Saltwater Creek Railway Bridge is a heritage-listed

railway bridge A bridge is a structure built to Span (engineering), span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail) without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, whic ...

over Bundaberg Creek (also known as Saltwater Creek) on Quay Street from

Bundaberg Central Bundaberg Central is the central Suburbs and localities (Australia), suburb and central business district of Bundaberg in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Bundaberg Central had a population of 316 people. Geography The su ...

Bundaberg East Bundaberg East is a suburb of Bundaberg in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. In the Bundaberg East had a population of 2,784 people. History A Government land sale of eighty allotments was advertised for auction by W. E. Curtis ...

Bundaberg Bundaberg is a city in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia, and is the tenth largest city in the state. Bundaberg's regional area has a population of 70,921, and is a major centre of the Wide Bay–Burnett geographical region. The Bun ...

Bundaberg Region The Bundaberg Region is a local government area in the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, about north of Brisbane, the state capital. It is centred on the city of Bundaberg, and also contains a significant rural area surroundin ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, Australia. It was built in 1894 by James Overend. It is also known as Millaquin Bridge. It was added to the

Queensland Heritage Register The Queensland Heritage Register is a heritage register, a statutory list of places in Queensland, Australia that are protected by Queensland legislation, the Queensland Heritage Act 1992. It is maintained by the Queensland Heritage Council. As a ...

on 21 October 1992.

History

Agitation for a railway from Bundaberg to the Woongarra district began in the 1880s and a line was surveyed during 1889-91. In the absence of funds for government construction and with the support of the railway commissioners,

Robert Cran The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

of the Millaquin sugar refinery near Bundaberg, was authorised by an Act of Parliament in 1892, to construct a private railway from Bundaberg to the sugar refinery. Plans were prepared for the bridge in 1893. Tenders were called by the government and a contract for construction was awarded to James Overend in January 1894. The railway was opened for traffic on 9 July 1894. The railway was acquired by the

Queensland Government The Queensland Government is the democratic administrative authority of the Australian state of Queensland. The Government of Queensland, a parliamentary constitutional monarchy was formed in 1859 as prescribed in its Constitution, as amended fr ...

on 3 December 1912. In 1917, an Act of Parliament approved the acquisition of the railway to Woongarra. In 1918, the State Government acquired the extension of the railway which had been constructed by the Woongarra Shire Council. In 1965, plans were prepared for strengthening the bridge with steel girders suitable for a 12-ton axle loading. This was subsequently undertaken with re-used girders from the

Gold Coast Gold Coast may refer to: Places Africa * Gold Coast (region), in West Africa, which was made up of the following colonies, before being established as the independent nation of Ghana: ** Portuguese Gold Coast (Portuguese, 1482–1642) ** Dutch G ...

Description

Saltwater Creek Railway Bridge (2009) - angled view

Saltwater Creek bridge includes one plate girder span with steel cross girders and longitudinals, seven 20 and two timber spans, supported on seven timber

piers Piers may refer to: * Pier, a raised structure over a body of water * Pier (architecture), an architectural support * Piers (name), a given name and surname (including lists of people with the name) * Piers baronets, two titles, in the baronetages ...

, two concrete cylinder piers, and two timber

abutments An abutment is the substructure at the ends of a bridge span or dam supporting its superstructure. Single-span bridges have abutments at each end which provide vertical and lateral support for the span, as well as acting as retaining walls ...

. It comprises: * 4x1x2 timber longitudinals, concrete abutment, common braced timber trestles, (two on timber

foundations Foundation may refer to: * Foundation (nonprofit), a type of charitable organization ** Foundation (United States law), a type of charitable organization in the U.S. ** Private foundation, a charitable organization that, while serving a good cause ...

) or a common concrete pier (piers 1 to 5) * 1x2x2 timber longitudinals, common braced timber trestle on a concrete foundation (pier 5), common cast iron cylinders with screw piles (pier 6) * 1x2 half-through plate girders with steel cross girders, steel longitudinals, common cast iron cylinder piers with screw piles (piers 6 and 7) * 1x2x2 timber longitudinals, common cast iron cylinders with screw piles (pier 7), common braced timber trestle (pier 8). * 3x1x2 timber longitudinals, common braced timber trestles (piers 8 to 11).

Heritage listing

Saltwater Creek Railway Bridge was listed on the

on 21 October 1992 having satisfied the following criteria. The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history. A late 19th century bridge which is the second oldest extant with screw piles in Queensland, on what was constructed as a private railway to government standards. The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places.. A late 19th century bridge which is the second oldest extant with screw piles in Queensland, on what was constructed as a private railway to government standards.

References

Attribution

External links

{{Australian railway bridges, state=autocollapse Queensland Heritage Register Buildings and structures in Bundaberg Railway bridges in Queensland Articles incorporating text from the Queensland Heritage Register 1894 establishments in Australia Bundaberg Central Bundaberg East, Queensland