FLEMINGTON BRIDGE (INBOUND)
MT ALEXANDER ROAD, FLEMINGTON, MOONEE VALLEY CITY

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Statement of Significance
Flemington Bridge, as reconstructed and widened in 1913 by the Reinforced Concrete & Monier Pipe Construction Co., is significant. The bridge combines the iron girders and columns of the 1868 iron bridge, with the reinforced concrete deck, piers and girders, and handrails supported by decorative cast iron standards added in 1913. A bluestone wall in front of the south abutment may also be part of the 1868 bridge.
How is it significant?
Flemington Bridge is of local historical and technical significance to the City of Moonee Valley.
Why is it significant?
Flemington Bridge is historically significant for its associations with the development of Mt Alexander Road and demonstrates the importance of the bridge as one of the principal northern entries to Melbourne. There has been a bridge at this site since the 1850s and the present bridge incorporates some of the fabric of the third bridge, constructed in 1868, as well the additions made when it was reconstructed in 1913. The bridge demonstrates the improvements made to Melbourne's road network as traffic increased, and was an important component in the development of Melbourne's electrictramway network by enabling a direct connection to be made between the routes in Moonee Valley and the rest of the system. (Criterion A)
It is also significant as an intact example of a reinforced concrete girder bridge constructed by the Reinforced Concrete & Monier Pipe Construction Co. It is notable as an example of the adaptation by the company of an old structure using innovative technology, to provide the first reinforced concrete tramway bridge in Victoria. (Criteria D, F & H)
It is also significant for its remnant fabric of the 1868 bridge which may yield further information about bridge construction in nineteenth century Victoria. (Criterion C)
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FLEMINGTON BRIDGE (INBOUND) - Physical Description 1
The following description of the Flemington Bridge is cited directly from the John Monash website:
This project involved the strengthening and widening of an existing iron bridge to provide for two tram tracks down the middle of the roadway. The alterations used the iron columns and girders from the old structure and introduced new reinforced concrete components.
There are five spans of 21 feet 3 inches (6.48 m). The central strip of the bridge is still supported by the original piers, each consisting of six cast iron cylinder columns connected with X-shaped cross-bracing. Five central girders, numbers 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 (counting from the upstream side of the bridge) are made of reinforced concrete and carry the tram lines. On the upstream side two lines of reinforced concrete columns on strip footings were added to support a new footpath. On the downstream side three further lines were added to support a widening of the road and another footpath. On each side the outer line of columns (numbers 1 and 11) supports a reinforced concrete beam to carry the edge of the footpath, while the inner lines (columns 2, 8, 9 and 10) support iron girders re-used from the old bridge. The old timber deck was replaced by a cast in-situ reinforced concrete deck extending over the full width of the bridge. The abutments of the bridge are the column and wall type, with a bluestone wall in front of the Melbourne abutment. The iron handrailing supported by decorative cast iron standards and a concrete pillar at each corner, with a commemorative inscription on the south west pillar, as provided for the 1913 extension, remains reasonably intact.
The above description was prepared c.1998. The condition and integrity of the bridge has not changed appreciably since then. The commemorative inscription on the south west pillar reads: 'In commemoration of the widening of the bridge this stone was laid by the Hon. W.H. Edgar M.L.C. Commissioner of Public Works on the 29th day of May 1913'.
Heritage Study and Grading
Moonee Valley - Moonee Valley Heritage Study
Author: Context Pty Ltd, 2015
Year: 2015
Grading: LocalMoonee Valley - City of Moonee Valley Stage 1 Heritage Gap Study
Author: Context PL
Year: 2013
Grading:
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FORMER FLEMINGTON COURT HOUSEVictorian Heritage Register H1470
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NATHAN'S TERRACEVictorian Heritage Register H1205
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POLICE STATION AND LOCK-UPVictorian Heritage Register H0844
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"1890"Yarra City
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"AMF Officers" ShedMoorabool Shire
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"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
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'The Pines' Scout CampHobsons Bay City
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106 Nicholson StreetYarra City
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12 Gore StreetYarra City
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