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KINGS BRIDGE, OVER BENDIGO CREEK
WEEROONA AVENUE BENDIGO AND NORTH BENDIGO , GREATER BENDIGO CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register
KINGS BRIDGE, OVER BENDIGO CREEK SOHE 2008
KINGS BRIDGE, OVER BENDIGO CREEK SOHE 2008
KINGS BRIDGE, OVER BENDIGO CREEK SOHE 2008
1 weeroona avenue bridge bendigo 2000
weeroona avenue bridge plan
Weeroona Avenue Bridge Bendigo 2000
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The Weeroona Avenue Bridge was one of eight Monier concrete arch bridges constructed by Monash & Anderson for the City of Bendigo during 1900-02. Designed by Sydney engineers Gummow Forrest & Co, in conjunction with Monash & Anderson, this two span bridge replaced an earlier single span Monier arch bridge built at this site by Monash & Anderson which failed during load testing. The abutments of the original bridge were re-used in the second bridge. The bridge has an unusually high skew of 50 degrees, and the span of the arches measured along the skew is 13.2 metres. The rise of each arch is 2.6 metres, and the width of the roadway between parapets is 7.3 metres. The spandrels are of rendered brickwork, and the southern (upstream) side of the bridge retains the original balustrade, a lattice of wrought iron flats with brick newel posts.

How is it significant?
The Weeroona Avenue Bridge is of scientific and historical significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?

The Weeroona Avenue Bridge is of scientific importance as an extraordinary example of the Monier concrete arch bridges designed and constructed by Monash & Anderson, and demonstrates an important stage in the development of reinforced concrete technology and early twentieth century engineering. It represents a resourceful response to the problems of the site following the failure of the firm's single span bridge, which had pushed the boundaries of the new reinforced concrete design and construction. The unusually high skew of the bridge is rare, and the use of wrought iron lattice balustrades is demonstrable evidence of Monash's attempt to lighten the load on the edges of the arch following the collapse of the first bridge which had heavy brick balustrades.

The Weeroona Avenue bridge has historical significance for the active involvement of (Sir) John Monash in its design and construction, and of the important role that it, and its failed predecessor, played in the development of his career. It also has historical importance in demonstrating the Bendigo Council's enterprise and confidence in adopting new technology for its early twentieth century drainage system and urban improvements.
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    • Permit Exemptions

      KINGS BRIDGE, OVER BENDIGO CREEK - Permit Exemptions

      General Exemptions:

      General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

      Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

      Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

      Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

      Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

      Specific Exemptions:

      PERMIT EXEMPTIONS POLICY:
      The following permit exemptions are based on the fact that the primary significance of the place lies in its intact original masonry and concrete structure and one remaining lattice balustrade.

      EXEMPTIONS FROM PERMITS:
      (Classes of works or activities which may be undertaken without a permit under Part 4 of the Heritage Act 1995)
      DRAFT - NOT YET APPROVED BY THE HERITAGE COUNCIL

      General Conditions:
      1 All exempted alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object.
      2 Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of alterations that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such alteration shall cease and the Executive Director shall be notified as soon as possible.
      3 If there is a conservation policy and plan approved by the Executive Director, all works shall be in accordance with it.
      4 Nothing in this declaration prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions.
      5 Nothing in this declaration exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authority where applicable.

      Specific Conditions:
      1 Repair, maintenance and resurfacing of the road pavement, gutters and footpath with like materials.
      2 Installation, alteration and maintenance of line marking and road surface signage.
      3 Repair and maintenance painting of balustrading.

      New Supplementary Structure:
      No permit is required for construction of an additional bridge beside the existing bridge (Vicroads Project No.11808) provided that:
      1 The new road alignment is parallel to the existing bridge.
      2 The existing lattice balustrade is transferred to the downstream side.
      3 The new upstream balustrade is modern and not a replica of the original lattice balustrade.
      4 The footpath is swapped to the downstream side and made of such width that the line marking between the two north bound lanes coincides with the construction joint between the old and new structures.
      5 The guard fence on the downstream (footpath) side is deleted.
      6 The new structure (other than the additional arch over the existing arch) is to be independent of the existing structure, so the original upstream abutments and prow shaped central pier remain visible.

Public contributions

Note: Developments may span multiple time periods
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