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Wodonga Creek Stock Bridge

Location Over Wodonga Creek,, WODONGA VIC 3690 - Property No B6924 File Number B6924 Level State

[1/5] B6924 Wodonga Creek [2/5] B6924 Wodonga Creek [3/5] B6924 Wodonga Creek Bridge [4/5] B6924 Wodonga Creek Bridge [5/5] B6924 Wodonga Creek Bridge

Statement of Significance

What is significant? The Wodonga Creek Stock Bridge is a timber stock bridge on the former main stock route across the Murray River floodplain linking Wodonga and Albury. It is a moderately tall timber-beam on timber-trestle road bridge consisting of nine spans, with a deck length of 76 metres and deck width of 4.5 metres, and a maximum span length of 8.5 metres. The substantial timber deck is built to an earlier twentieth-century horse-era pattern, with transverse decking fixed to spiking planks to protect round timber stringers, and longitudinal running planks above. It has substantial timber side safety rails to discourage livestock from straying over the side. Unusual features are the 'corbel chocks' or timber spacers between corbels and stringers, and the relatively primitive style of piled-log (bed-log) abutment at the Wodonga end.
It was built in 1940 and is currently in occasional use for stock, as well as for pedestrians and cyclists.
How is it significant? The Wodonga Creek Stock Bridge is significant for technical, historic, social and aesthetic reasons at the State level.
Why is it significant? The Wodonga Creek Stock Bridge is of technical significance as a nine span bridge with tall timber trestles, log stringers, and a transverse timber deck with longitudinal running planks. It has substantial timber side rails to keep livestock on the bridge. Large bridges of this type are now very rare in Victoria. Unusual features include the corbel chocks or timber spacers between corbels and stringers, and the relatively primitive style piled-log (bed-log) abutment at the Wodonga end.
The Wodonga Creek Stock Bridge is of historic significance as a surviving structurally authentic bridge designed specifically for livestock and drover use, on a historic stock route.
The Wodonga Creek Stock Bridge is of social significance for its location at a riverside leisure spot of considerable importance to and popularity with residents of Albury-Wodonga.
The Wodonga Creek Stock Bridge is of aesthetic significance with its long and tall timber frame and old-fashioned transverse-timber deck with running planks. This bridge makes a significant contribution to its floodplain environment. It is on a largely rural stretch of the Murray River floodplain on the north side of Wodonga, in a recreational area and is partly shaded by river red gums.
Classified: 03/08/1998