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Boggy Creek Bridge

Location

NOWA NOWA VIC 3887 - Property No B6943

File Number

B6943

Level

State

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B6943 Boggy Creek Bridge
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B6943 Boggy Creek Bridge
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B6943 Boggy Creek Bridge Piers
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B6943 Boggy Creek Bridge 1915

Statement of Significance

What is significant? Boggy Creek Bridge is a unique and complex seventeen span curved single-track composite railway bridge, with solid-concrete piers, timber-trestle piers based on concrete to flood level, driven-timber-pile piers, wrought-iron plate girders, steel joists, and timber beams. The huge 60 feet (18.23 metres) long wrought-iron plate girders over the main channel were recycled from the North Eastern Railway.
Boggy Creek Bridge was built in 1916 as part of the Bairnsdale to Orbost extension to the main Gippsland Railway, and is situated in the middle of the township of Nowa Nowa, crossing a steep-sided and well-timbered creek-valley. This section of the line closed in 1987.
How is it significant? Boggy Creek Bridge is technically, historically and aesthetically significant at State level.
Why is it significant? Boggy Creek Bridge is technically significant as a unique and complex concrete-timber-wrought iron bridge, with a deck length of 63 metres. The huge 60 feet (18.23 metres) long wrought-iron plate girders over the main channel were recycled from the North Eastern Railway. Boggy Creek Bridge reflects many aspects and several eras of Victorian Railways technology.
The eleven timber-beam spans exhibit a great variety of timber-pier patterns, with some driven-pile piers and some true timber-trestle piers based on concrete sub-piers.
Boggy Creek Bridge is historically significant as part of the Bairnsdale to Orbost extension to the main Gippsland Railway. This extension was conceived as part of a major project to tap the trade of New South Wales settlements across the Victorian border, and to provide a second rail connection between Melbourne and Sydney via Bombala. It was also intended to serve agricultural and timber settlements in East Gippsland.
Boggy Creek Bridge is aesthetically significant because its diverse structural elements and setting in a picturesque and steep-sided creek valley, combine to make a great visual impact. Visually, the Boggy Creek Bridge provides a remarkable contrast in style to other large timber railway bridges nearby, at Stony Creek and Wairewa.
Classified: 15/09/1998

Group