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St Kilda Street Bridge over the Elwood Canal

Location

St Kilda Street,, ELWOOD VIC 3184 - Property No B7260

File Number

B7260

Level

National

Statement of Significance

What is significant? The St Kilda Street bridge is a reinforced concrete T-girder bridge over the Elwood Canal. The bridge was designed and constructed in 1905 by John Monash of the Reinforced Concrete & Monier Pipe Construction Company.
How is it significant? The St Kilda Street bridge is significant for scientific (technical) and historical reasons at the National and State levels.
Why is it significant? The St Kilda Street Bridge is of technical significance as the earliest example of a reinforced concrete girder bridge known to survive in Victoria and probably in Australia. It demonstrates the technical innovation achieved by John Monash in the early years of the twentieth century and as such demonstrates the earliest stage in the development of reinforced concrete technology for bridge building. This innovation eventually led to the adoption of reinforced concrete as a standard bridge building material by road construction authorities in Australia. The survival of the sequence of theory, calculations and fabric relating to an innovative bridge design is rare.
The bridge is of historic significance because of its association with John Monash. The career of John Monash had been struggling until the design and construction of this bridge. The success of this innovative project was the foundation for the status and wealth that Monash achieved prior to his departure for service in World War I. The bridge is also historically significant for its association with the drainage works that led to the development of the suburb of Elwood.
Classified: 17/05/2004

Group