Lockyer Creek Railway Bridge (Guinn Park)

General

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Classification

State Heritage

Register status

Entered

Date entered

21 October 1992

Type

Transport—rail: Bridge—railway

Theme

5.3 Moving goods, people and information: Using rail

Architect

Pagan, William

Construction period

1910–1911, Lockyer Creek Railway Bridge (Guinn Park)

Historical period

1900–1914 Early 20th century

Location

Addresses

• Toowoomba - Helidon Line, Murphys Creek
• Toowoomba - Helidon Line, Upper Lockyer

LGA

Lockyer Valley Regional Council

Coordinates

-27.49295492, 152.08198445

Significance

Criterion AThe place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland’s history.

This reinforced concrete arched bridge on a straight alignment has one of the largest spans of its type in Australia. Its innovative and aesthetically pleasing design was associated with the Chief Engineer, William Pagan, and was the third (?) of its type designed in Australia (Morell Bridge 1899, Fyansford Bridge 1900). [(?)Chowey 1905, (?) Lockyer at Lockyer 1910]

Criterion EThe place is important because of its aesthetic significance.

Its innovative and aesthetically pleasing design was associated with the Chief Engineer, William Pagan, and was the third (?) of its type designed in Australia (Morell Bridge 1899, Fyansford Bridge 1900). [(?)Chowey 1905, (?) Lockyer at Lockyer 1910]

Criterion FThe place is important in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period.

This reinforced concrete arched bridge on a straight alignment has one of the largest spans of its type in Australia. Its innovative and aesthetically pleasing design was associated with the Chief Engineer, William Pagan, and was the third (?) of its type designed in Australia (Morell Bridge 1899, Fyansford Bridge 1900). [(?)Chowey 1905, (?) Lockyer at Lockyer 1910]

Criterion HThe place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland’s history.

Its innovative and aesthetically pleasing design was associated with the Chief Engineer, William Pagan, and was the third (?) of its type designed in Australia (Morell Bridge 1899, Fyansford Bridge 1900). [(?)Chowey 1905, (?) Lockyer at Lockyer 1910]

History

The railway opened for traffic between Helidon and Toowoomba on 1 May 1867. From the 1870s there has been a continuing process of improving the Main Line between Brisbane and Toowoomba because of its importance as a major arterial route. As part of that process, which required the replacement of original bridges to carry heavier loads, construction work began in 1909 on a reinforced concrete arch bridge over Lockyer Creek at 77m 55c immediately following the construction of one at 75m 48c. Design of the innovative bridge was completed and signed by Chief Engineer, William Pagan on 31 March 1910. The bridge and deviation were completed and brought into use on 21 December 1911.

Description

A concrete arch bridge aligned on a straight alignment and carrying a single track on a ballasted deck. Its spans are:

2x15 foot (4.6m) reinforced concrete arches, concrete abutment, common concrete piers.

1x74 foot (22.6m) reinforced concrete arch supporting 2x12 foot (3.7m) and 1x13 foot (4.0m) reinforced concrete spandrel arches, common concrete piers.

1x90 foot (27.4m) reinforced concrete arch supporting 2x13 foot (4.0m) and 2x12 foot (3.7m) reinforced concrete spandrel arches, common concrete piers.

1x74 foot (22.6m) reinforced concrete arch supporting 1x13 foot (4.0m) and 2x12 foot (3.7m) reinforced concrete spandrel arches, common concrete piers.

3x15 foot (4.6m) reinforced concrete arches, common concrete piers, concrete abutment.

The spandrel columns are arranged in pairs, one for each arch rib, with crossbracing in concrete. The arch ribs are parabolic of rectangular section. There is a concrete balustrade. The whole structure is in cast-in-situ concrete.

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