Notes and photos of the centenary of the lifting-span bridge connecting Koondrook (Vic.) and Barham (NSW) over Murray River.
From my Nov.04 RNV article:
The lifting-span bridge was commissioned on 8.10.1904, and is one of only two Murray River bridges with de Burgh truss spans (the other is at Cobram - Barooga, slated for imminent replacement) [replaced for road vehicles in mid 2006, but retained for pedestrians]. It was built by the famous bridge engineer John Monash (later knighted) [He had a very illustrious military and civilian career; my own university was named after him].
The twin towns provided a very effective program over Sat.9-Sun.10.10.04, conducted in magnificent weather. River events were led by locally-based PS Barham. Joining were visitors from Swan Hill (PV Iron Dry), Mannum SA (PV Flender Himmel), a houseboat, steam launch St Elmo (from Kerang), and SWPV Rusty (brought on a trailer from Colignan).
On Saturday there were historical displays and riverbank entertainment.
The key ceremonies were on Sunday. The day commenced with breakfast in the park on the NSW side. Macca presented his well-known morning radio program (Australia all over) from the park. At 10.00 there was a parade over the bridge (a band, vintage vehicles, farm machinery, a steam traction engine). At 11.30, the lifting span was raised; Barham led Iron Dry and smaller boats downriver under it. Flender Himmel joined as the boats rounded up; the fleet then moved upriver under the bridge and moored for lunch. There was an unveiling of a plaque by Institute of Engineers.
Rail Tourist Association assembled a weekend tour to take in a range of attractions, including an afternoon cruise aboard PS Barham. During the cruise, Flender Himmel overtook, making a determined effort to reach Torrumbarry Weir (108 km by river) by Monday night.
PS Barham was built in the late 1980s by a machinery enthusiast, and has an unusual vertical boiler.
Quite apart from Australia being up with the rest of the world for quantity, I suspect that we beat the lot for accessibility.
When PS Etona was brought upriver, c1960, the bridge was opened for the first time in perhaps 20 years. Even now, it is opened only occasionally, as this stretch of the river is not used by recreational houseboats. In Oct.03, for the Randell-Cadell 150th, the bridge was opened three times in 3 weeks: Even small PS Billy Tea needed it raised for its passage downriver to join the fleet. For the fleet passage, primary schoolchildren were brought in by bus from up to 50 km away to witness the rare event, and the local secondary students walked down. They gave a mass cheer to each boat as it passed under. A week later, the bridge was opened again for the main fleet returning home. A squad of five council employees does the task swiftly: one on each restraining clamp (one per corner), and one with the portable hydraulic pump to work the lifting mechanism. PS Barmah has a lowerable funnel, so that it can fit under the bridge for local cruising in most river conditions.
It was customary for boats heading downstream to reverse through these lifting-span bridges, giving them more steerage.
I also enclose a photo taken at Koondrook/Barham during the Randell-Cadell 150th run, in 2003. The small paddle vessel Betsy Ann. This is a small version of the box on pontoons theme, prevalent in today's houseboats. The layout is unusual, with side wheels at the rear, chain driven. There are other boats with this layout (PV Tamara Rae, also in this fleet, has the layout; some Nile River boats did too). In this view, the wheels had been removed and were being carried on the rear deck. The boat was being run by its owner solo, and was being powered by the auxiliary outboard.
The photos of PV Flender Himmel and PS Banyulla, formerly in this post, have been transferred to Research, APAM list of modern & restored.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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