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RAIL BRIDGE
OVER HANFORDS CREEK, PYALONG, MITCHELL SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Register
1 rail bridge over hansford creek pyalong side elevation apr 95
1 rail bridge over hansford creek pyalong side elevation apr 95
1 rail bridge over hansford creek pyalong side elevation apr 95
rail bridge at hansford creek pyalong plan
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The Rail Bridge over Hanford's Creek was constructed for the Victorian Railways in 1890 by McDermott & Sons along the Wandong-Bendigo line, near Pyalong. It is a timber trestle structure, comprising 19 freestanding trestles set at 6m centres, combining double pile and stay pile piers, originally supporting a single track. The line was closed in 1968 and the bridge is currently fenced off.

How is it significant?
The Rail Bridge over Hansford's Creek, Pyalong is historically and architecturally significant to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?
The Rail Bridge over Hanford's Creek, Pyalong is historically significant as an important relic of a former line that was used to supply the Bendigo mines with shaft timbers. The line was also very important for local produce, being used in the transportation of wool and sheep (B.P.C, 1968). It is also an example of a rail bridge constructed as a result of the 'Octopus Act' of 1884.

The bridge is architecturally significant as a representative and substantially intact example of a timber trestle bridge using stay piles and timber longitudinal girders supporting a timber rail deck. It is a notable example of a timber trestle bridge construction, which demonstrates a distinctive and presently rarely used construction method that utilises the best qualities of native bush timbers.
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    • History

      RAIL BRIDGE - History

      The bridge over Mollison's Creek, Pyalong is significant for its former role on the Bendigo-Wandong line, where it was used to supply the Bendigo mines with shaft timbers and for the transportation of wool and sheep (B.P.C, 1968). It is also an example of a rail bridge constructed as a result of the 'Octopus Act' of 1884. Richard Speight was one of three commissioners appointed to oversee a massive program of railway capital works. Richard Speight and Duncan Gillies, the Minister for Railways and Roads, were widely criticised for their mismanagement of the railway construction program, which resulted in huge deficits for the Government. (Harrigan, 1962) (Beeston, 1995)

      Permit Exemptions

      RAIL BRIDGE - Permit Exemptions

      General Exemptions:

      General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

      Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

      Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

      Specific Exemptions:

      General Conditions
      1.All alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner that prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object.
      2. Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of alterations that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such alteration shall cease and the Executive Director shall be notified as soon as possible.
      3. If there is a conservation policy and plan approved by the Executive Director, all works shall be in accordance with it.
      4. Nothing in this declaration prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions.
      5. Nothing in this declaration exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authority where applicable.

      No permit is required for works on the deck of the bridge, the incorporated superstructure which supports the track, for the maintenance of operational and safety standards, or for any emergency works relating to the substructure and superstructure of the bridge.

      Permit Exemption Policy

      RAIL BRIDGE - Permit Exemption Policy

      The purpose of the permit exemptions is to allow works that do not impact on the significance of the place to occur without the need for a permit. Track works and maintenance to the bridge that does not affect the structure or appearance of the bridge do not require a permit. Maintaining the picturesque setting of the bridge should be taken into acount when considering a permit application.

Public contributions

Note: Developments may span multiple time periods
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