RAILWAY TIMBER TRESTLE BRIDGE OVER DIAMOND CREEK, PANTHER PLACE, ELTHAM

What is significant?
The c1901-02 railway timber trestle bridge and the surrounding site to a radius of 100 metres.

How is it significant?
The bridge is historically and technically significant to the Shire of Nillumbik.

Why is it significant?
The railway bridge is historically and technically significant because timber trestle bridges are very rare around Melbourne; this bridge is particularly significant because of its large size (Criteria B & F). The bridge is also significant because at a physical level, its construction linked Eltham to Melbourne's city centre and ended Eltham's relative isolation by bringing a steady flow of tourists, artists and suburban commuters to the district (Criterion A).

BICK STUDY, 1992
The construction of the railway to Eltham in 1902 (extended to Hurstbridge in 1912) had one of the greatest impacts of any social change on Eltham Township, as well as on Hurstbridge and country areas of the Shire. Eltham's isolation was greatly lessened and the railway brought tourists, artists and suburban commuters, particularly after the Second World War. As the most substantial structure of this railway line in the Shire, this timber trestle bridge exemplifies the line's historic and social significance. Timber trestle bridges are very rare around Melbourne and the Eltham example also has engineering importance on account of its size.

DEGREE OF SIGNIFICANCE:REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

EXTENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: ENTIRE TIMBER TRESTLE BRIDGE, ABUTMENTS TO 150 METRES FROM EACH END OF THE TRESTLE BRIDGE AND SITES TO A RADIUS OF 100 METRES.

Group

Transport - Rail

Category

Railway Bridge/ Viaduct