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CONDIDORIOS BRIDGE
OVER GUNBOWER CREEK, ISLAND ROAD KOONDROOK, GANNAWARRA SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Register
CONDIDORIOS BRIDGE SOHE 2008
CONDIDORIOS BRIDGE SOHE 2008
CONDIDORIOS BRIDGE SOHE 2008
CONDIDORIOS BRIDGE SOHE 2008
1 condidorios bridge koondrook
condidorio plan
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The timber bridge connecting the township of Koondrook to Gunbower Island across the ana branch of the Murray River known as Gunbower Creek was built in 1906. The bridge features an unusual hump-backed design and relatively narrow sawn (rather than hewn) stringers or beams. These bridge beams are spliced mid-span to produce the effect of continuous beams which are not corbelled where they are supported by the trestles. The bridge was probably designed by Kerang Shire engineer SG Nish and was built by contractor James Flight for £512. The bridge was used to connect the timber and farming areas of Gunbower Island to Koondrook and thence by the steam tramway to Kerang and the State rail network. For many years the bridge has been known as Condidorio’s Bridge after a Koondrook family who owned market gardens nearby. The bridge had not been well maintained and most of its original timbers have rotted. In 2000 the bridge was dismantled and reconstructed, essentially to the original design, using new timbers wherever necessary. Some original components of beams (non-structural) and ironwork have been retained.

How is it significant?
Condidorio’s Bridge is scientifically (technologically) and historically important to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?
Condidorio’s Bridge is of scientific (technological) and historical importance as a rare, possibly unique, Victorian example of a timber bridge which contains the unusual elements of a humped profile, continuous beam construction, squared sawn members and lack of corbels.

Condidorio's Bridge is historically significant for being both reflective of the importance of red gum saw milling to the Koondrook area and to Victoria through the materials of its construction, but also in being an aid to the continuance of that industry through its use in bringing logs to the sawmill and tramway.
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    • Permit Exemptions

      CONDIDORIOS 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:

      General Conditions:
      1. All 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.

      Exemptions:
      * Minor repairs and maintenance which replace like with like.
      * reconstruction of the bridge to plans and specifications approved by the Executive Director
      * Emergency and safety related works.

      Permit Exemption Policy

      CONDIDORIOS BRIDGE - Permit Exemption Policy

      The significance of this bridge lies mainly in its design elements and construction materials. Permits should be granted for works which preserve its unique character.

Public contributions

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