Stony Creek Trestle Bridge not stoney creek - built for steam locomotive - History at Nowa Nowa near Lakes Entrance Vic
77Stony Creek Trestle Bridge
The Australian Heritage Listed Stony Creek Trestle Bridge steeped in history is located at Nowa Nowa and is a must see on a sight seeing drive from Lakes Entrance in Victoria!
Only a short drive from Lakes Entrance, North bound and about 5 km off the main highway lays an intriguing relic of Victoria's history. You will have to keep your eyes peeled for the sign post.
On the winding road into the bridge you may come across animals such as Kangaroos, Koalas ( look up into the Gum Trees for these) and all sorts of interesting birds. You are sure to hear the distinctive call of the Bell Bird!
After a nice pleasant drive you will come across what is known as The Stony Creek Trestle Bridge which a monument still standing in the honor of the men who toiled hard in a harsh environment.
How the Stony Creek Bridge was constructed
The construction of the Stony Creek Trestle Bridge not far from Lakes Entrance, which was part of a 97km extension of the rail line between Melbourne and Bairnsdale to reach Orbost, began in 1916. The terrain was extremely rugged, and the project was reputed to be the most difficult rail project ever tackled in Victoria.
You may agree when you see the measurements:
- 247 metres in length.
- over 20 metres in height
- and built from Red Iron-bark and Grey Box Timber (very hard).
All of the timber materials were felled and gathered from local forests, and is a fine example and testament to the early engineering skills of Australian pioneers.
Construction of the Bridge
Why build a bridge like this you may well ask?
It was decided to build the Stony Creek Trestle Bridge to provide a boost to the regional economy.
In the years just after WW1, timber was in huge demand and the area surrounding Orbost was very rich in the production of timber.
It still remains a rich timber district to this day.
The Stony Creek Trestle Bridge remained in service until a bushfire damaged the structure in 1980, after being repaired the bridge was last used in 1988.
Usage of the Stony Creek Trestle Bridge
What sort of traffic did the bridge carry?
In the early days of the trestle bridge Steam driven locomotives operated across the bridge until 1957 when diesel locomotives were introduced.
Unfortunately in June of 1964 a train of timber trucks being hauled by a diesel loco was derailed in which 11 trucks laden with timber came off the tracks causing 3 trucks to topple from the bridge and the other 8 toppled during the cleaning up of the site.
Fortunately though the locomotive and the guards van remained on the track and there were no injuries!
Visiting the Bridge
It is a nice little drive from Lakes Entrance and you have to keep your eyes peeled for the Sign Post about 5 km back from Nowa Nowa.
After you turn off from the Princes Highway there is about a 5 km drive into the bush, on this travel you are likely to see some of the wild life in the area, such as Kangaroos, Koalas etc.
When you reach the site it is very impressive indeed stretching out in all its Glory spanning the Snowy River Flood plain.
When you stop and turn off the Motor Car you are struck by the 'silence' of the bush!
All you can hear is the rustle of the wind in the trees and the singing of the birds!
If you stop and close your eyes you may even hear the ghosts of the past as the men go about the massive task of building this Stony Creek Trestle Bridge!
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dahoglund oh yes this one is special. When you get out of your car (it is the only way to get there) it is almost a spiritual feeling. You can almost see the men climbing up and down the poles and the photos don't really do the structure justice.
Thanks very much for your kind comment!
Wow it looks like a really awesome old bridge! Australia is one of the countries I have always dreamed to visit.....Oh I need a vacation.
Om, now come on it's no good dreaming. You gotta save your cents up and do it! Thanks for dropping by and leaving this great comment on my trestle bridge hub :-)
Some places, some structures never recieve the shout that they deserve. If it could talk the stories it would tell, because yours has told a lot. Thank you.
Hi PAPA-BEAR thanks for dropping in! Yeh man when you visit these types of places they seep history and you can feel the atmosphere in the air! Can't you just imagine how hard these guys had to work? Winter and Summer no let up!
Thanks for your kind comment :-)
I found this really interesting, not previously being aware of it. Thanks for your hard work & all the info!! :)
( must say I'm impressed with all your accolades too!)
Interesting hub.. thanks!!
@wilbury steve, thanks for dropping in a leaving such kind words. Australia has a lot of interesting History which I would like the rest of the world to see!
@carolina muscle, thanks for dropping by and leaving a kind comment :-)
Thank you for this hub on the Stony Creek Trestle bridge ag, it is an important part of our history and I am pleased to see all the historic pictures here too. Great work!
earnest, I thought that you may enjoy this hub on the Stony Creek Trestle Bridge as I know that this was close to you old stamping ground and felt that you may have spent some time in Nowa Nowa and Lakes Entrance!
earnestshub, have you ever been to have a look at the trestle bridge that crosses Stony Creek?
Amazing what men could do so long ago with ropes horses, and mules. Pure determination.
Very great hub and history of this bridge, I love to learn and this is an awesome hub, thank you for sharing and thumbs up
lightning john, yep it seems to boil down to the sheer 'guts and determination' factor. It seems to be what puts humans apart from other animals. We will not accept defeat! Thanks for dropping by :-)
Darlene, thanks very much for your kind words. It is always nice to know that people enjoy my Hubs. As you can tell, even though it can be rugged and unforgiving, I do love my country and love sharing with others the share beauty it has to offer :-)
The old train bridges have always facinated me. Amazing engineering and lots of labor. Thanks for the information.
thanks world-traveler for dropping in and checking out my Trestle Bridge Hub. The engineering in those days was amazing and very, very labor intensive. I have been told by the historians of the area that the only materials that were brought to the Stony Creek Trestle Bridge was the metal hardware needed to bolt and tie the bridge all together.
Agvulpes. Hi. Your description of The Stony Creek Trestle Bridge in Nowa Nowa,Victoria is wonderful.
We have been there,it is such a beautiful spot,the bridge is magnificent, and so high,to just sit under it and watch the birds and animals and the world go by it is so peaceful and magical.
So much history. What these men did with a minimal amount of tools, it must have been so very hard.
Thanks for all this great information and reminding us of what a beautiful part of the world that we live in.
Loved reading your account of this great bridge. The photographs are awesome.Voted up.:) :)
oliversmum thanks for you kind comment. You are so right about the Stony Creek Trestle Bridge.
It is so long since I have been there that it had slipped my mind just how great it is to visit. You could be in another world altogether with the birds and the animals without a care. If you are fortunate enough to be the only humans on site at the time of your visit it can be a very special moment in time.:-)
I am definitely going to pencil it into my diary to pay another visit to the Trestle Bridge, when we move it will not be such a long drive to get to Nowa Nowa!
Thanks again for your lovely comment and Vote :-)
- Heritage listed
This Trestle Bridge is now Heritage listed
dahoglund Level 7 Commenter 23 months ago
If I ever get to Australia I'll have to look this up. bridges are one of thee more interesting things anywhere.