bridge, no longer in use; on route of proposed rail trail
Darbyshire Hill No. 3 Bridge - Integrity
retains all-timber integrity
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Darbyshire Hill No. 3 BridgeNational Trust
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