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RAILWAY BRIDGE OVER TARWIN RIVER

Other Name

South Eastern Railway, Great Southern Railway

Location

SOUTH GIPPSLAND HIGHWAY, MEENIYAN, SOUTH GIPPSLAND SHIRE

Level

Included in Heritage Overlay

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Railway Bridge

Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The railway bridge over the Tarwin River east branch at Meeniyan, constructed by Andrew O'Keefe in 1891.

Why is it significant?
The railway bridge over the Tarwin River east branch at Meeniyan is of historical, technological and aesthetic significance to South Gippsland Shire.

Historically, it is one of three original large trestle bridges constructed over the Tarwin River as part of the South Eastern Railway, which facilitated the settlement and development of the South Gippsland region. (AHC criteria - A.4 and D.2)

Aesthetically, the bridge is one of the most powerful expressions of how early European settlement altered the natural and cultural landscape as well a highly visible illustration of the engineering feats that were required to construct the line. (AHC criterion - E.1)

Technically, it is believed to be the longest extant timber railway bridge in Victoria to be built entirely using the 20 feet span timber beam design used by the Victorian Railways at the time. (AHC criterion - F.1)

Group