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Latrobe River Railway Bridge

Other Names National Trust Bridges Database No. 641 ,  Latrobe River No.2 Bridge ,  Bridge No. 5 on the Rail Trail Location Gippsland Plains Rail Trail, 4.10 km north of Princes Highway,, TRARALGON VIC 3844 - Property No B7371 File Number B7371 Level State

[1/1] B7371 Latrobe River Bridge

Statement of Significance

What is significant? This bridge, over the Latrobe River, formed part of the Traralgon-Maffra-Stratford Railway, which was opened as far as Heyfield on 13 November 1883. It was built by contractors Lewis P. Moline & James King for the Victorian Railways in 1882-3 and is the third-oldest substantial timber-beam railway bridge surviving in Victoria. It is substantially a four-piled structure, with stay-piles added to the piers on the river. It is 242 metres long, with fifty-three 15 foot spans (4.6m) and is the third longest intact bridge of this design.
How is it significant? The bridge is significant for historical and scientific (technical) reasons at the State level.
Why is it significant? Technically and architecturally, the bridge is of State significance as an example of late nineteenth century engineering design and construction techniques. At 242 metres long, with fifty-three 15 foot (4.6m) spans, it is the third-oldest substantial timber-beam railway bridge surviving in Victoria. The bridge is significant as one of the best preserved examples of the standard 15-foot span Victorian Railways timber bridge design that was widely built on branch lines from the late 1870s to the 1920s.
Historically, it is significant as testimony to the late nineteenth century struggle between different towns and regions in Gippsland for railway access. It served and helped develop a resource-rich area for dairy farming, beef cattle, timber cutting and mining. Forming part of a loop line from Traralgon to Stratford, through Toongabbie, Heyfield and Maffra, it operated principally as a freight line, carrying in machinery and equipment and bringing out produce for city and export markets. Although originally intended as part of a main Gippsland rail route, the line carried only local passenger services, with through traffic passing to the south via Rosedale, Sale and Stratford. The bridge operated for over 100 years, from 1883 until its closure in 1986.
Aesthetically the bridge, together with its adjacent floodplain timber bridges is significant as a notable and attractive feature on the Latrobe River.
Socially the bridge is significant as a component of the Rail Trail that is being developed on this former railway route.
Classified: 22/10/2007