Malmsbury Viaduct facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Malmsbury Viaduct |
|
|---|---|
Malmsbury Viaduct from Botanic Gardens
|
|
| Coordinates | 37°11′32″S 144°22′51″E / 37.192117°S 144.380865°E |
| Carries | Bendigo railway line |
| Crosses | Coliban River |
| Locale | Malmsbury, Victoria, Australia |
| Owner | VicTrack |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 100 m (330 ft) |
| Height | 25 m (82 ft) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Victorian Railways Construction Branch |
| Construction begin | 1859 |
| Construction end | 1860 |
The Malmsbury Viaduct is a really old and big bridge in Malmsbury, Australia. It's made of strong brick and stone, and it crosses the Coliban River. This amazing bridge carries the Bendigo railway line, helping trains travel across Victoria. It was built a long time ago, between 1858 and 1861. Back then, it was one of the biggest railway bridges of its kind in Victoria!
Contents
Building the Malmsbury Viaduct
The journey to build the railway line to Bendigo started in 1858. A private company, the Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company, began the work. However, they soon ran into money problems.
Because of these financial difficulties, the Victorian government stepped in. In 1860, the government bought out the company. They then formed the Victorian Railways Department to finish the project.
Starting the Construction
The first part of the railway line went from Footscray to Sandhurst (which is now called Bendigo). A company called Cornish and Bruce won the contract to build it. Work on this section began on June 1, 1858. The goal was to finish the railway tracks by July 31, 1861.
Who Designed This Huge Bridge?
The design work for the railway and its structures was taken over by Captain Andrew Clarke. He was the Surveyor-General of Victoria. The actual bridge designs were completed by William Bryson CE, who was the Head Draftsman. He was responsible for many large structures like bridges and viaducts.
William Bryson worked under the supervision of George Christian Darbyshire for the Victorian Railway. Another person, William O’Hara, also helped. He was a Senior Draftsman with experience in designing stone structures. It's likely he also helped design the Malmsbury Viaduct.
How Big Is It?
The Malmsbury Viaduct is over 100 meters (about 328 feet) long. It has five large arches, each spanning 18.3 meters (about 60 feet). The bridge stands about 25 meters (about 82 feet) high.
To build this massive bridge, a lot of bluestone was needed. About 132,000 cubic feet of bluestone was dug up from a quarry. This quarry was located at the east end of Malmsbury. Horses and carts then carried the heavy stones to the construction site.
Important Dates
The very first stone for the viaduct was laid on October 25, 1859. It took about a year to build. The bridge was officially completed on October 24, 1860.
In May 2000, the Malmsbury Viaduct was added to the Victorian Heritage Register. This means it's recognized as an important historical site. In 2010, the Malmsbury Historical Society held a special celebration. They marked the 150th anniversary of this amazing bridge.
