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Railway Bridge (Black Arch)

Other Name Nicholson St. Rail overpass Location Nicholson Street FOOTSCRAY, Maribyrnong City File Number 22072 Level Included in Heritage Overlay

[1/1] HO147 - Railway Bridge,

Statement of Significance

The Nicholson Street Bridge is of historical and architectural significance to the City of Maribyrnong as a finely constructed bluestone bridge which represents the turn of the century improvements to road access beneath the railway lines and the importance of locally quarried bluestone. Even though not original to the construction of the line, the bluestone masonry demonstrates nineteenth century building and engineering techniques which are no longer practised. (Criteria B2&D2) The bridge is also of social value for the continuing public appreciation and tradition which appears to refer back to an earlier historical structure as evidenced by the popular but confusing name of the 'Black Arch'. (Criterion G1 & Criterion E1) As part of the first Government railway in Victoria, one of the first country railways in Australia and a line built to British engineering standards with IK Brunel as supervising engineer (from England) this demonstrates the beginnings and origins of railway construction in Victoria. Criterion A4)