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RAILWAY BRIDGE OVER TARWIN RIVER
SOUTH GIPPSLAND HIGHWAY, MEENIYAN, SOUTH GIPPSLAND SHIRE

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South Gippsland Shire
Railway Bridge
Railway Bridge
Railway Bridge
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The railway bridge over the Tarwin River east branch at Meeniyan, constructed by Andrew O'Keefe in 1891.

Why is it significant?
The railway bridge over the Tarwin River east branch at Meeniyan is of historical, technological and aesthetic significance to South Gippsland Shire.

Historically, it is one of three original large trestle bridges constructed over the Tarwin River as part of the South Eastern Railway, which facilitated the settlement and development of the South Gippsland region. (AHC criteria - A.4 and D.2)

Aesthetically, the bridge is one of the most powerful expressions of how early European settlement altered the natural and cultural landscape as well a highly visible illustration of the engineering feats that were required to construct the line. (AHC criterion - E.1)

Technically, it is believed to be the longest extant timber railway bridge in Victoria to be built entirely using the 20 feet span timber beam design used by the Victorian Railways at the time. (AHC criterion - F.1)

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    • Physical Description 1

      RAILWAY BRIDGE OVER TARWIN RIVER - Physical Description 1

      The railway bridge at Meeniyan is multi-trestle timber bridge across a wide valley of the east branch of the Tarwin river where the line runs close and parallel to the South Gippsland Highway, between Koonwarra and Meeniyan.

      The bridge has a gently curving transverse timber deck 210 metres in length of typical construction with hardwood trestles formed of paired hardwood tree posts braced diagonally and carrying multiple beams below the rail deck. All of the 35 timber beam spans are built to a standard Victorian Railways 20 feet span design.

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Heritage Study and Grading

      South Gippsland - South Gippsland Heritage Study

      Author: David Helms with Trevor Westmore
      Year: 2004
      Grading: Local

Public contributions

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