Dickabram Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dickabram Bridge |
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Dickabram Bridge over the Mary River
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| Coordinates | 25°57′14″S 152°29′43″E / 25.9540°S 152.4954°E |
| Carries | Motor vehicles, Railway |
| Crosses | Mary River |
| Locale | Miva, Queensland |
| Heritage status | Registered (ID 15956) |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Truss bridge |
| Material | Timber, Steel |
| Total length | 191 metres (627 ft) |
| Longest span | 36.6 metres (120 ft) |
| Number of spans | 14 (6.1m, 7.9m, three at 11m, 11.6m, 24.1m, 36.6m, 24.1m, 11.6m, two at 11m, 7.9m and 6.1m) |
| Clearance above | 4.3 metres (14 ft) |
| Clearance below | 23 metres (75 ft) |
| History | |
| Designer | Henry Charles Stanley |
| Constructed by | McDermott Owen & Co. |
| Construction begin | 1885 |
| Construction end | 6 December 1886 |
| Dickabram Bridge | |
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| Location | across the Mary River, between Miva and Theebine, Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1885 - 1886 |
| Architect | Henry Charles Stanley |
| Official name: Dickabram Bridge, Mary River Bridge (Miva) | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600836 |
| Significant period | 1880s (fabric) |
| Significant components | pier/s (bridge) |
| Builders | Owen McDermott & Co. |
The Dickabram Bridge is a special bridge in Queensland, Australia. It crosses the Mary River between the towns of Miva and Theebine. This bridge is very important because it carries both cars and trains!
It was a major bridge for the Kingaroy railway line. A clever engineer named Henry Charles Stanley designed it. It was built between 1885 and 1886 by a company called Owen McDermott & Co. People also call it the Mary River Bridge (Miva).
This bridge is super unique! It's one of only two bridges in Australia that carries both cars and trains. It is also the only one like it in Queensland. Plus, it's the oldest large steel truss bridge still standing in Queensland. It's so important that it's listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's a protected historical site.
Contents
History of the Dickabram Bridge
Building a Bridge for Trains
The Dickabram Bridge was a huge part of the Kingaroy branch railway line. This railway line was built to connect different towns. A company named McDermott Owen & Co. won the job to build the railway line to Kilkivan in August 1884.
Building the bridge took some time. In 1885, they had to wait for special round supports, called piers, to be made. These piers were for the middle parts of the bridge. Finally, in November 1886, they tested the bridge with a train that had two engines. The railway line officially opened for trains between Dickabram and Kilkivan on December 6, 1886.
From Road Bridge to Rail-Road Bridge
Before this big bridge, there were other road bridges over the Mary River at Miva. The first one opened in October 1878. But floods damaged it in 1879 and completely washed it away in 1880. Another replacement road bridge was also swept away by floods in October 1882.
Because of these problems, people decided the new railway bridge should also carry road traffic. This way, it would be stronger and safer from floods. Even though the bridge was ready for trains, the roads leading to it weren't finished. So, it wasn't until March 1889 that cars could start using the bridge.
The Bridge's Name and Strength
The name "Dickabram" comes from a local Aboriginal word. It means "sweet potato," which used to grow along the riverbanks there.
This bridge is very strong! The main deck of the bridge was only covered by water once. This happened during the huge 1893 floods. That shows how well it was built.
Keeping the Bridge Strong
The Dickabram Bridge has been used for a long time without many big changes. Over the years, some small repairs and upgrades have been done. For example, in 1911, a part of the bridge was strengthened. In the 1930s, more parts were made stronger to handle bigger trains. Concrete was added to one of the piers in 1968.
In the 1970s and 80s, a small barrier was added to the bridge deck. This barrier helps keep cars and trains separate. It also meant they didn't need someone to control traffic at the bridge anymore.
A big restoration project finished in April 2009. This work involved replacing old timber beams and the bridge's deck. This helps keep the bridge safe and strong for many more years.
What the Dickabram Bridge Looks Like
The Dickabram Bridge is about 191 metres (627 ft) long. It stands about 23 metres (75 ft) above the Mary River. Most of the bridge's main parts, called spans, are made of metal trusses. These are strong frameworks that support the bridge.
The parts of the bridge that connect to the land are made of timber. The two main supports in the river are made from cast iron cylinders. The other supports and the road deck are made of timber. The bridge has different types of metal lattice girder spans. These are like giant metal grids that make the bridge very sturdy.
Why the Bridge is Special
The Dickabram Bridge was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it's recognized as an important historical site for several reasons:
- A Look into the Past: The bridge shows how Queensland developed in the late 1800s. It's a high bridge that carries both roads and railways. It was built after several older, lower bridges were destroyed by floods.
- One of a Kind: It's one of only a few bridges in Queensland that carries both road and rail traffic. This makes it very rare.
- Amazing Engineering: The bridge shows great skill and technical achievement from its time. It's the oldest bridge of its kind in Queensland. It also has the longest "hogback" span of its type in Queensland.
- Connected to Important People: The design of the bridge is linked to Henry C. Stanley. He was a very important Chief Engineer in Queensland's history.
