Featured image - Arthurton Rd Bridge showing bike path on opposite side
Road & Railway Bridges – Northcote
P Michell
Access to the district has always been problematic. High St is one of very few north/south roads in Melbourne and there was Northcote hill to climb. More importantly Northcote is surrounded on three sides by water. Access from the south in early days of settlement was controlled by tolls to raise money for bridges and road making.
Before permanent bridges there were direct crossings at fords in creeks. Low points where horse and cart could cross. In times of heavy rain these were impassable. Semi permanent structures out of wood were built. But they were often swept away / damaged with sudden floods. Often hotels (pubs) would be located nearby to offer accommodation / rest. Particularly along Heidelberg Rd and High St.
Hastening permanent bridges (often stone and brick) was population growth and industrial development. Good example is Arthurton Rd whose access was important to western suburbs.
As can be seen from the list Northcote has a number of very early historical bridges. Many were widened as traffic, particularly motor vehicles became more dominant.
The bridges are a mixture of stone, brick, concrete and steel construction. Earliest 1862 and latest 2009.
Road Bridges
Arthurton Rd (Merri Ck) – 1891. Current concrete bridge dates from 1955.[1]
Land obtained from Sumner estate in 1890. Floods in July 1891 washed away building materials. Flooding nearby market gardens.[2] Arthurton Road was straightened and widened 1909-11. Was first recommended in 1892 (year after bridge).[3]
Bell St (Darebin Ck) - 1880. Widened in 1954 and 1990.[4]
1857 – early Wooden bridge (£4000), major reparis needed -1868, 1870, 1875. 1877 negotiated with Jika Jika (Northcote) Council in 1879 accepted £400 towards final cost of 27 foot wide bridge of £2731.
Chandler Highway (ex Railway crossing Yarra River) - 1891.
Built for Outer Circle Railway. Iron, brick & stone. Sir John Monash one of the engineers. Trains ceased running on bridge in 1893. Rails remained until 1919. Used for pedestrian traffic until 1930 when modified for vehicles as well.[5] Viaduct widened in 1950s. Within a year or so (2016) this will be fully duplicated on southern side.
Darebin Rd (Darebin Ck) - 1914.
Shared cost with Heidelberg due to their request. Suggested 23 years earlier by Heidelberg Council. Street still not made on Northcote side for some years after.[6]
Heidelberg Rd (Darebin Ck) – 1862. Widened 1937/8.
Stone, iron and brick. First wooden bridge 1852.[7] Early crossing (1850s) was by ford at end of Old Heidleberg Rd.
Heidelberg Rd (Merri Ck) – 1866/7. Widened to double width in 1936.[8]
1840s – four foot causeway washed away. 1853/4 – Stone and timber.
High St (Merri Ck) – 1875, widened in 1890 for cable tram extension.[9]
Early with references to 1850s. Area known as Northcote Bridge. Toll bar nearby.
High St Viaduct – 1889.
Cable tram operated from 1890 to 1940.[10] October 26 was the last cable tram public ride in Melbourne. The approach up Northcote hill from Westgarth had been a problem from early settlement. From the beginning blasting of the hillside to recue the grade had been done. It was not until the introduction of the cable tram that a ramp was built. Whilst technically not a bridge – it is included as it affected directly High St and it is purpose built.
Murray Rd [Darebin Ck] – 1965
Northland. Myer paid for Northland development.
Normanby Ave (Merri Ck) - Current concrete bridge 16 May 1951.[11]
Began construction during WWII.[12] Whilst the plaque acknowledges Public Works Dept, V J Bradley engineer is listed on the bridge’s plaque with Brunswick, Coburg & Northcote Councils. Bradley for many years was Northcote’s engineer.
Small (single road?) crossing (eastwards) before Merri Ck straightening in 1938. The creek was moved approx 30m west. For over 10 years there may have been a temporary crossing only.
St Georges Rd (Merri Ck) – 1886.
Early c1850s crossing for Yan Yean Pipe Track. Stone and brick. Water Supply Dept owned land, not a public road. Fitzroy, Northcote & St Georges Rd League formed in 1884 to petition and raise money. 26 foot wide bridge of stone and iron opened 1 Aug. [13] As this was the construction zone for the Yan Yean pipeline to Melbourne there would have been a very early crossing 1855. Though this land belonged to the Water Board and did not carry private vehicles. This was because for decades after as burst pipes were not uncommon.
