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Trestle Bridge Arundel Road Bridge

Location

Arundel Road, KEILOR VIC 3036 - Property No 12

File Number

1591

Level

Incl in HO area contributory

[1/3]
1591 - Brimbank City Council
[2/3]
Site 012 - Arundel Road
[3/3]
Site 012 - Trestle Bridhge -

Statement of Significance

Individual place statement of significance::
The Arundel bridge is significant at the State level as the earliest and probably the most visually prominent and notable public work which survives to testify to the importance of the Closer Settlement Act in influencing settlement in Victoria. The Arundel Road bridge is significant as an intact and good representation of an all-timber, trestle bridge common at the beginning of this century. Very few examples of this type of bridge now remain and its location close to the metropolitan area makes it particularly unusual. It is also important for its associations with the Closer Settlement schemes of the early twentieth century. It would appear that the bridge may have been the first major public work completed under the Closer Settlement Act, 1904. The only other expenditure listed in the Board's 1905-7 Reports was the contribution of £1,341 to the construction of levee banks on the Wyuna irrigation estate. A further advantage of this site is its close proximity to a number of other bridges of varying ages and diverse forms of construction, including a wrought iron girder bridge (1868) also over the Maribyrnong River. This should make the area of considerable interest for bridge engineers.

Precinct statement of significance::
The market gardens of Keilor are of regional historical significance as they are associated with the beginnings of irrigated horticulture in Victoria and have been continuously cultivated since the mid nineteenth century. The landscape is of regional significance as an expression of the early and long- lived farming practices adapted to the richer soils of the river terraces. The farms themselves also have long links with local families, such as the Milburns and Senserricks, and the pattern of houses and farm buildings reflect the original population distribution.

Group