Walkers mark bridge birthdays

Thirty walkers and park advocates on 23 May celebrated the centenary of Beechworth's Gorge Road opening and ninetieth anniversary of its second Spring Creek bridge opening at an event organised by Beechworth History and Heritage Society.

Society chair Jamie Kronborg told those gathered that road and bridge-building in the gorge, long since the major natural attraction in Beechworth Historic Park, was quite a story.

“With early guidance about the route from famed Board of Works chief engineer Carlo Catani in 1908, building the road and first bridge - a timber truss type - became a significant engineering and financial challenge,” Jamie said.

"The project took a decade, from 1916 to 1926, and the truss bridge later had to be replaced with a steel and concrete span, opening in 1936. After floods in October 2022 it now needs replacing again so full public access to Beechworth's five-kilometre-long key walk for many local people and tourists can be restored."

The 1916-1926 road and bridge building project cost 2000 pounds and the scenic route was opened on 26 May, 1926, by Crown Lands Commissioner Alfred Downward. Beechworth’s Jessie Diffey, wife of shire president Victor Diffey, cut the ribbon at the truss bridge.

“Yet the new tourist route was very popular and in 1931 Beechworth shire council placed weight restrictions on vehicles crossing the bridge before deciding to replace it,” Jamie said.

The new steel and concrete bridge was opened by Country Roads Board chairman F. W. Fricke on 14 May, 1936.

Jamie said Parks Victoria and Indigo Shire Council had been in touch directly with updates about work by Parks Victoria to develop concept designs for a replacement bridge.

These concepts include a pedestrian-only and dual use pedestrian and single lane traffic bridge.

Parks Victoria has committed to engage the Beechworth community to discuss the design options.

IMAGES: Walkers gathered at Gorge Road's closed bridge to celebrate the scenic drive and bridge birthdays with a cake generously made by Beechworth Bakery and provided by Jo and Marty Matassoni and their skilled bakery team. Beechworth History and Heritage president Jamie Kronborg with Tiff Ellis cutting the cake at the birthday celebration. The flood-damaged and closed 1936-era bridge. A Rose Series postcard of the first truss bridge commissioned in 1926. PHOTOS: Peter Kenyon