Defunct Crossings
Crossings that are no longer. All on Merri Creek.
Anderson Rd (bottom of ) (Merri Ck) – 1921 Anderson map. When Merri Ck straightened in 1930s this was unusable. Became in mid 1940s Normany Rd crossing.
Beavers Rd (Merri Ck)? - a crossing between Sumner's paddocks on either side of Merri Ck.
Fyffe St (Merri Ck) ? - Ditto.
Woolton Ave – shown on 1909 MMBW plan. Straightening of Merri Ck in 1930s meant that this crossing became non existant. Was replaced by Normanby Rd crossing in 1951.
Railway Bridges
High St Railway – 1925.
Iron, brick. Replacing intersecting cable tram.[14] Road lowered 1940 to allow double decker buses to pass. These replaced the cable tram (discontinued 1940) until electric tram introduced in 1955. [15]
Merri Ck / Pde - 1889.
Iron, brick & stone. Biggest construction of Whittlesea Railway line – costing £46,632; Northcote Loop on Fitzroy side – 1904.[16]
Merri Ck Heidelberg viaduct – 1888. Duplicated 2009.[17]
Iron, brick & concrete. Heidelberg railway line. Big cost due to tall brick piers.
Notes:
[1] Bridge identification.
[2] Lemon, A. Northcote Side of the River. pp 105, 113
[3] Lemon, p 158
[4] Broome, R. Coburg: Between two Creeks , 2001. Pp 87,8
[5] Heritage Victoria – HERMES 3861. Recommnedation 11 Mar 2016
[6] Lemon, p 158
[7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darebin_Creek_Bridge sourced 22 Nov 2016
[8] Vines, G. Metal Road Bridges in Victoria. Part 1 – History, rev 2010. pp 14,15
[9] http://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/773211 Accessed 23 Nov 2016. Foundation stone Brown’s Motors crnr Martin & High Sts.
[10] www.tmsv.org.au/papers/northcote.htm sourced July 2005
[11] Bridge plaque.
[12] Lemon, p 240
[13] Lemon, p 88
[14] Lemon, p 192
[15] Leader 29 June, 1955, p 1
[16] Aquilina, pp15, 34
[17] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurstbridge_railway_line Accessed 22 Nov 2016
page updated 4 Dec 2016
P Michell
Access to the district has always been problematic. High St is one of very few north/south roads in Melbourne and there was Northcote hill to climb. More importantly Northcote is surrounded on three sides by water. Access from the south in early days of settlement was controlled by tolls to raise money for bridges and road making.
Before permanent bridges there were direct crossings at fords in creeks. Low points where horse and cart could cross. In times of heavy rain these were impassable. Semi permanent structures out of wood were built. But they were often swept away / damaged with sudden floods. Often hotels (pubs) would be located nearby to offer accommodation / rest. Particularly along Heidelberg Rd and High St.
Hastening permanent bridges (often stone and brick) was population growth and industrial development. Good example is Arthurton Rd whose access was important to western suburbs.
As can be seen from the list Northcote has a number of very early historical bridges. Many were widened as traffic, particularly motor vehicles became more dominant.
The bridges are a mixture of stone, brick, concrete and steel construction. Earliest 1862 and latest 2009.
Road Bridges
Arthurton Rd (Merri Ck) – 1891. Current concrete bridge dates from 1955.[1]
Land obtained from Sumner estate in 1890. Floods in July 1891 washed away building materials. Flooding nearby market gardens.[2] Arthurton Road was straightened and widened 1909-11. Was first recommended in 1892 (year after bridge).[3]
Bell St (Darebin Ck) - 1880. Widened in 1954 and 1990.[4]
1857 – early Wooden bridge (£4000), major reparis needed -1868, 1870, 1875. 1877 negotiated with Jika Jika (Northcote) Council in 1879 accepted £400 towards final cost of 27 foot wide bridge of £2731.
Chandler Highway (ex Railway crossing Yarra River) - 1891.
Built for Outer Circle Railway. Iron, brick & stone. Sir John Monash one of the engineers. Trains ceased running on bridge in 1893. Rails remained until 1919. Used for pedestrian traffic until 1930 when modified for vehicles as well.[5] Viaduct widened in 1950s. Within a year or so (2016) this will be fully duplicated on southern side.
Darebin Rd (Darebin Ck) - 1914.
