Eucalytpus Christmas

Merry Christmas

from Way Back When

Horsham Bridges

Two lanes of traffic negotiate the west bridge during the bridge works

Work on the extensions to the Wimmera River bridges in Horsham are continuing, and as traffic is diverted for the third time, it is now possible to see the evidence of the work done to increase the breath of the bridges.

The bridge from Sawyer Park, 2012

The Wimmera River rises in the Pyrenees region and generally winds westward, passing through Horsham, ending up at its termination at Lake Hindmarsh. 
In Horsham, bridges over the Wimmera River now divide the southern section of the city from the central and northern portions. The bridges provide a vital link connecting the northern and southern suburbs of Horsham and carry as many as 23,000 cars and trucks each day.

The swimming hole c1938 (Horsham & District Historical Society)

The first timbered weir site was near the Botanic Gardens and formed part of the swimming hole. During the 1960s drought, a new weir was built in 1968, further west at the end of Drummond Street, and the river cleared between the weir and the bridge. In the late 1800s and early 1900s Chinese market gardeners grew their vegetables on blocks near the river. The first rowing clubs began in the 1880s and continue today.

Rowers with the bridge in the background (Horsham & District Historical Society)

The river has flooded semi-regularly, in the big 1909 flood, the water reached Pynsent & McLachlan Streets, and May Park. Other major floods were recorded in 1915, 1950s, 1964 and 2010.

The original timber bridge was built in 1884 by James McClounan. In 1892 the Council were required to replace its brittle timber deck with sturdier red-gum planks, these were still limited to 4-5 tons.

The timber bridge from Green Park (Horsham & District Historical Society)

This bridge was replaced in 1939 by a single lane concrete bridge. In 1976 a second bridge (the westward) was constructed longside, and the first bridge remodelled to match it. The gap between the two was the site of the timber bridge, which was demolished during World War II.

The two bridges in 1978 (Horsham & District Historical Society)

Construction works (WMT)

The $4.26 million bridge upgrade is being jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian governments as part of the larger Western Highway upgrade.

Works will include widening the footpath to improve pedestrian and bicycle access, widening road shoulders, installing bridge safety barriers between pedestrians and motorists and constructing strengthening works - a thicker concrete decking, and widening  the existing traffic lanes on both bridges.

The new circular piers for the pedestrian footpath

 The bridge project works are planned to finish in April 2014.

Styling stations

This post grew from this comment -

"Can someone please elaborate on 'Bealiba style'? I was brought up in Bealiba and spent years hanging around the Bealiba Station but have never heard of the term. Thanks Brian H." on the earlier post ‘Railways - Mildura line’ and led to a little research at the State Library.

The 1870s was an era of railway building, that ended with the financial crash of the early 1890s, when railway lines were extended westward. During this period, the development of a succession of standard plans coincided with the patterns of railway construction, establishing groups of stations common to sections of line.

Bealiba in 1980 (Andrew Ward)

There developed a "line style", in which similarly-designed station buildings imparted their distinctive character along a particular line. The Bealiba station building was one in the “light line” style along one of the “main trunk” lines and gave its name to a prototype style which was an economic solution to the previously costly construction of railway station buildings.

According to Andrew Ward in a ‘Study of Historic Railway Buildings and Structures’ and 'Victoria's Railway Stations: An Architectural Survey', the Bealiba Style is an earlier sub-group of the Rosedale Style. He says the Rosedale style developed in response to the need to save on construction costs,and was the first design to be widely employed for all-timber type buildings. In all, 12 Rosedale style buildings were erected (Cope Cope was the only example in this district) and 6 in the earlier Bealiba Style of station building - Bealiba, Broadmeadows, Euroa, Kilmore East, Lubeck, Murtoa and Wallan.

Lubeck in 1981 (from VRnet)

Constructed in 1878, the Bealiba building is still substantially intact as an example of the style. Elements of the Bealiba Style are: An oblong single-storey plan timber construction with bisecting longitudinal corridor which terminated at a porch. The combined station and residence had a verandah to the platform formed by an extension from the main roof. Four rooms were residential (2 bedrooms, parlour& kitchen) and 2 for railway purposes – the Booking Office and the Ladies Waiting Room. The 4 corner rooms all had fireplaces. The lamp room & toilets were all in the station yard. Copying the diminutive Dooen Style, the barge boards were fringed with cast-iron lace-work, and ornamental brackets adorned the porches. The verandah post capitals, gable vents and finials all had decorative timber work. The interior walls & ceilings, and lamp room & toilets were lined with tongue & groove boards.

Plan of the Bealiba building (Andrew Ward)

The later Rosedale style omitted the cast-iron lace-work, the end porches and 2 fireplaces, but now included a General Waiting Room.

Other stations in the area awarded a “style” are:

·     The "St. Arnaud style" (1879) comprised an architectural symmetrical single-storey hip roofed brick station with cast-iron platform verandah and pavilions and a standard U shaped plan for the station building. It is the most intact example of the largest standard station building design erected on the early light lines.

St Arnaud's water tower

Also the St Arnaud water tower was built as a standard 'Type B2' hemispherical design carried by a 'T' iron frame and installed onto a cement rendered brick column. It is the last remaining example of this construction, with other B2 type towers originally located at Cranbourne, Bealiba and some metropolitan locations.

Diapur station building in 1971 (from "VR stations & stopping places")

·     The “Kaniva Style” which in addition to Kaniva itself, included Diapur, Leeor (to Melton), Miram and Nhill. Small timber buildings with classical decoration & gables.

The ornate platform verandah, Minyip

·     The “Minyip Style” used for Minyip and Yarra Junction.

·     The “Rupanyup Style” used at Rupanyup and Bairnsdale

Past glories - the dilapidated Rupanyup building

A “Special Design” was used for Serviceton, Warracknabeal (1887) was built in the “Casterton Style” a Tudor/Late Victorian look, while Dimboola (1882) is in the “South Melbourne Style” the Italianate/Late Victorian style.

The same style - Donald & Birchip

 

End of Ebenezer Era

The National Trust of Victoria are relinquishing their role in the Ebenezer Mission Station and handing the freehold of the property to the Barengi Gadjin Land Council.

The Aboriginal Mission Station officially commenced on 2nd May 1859 when Moravian missionaries arrived at Horatio Ellerman's Antwerp property. In 1861 a Crown Grant was issued for the 1,890 acres, situated on a bend of the Wimmera River 2 miles southwest of the Antwerp township, to use the land for the promotion of the welfare of the aborigines. Rations were supplied to the residents by the government on the condition they attended church services and school, and in exchange for work.

The first school for Aborigines was opened in 1859 by the Moravians who operated the Mission, but when the mission discontinued, the school closed in December 1903.

Ebenezer is the oldest surviving mission church and buildings in Victoria.

As part of the changeover there will be a function at Ebenezer next Thursday 5th December beginning at noon with a lunch, smoking ceremony and guided tours of the site.