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Bluestone Bridge over Kororoit Creek Creek
Princes Highway BROOKLYN, Hobsons Bay City

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Hobsons Bay City

Bluestone Bridge over Kororoit Creek Road, Hobsons Bay Heritage Study 2006

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Statement of Significance
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Statement of Significance

What is Significant?

The Bluestone Bridge over Kororoit Creek, comprising the bridge constructed in 1889 and altered in 1912 and the adjoining remnants of the old Geelong Road, off the Princes Highway (Geelong Road) near Clelland Road, Brooklyn.

How is it Significant?

The Bluestone Bridge over Kororoit Creek, Brooklyn is of local historic, technical and aesthetic significance to the City of Hobsons Bay.

Why is it Significant?

Historically, the bridge is significant as the oldest surviving road bridge within the municipality and one of a small number of stone bridges from this era, which survive on a major roadway reserve in the metropolitan area. It is an integral element, which illustrates the early development and alignment of the Geelong Road reserve, which was one of the first to be surveyed in the Colony by Hoddle in the pre-1840 period. (AHC criteria A4 and B2)

Technically, the bridge is significant as an unusual hybrid bluestone and concrete bridge, which demonstrates how these structures were adapted to meet new standards. The surviving approach roads are also significant as rare examples of early road construction. (AHC criterion F1)

Aesthetically, the bridge is significant as an example of an early stone bridge, which is notable for the elegant series of segment arches that are reminiscent of early colonial bridges in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. (AHC criteria E1)

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- Physical Description 1
  
  Bluestone Bridge over Kororoit Creek Creek - Physical Description 1
  
  The former Geelong Road bridge over Kororoit Creek is constructed of coursed basalt squared blocks, with three segment arches set on capped piers, each pier with a curved profile to divert the current. The steel pipe and concrete post balustrade has replaced with what may have been a wrought-iron balustrade (A similar balustrade is used on the Heidelberg Road bridge over Merri Creek at Clifton Hill) which may have also led to changes to the connecting capped stone balustrade walls at the creek bank. This balustrade and the walls beneath them curve elegantly with the curve of the road.
  
  The approach to the bridge along the old Geelong Road required a 'kink' to negotiate the Kororoit Creek crossing - this can still be traced on the north and south of the current road. Approaches to the bluestone bridge retain 'Telford' road paving of large bluestone blocks set in the basal clay, cambered from a raised centre. The largest blocks are used to stabilise the edges, and sometimes a central row. Originally these were covered with a layer of crushed rock and/or gravel to form the road surface, but this is usually eroded away in the case of unmaintained roads, or covered in layers of bitumen, in the case of roads improved for motor vehicle traffic in the early twentieth century. Both results can be seen near Kororoit Creek.
  
  The section of road parallel with the east bank of the creek, north of the present road, also retains a short section of the hand laid embankment and hand dug cut, where it descends along the slope to the old bridge level.
  
  Integrity
  
  Bluestone Bridge over Kororoit Creek Creek - Integrity
  
  External Condition
  
  Good
  
  External Integrity
  
  Moderate (see History and Description)
  
  Physical Description 2
  
  Bluestone Bridge over Kororoit Creek Creek - Physical Description 2
  
  Context
  
  Set in an off-road deviation, with part of the former road surface evident but mainly unmaintained grassland and VicRoads dumping areas surrounding.
  
  Historical Australian Themes
  
  Bluestone Bridge over Kororoit Creek Creek - Historical Australian Themes
  
  Making Suburbs
  
  Physical Description 3
  
  Bluestone Bridge over Kororoit Creek Creek - Physical Description 3
  
  Associations
  Victorian Colonial Government, Shire of Werribee, Robert Hoddle
  
  Heritage Study and Grading
  
  Heritage Study and Grading
  
  Hobsons Bay - Hobsons Bay Heritage Study
  
  Author: Hobsons Bay City Council
  Year: 2006
  Grading:
- Show:
- MAIN OUTFALL SEWER
  
  Victorian Heritage Register H1932
- Eastern Market Gates (Former) - Altona Memorial Park
  
  Hobsons Bay City
- Memorial Park Crematorium and Floral Lawn Cemetery
  
  Hobsons Bay City