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BRIDGE
OVER JACKSONS CREEK, SUNBURY ROAD SUNBURY, HUME CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register
BRIDGE SOHE 2008
BRIDGE SOHE 2008
BRIDGE SOHE 2008
1 bridge over jackson's creek sunbury side view sep1984
bridge over jackson's creek sunbury plan
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?

The Bluestone Road Bridge over Jacksons Creek is a double arched bridge with adjoining abutments, constructed of blue stone with Flemish bond block work and ruled joints. The two span bridge has elliptical shaped arches both measuring 13.4 metres. The bridge was opened in 1870 and replaced an 1857 bridge. The bridge has two integral blue stone parapets and end walls; the piers are topped with rounded basalt capping stones. One of the piers rises from a basalt outcrop which is visible near the riverbank. The juxtaposition of the building material in its natural form against the carved and worked dimension stone of the base of the bridge is aesthetically pleasing.

Why is it significant?

The Bluestone Road Bridge over Jacksons Creek is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.

How is it significant?

The Bluestone Road Bridge over Jacksons Creek is of architectural significance as an exemplary example of a Victorian Stone bridge. The bridge is representative of bridges constructed during the 1860's and 1870's however the combination of narrowing piers, the rounded tops to the piers and the elliptical arches, results in a particularly elegant stone construction. The bridge demonstrates the use of local dimension stone and illustrates the quality of craftsmanship of the time. While there are other examples of masonry bridges from the same period in Melbourne and regional Victoria, many of them have been altered to cater for the rise in motor vehicular traffic. The bridge over Jacksons Creek remains unaltered and has not been subject to alterations or adaptations. The bridge over Jacksons Creek is significant as a visual reminder of the evolution of early bridge construction techniques and for the individual design approach taken by its creator. The bridge over Jacksons Creek remains an outstanding example of a bridge built in the period 1860 to 1870.

The Bridge over the Jacksons Creek is of historical significance for its association with the goldrush era in Victoria's history. Road construction was accelerated following the economic boom of the gold rushes in Victoria and the Jacksons Creek Bridge was constructed in direct response to this, replacing an earlier timber bridge. The replacement of bridges was not uncommon in the early years of Victoria's cultural history and it is not unusual to find that bridges were replaced two or three times in one location as bridge construction techniques improved and an increase in traffic necessitated upgrades. The bridge over Jacksons Creek assists in a greater understanding of the development and impact of 19th century gold mining activities in the State and the resultant need for transport systems.

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    • History

      BRIDGE - History

      Contextual History:History of Place:
      The need for infrastructure in a rapidly expanding settlement necessitated the construction of Australia's first roads shortly after the arrival of the first settlers. A first roadmap for Victoria dates from 1837. In 1838, the New South Wales Government authorised a survey of a road from Sydney to Melbourne and a contract was let for a fortnightly mail journey between the two centres.

      This route passed through Kilmore to Seymour and then along the present Hume Highway to Albury.

      Due to the gold rushes of the 1850's there was rapid growth in economic activity in Australia. Investment in roads and railways helped establish the national transport system and bridges formed important links in this expanding network.

      The earliest Victorian bridges are not easy to trace, as they were apparently minor (often timber) structures on rural or makeshift roads.

      Many bridges were opened at the time of the major railways in the 1860's and the expanding road works around Melbourne.

      There are several other examples of masonry (blue stone bridges) in the area.

      The present bridge at Bulla over Deep Creek (higher section of the Maribyrnong River) has four 8.2 spans and dates from around 1869.

      The blue stone bridge at Sunbury has two 13.4 meter arch spans and dates from 1870.


      History of Place:

      The Government Gazette announced in 1857 that a tender to build a bridge over Jacksons Creek had been granted to Evans & Meery. The total cost of the bridge was 2044 (33) pounds.

      The present bridge was opened in 1870. One can safely assume that the 1857 bridge was a precursor to the current blue stone bridges. It is
      COMPARISON:

      The bridge over Jackson Creek is essentially a very elegant specimen of a typical Victorian Stone bridge. There are several examples of the masonry bridges from the same period in Melbourne and regional Victoria. Although some of them have been altered to cater for the rise of motor vehicular traffic, most of them are in good condition. There is variety in shape, size and character.

      The bridge offers additional interest because of the commemorative plaques, the two styles of rusticated stone surfaces and the gargoyle. Compared to other blue stone bridges it is relatively large.

      Other bridges such as the Newlands Road Bridge in Coburg has three 9.1 meter spans and was built by prisoners from the Pentridge Goal. At Waurn Ponds, a small stone bridge carries a crest and the inscription "Barrabool Shire. 1868".

      The Bridge at Bulla over Deep Creek is located at an important site as a fort appears to have existed around 1837. The bridge has four 8.2 meter spans and was constructed around 1869. Its spans are smaller that the Jacksons Creek bridge. The piers of the Bulla Creek bridge are also emphasised with rounded capping stones. The shape of the piers is less dramatic although they also widen towards the base.

      unusual to find that bridges were replaced two or three times in one particular location.

      Permit Exemptions

      BRIDGE - 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:

      EXEMPTIONS FROM PERMITS:
      (Classes of works or activities which may be undertaken without a permit under
      Part 4 of the Heritage Act 1995)

      General Conditions:
      All alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents
      damage to the fabric of the registered place or object.
      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.
      If there is a conservation policy and plan approved by the Executive Director,
      all works shall be in accordance with it.
      Nothing in this declaration prevents the Executive Director from amending or
      rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions.
      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.


      No permit required for routine maintenance of the Bridge over Jacksons Creek

      No permit required to replace like with like on the Bridge over Jacksons Creek

Public contributions

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