Shared cost with Heidelberg due to their request. Suggested 23 years earlier by Heidelberg Council. Street still not made on Northcote side for some years after.[6]
Heidelberg Rd (Darebin Ck) – 1862. Widened 1937/8.
Stone, iron and brick. First wooden bridge 1852.[7] Early crossing (1850s) was by ford at end of Old Heidleberg Rd.
Heidelberg Rd (Merri Ck) – 1866/7. Widened to double width in 1936.[8]
1840s – four foot causeway washed away. 1853/4 – Stone and timber.
High St (Merri Ck) – 1875, widened in 1890 for cable tram extension.[9]
Early with references to 1850s. Area known as Northcote Bridge. Toll bar nearby.
High St Viaduct – 1889.
Cable tram operated from 1890 to 1940.[10] October 26 was the last cable tram public ride in Melbourne. The approach up Northcote hill from Westgarth had been a problem from early settlement. From the beginning blasting of the hillside to recue the grade had been done. It was not until the introduction of the cable tram that a ramp was built. Whilst technically not a bridge – it is included as it affected directly High St and it is purpose built.
Murray Rd [Darebin Ck] – 1965
Northland. Myer paid for Northland development.
Normanby Ave (Merri Ck) - Current concrete bridge 16 May 1951.[11]
Began construction during WWII.[12] Whilst the plaque acknowledges Public Works Dept, V J Bradley engineer is listed on the bridge’s plaque with Brunswick, Coburg & Northcote Councils. Bradley for many years was Northcote’s engineer.
Small (single road?) crossing (eastwards) before Merri Ck straightening in 1938. The creek was moved approx 30m west. For over 10 years there may have been a temporary crossing only.
St Georges Rd (Merri Ck) – 1886.
Early c1850s crossing for Yan Yean Pipe Track. Stone and brick. Water Supply Dept owned land, not a public road. Fitzroy, Northcote & St Georges Rd League formed in 1884 to petition and raise money. 26 foot wide bridge of stone and iron opened 1 Aug. [13] As this was the construction zone for the Yan Yean pipeline to Melbourne there would have been a very early crossing 1855. Though this land belonged to the Water Board and did not carry private vehicles. This was because for decades after as burst pipes were not uncommon.
Defunct Crossings
Crossings that are no longer. All on Merri Creek.
Anderson Rd (bottom of ) (Merri Ck) – 1921 Anderson map. When Merri Ck straightened in 1930s this was unusable. Became in mid 1940s Normany Rd crossing.
Beavers Rd (Merri Ck)? - a crossing between Sumner's paddocks on either side of Merri Ck.
Fyffe St (Merri Ck) ? - Ditto.
Woolton Ave – shown on 1909 MMBW plan. Straightening of Merri Ck in 1930s meant that this crossing became non existant. Was replaced by Normanby Rd crossing in 1951.
Railway Bridges
High St Railway – 1925.
Iron, brick. Replacing intersecting cable tram.[14] Road lowered 1940 to allow double decker buses to pass. These replaced the cable tram (discontinued 1940) until electric tram introduced in 1955. [15]
Merri Ck / Pde - 1889.
Iron, brick & stone. Biggest construction of Whittlesea Railway line – costing £46,632; Northcote Loop on Fitzroy side – 1904.[16]
Merri Ck Heidelberg viaduct – 1888. Duplicated 2009.[17]
Iron, brick & concrete. Heidelberg railway line. Big cost due to tall brick piers.
Notes:
[1] Bridge identification.
[2] Lemon, A. Northcote Side of the River. pp 105, 113
[3] Lemon, p 158
[4] Broome, R. Coburg: Between two Creeks , 2001. Pp 87,8
[5] Heritage Victoria – HERMES 3861. Recommnedation 11 Mar 2016
[6] Lemon, p 158
[7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darebin_Creek_Bridge sourced 22 Nov 2016
[8] Vines, G. Metal Road Bridges in Victoria. Part 1 – History, rev 2010. pp 14,15
[9] http://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/773211 Accessed 23 Nov 2016. Foundation stone Brown’s Motors crnr Martin & High Sts.
[10] www.tmsv.org.au/papers/northcote.htm sourced July 2005
[11] Bridge plaque.
[12] Lemon, p 240
[13] Lemon, p 88
[14] Lemon, p 192
[15] Leader 29 June, 1955, p 1
[16] Aquilina, pp15, 34
[17] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurstbridge_railway_line Accessed 22 Nov 2016
page updated 4 Dec 2016