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Bunbury Street Tunnel and Maribyrnong River Rail Bridge

Location Bunbury Street, between Sims Street and Footscray Railway Station,, FOOTSCRAY VIC 3011 - Property No B7186 File Number B7186 Level State

[1/1] B7186 Maribyrnong River Rail

Statement of Significance

What is significant? The Bunbury Street Tunnel and Maribyrnong River Railway Bridge are part of one of the most elaborate undertakings in rail construction in Victoria during the twentieth century, The Independent Goods Lines (IGL) - arguably second only to the construction of the Standard Gauge Line. The IGL was the second major dedicated goods line built in Victoria, (the first being the 1887 Newport - Braybrook Junction line). Built between 1926 and 1928 the new goods line incorporated a cut and fill tunnel, brick embankments and a bridge across the Maribyrnong River. It involved the massive excavation of basalt rock under a suburban street, which had established houses along both sides, further cuttings and embankments, and the construction of the large riveted steel Pratt through-truss bridge.
How is it significant? The Maribyrnong River Railway Bridge and Bunbury Street Tunnel are significant for architectural, historic, and technical reasons at a State level.
Why is it significant? The Maribyrnong River Railway Bridge and Bunbury Street Tunnel are significant as part of the Independent Goods Line scheme, one of the first dedicated goods railways to be constructed in Victoria. The Independent Goods Lines scheme was one of the most elaborate undertakings in rail construction in Victoria during the twentieth century. It was also the most expensive railway measured per mile, to be constructed in Victoria. It is the only example in Victoria where a railway tunnel exits over a substantial bridge. As such, it forms a unique industrial landscape and demonstrates the elaborate engineering solution required to separate goods traffic from the Melbourne suburban rail system at a time when rail transport had reached its zenith in Victoria. The bridge over the Maribyrnong has one of the longest spans of a railway bridge, is one of a small number of through trusses on the system and unique in its design.
The tunnel was one of the longest rail tunnels in Victoria at the time it was built, and one of only a handful of railway tunnels ever built in the state. When built, it was the largest and one of the first, cut and fill tunnels to be constructed, and the first to employ reinforced concrete as its major structural material.
EXTENT:
The extent of designation comprises the following:
. the rail bridge over the Maribyrnong River and over Sims and Maribyrnong Streets, including 50 metres of the eastern approach embankment,
. the tunnel and the width of Bunbury Street between Maribyrnong Street and Hyde Street,
. the eastern portal with its high brick walls down the centre of Bunbury Street,
. a footbridge over the tunnel entrance at Moreland Street,
. the western portal near Footscray Station visible from the up platform on the Williamstown line,
. the McNab Avenue bridge over the western entrance to the tunnel,
. the rail over rail bridge west of Footscray station,
. the Nicholson Street and Albert Street road over rail bridges and the Victoria Street rail over road bridge (as contributory elements).
. The shops over the railway either side of Nicholson Street.
Classified: 09/12/2002