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The Border Railways Act Bridges

The bridges over the Murray River at Mildura and Abbotsford were constructed under the authority of the Border Railways (1922) Act.

The Border Railways Agreement was reached between the two state governments of New South Wales and Victoria on 14-9-1922. The agreement called upon the Victorian government to provide between 1,250,000 and 1,500,000 pounds for the construction of four railway lines into New South Wales and bridges across the Murray River. Details are covered in the secrtion "The Wentworth Proposal and Extensions to Merbein and Yelta".

The agreement was ratified by both states with simultaneous Bills. Mr. Barnes, when speaking to the second reading of the Bill in the Victorian Legislative Assembly on 1-11-1922, confirmed that of the four bridges proposed, one would be near Wentworth and the other at Mildura. The more westerly bridge would enable the trade from Wentworth and the Curlwaa Irrigation Settlement to be conveniently brought across the river to the Merbein railway. The Border Railways (1922) Act. No. 3194 was passed by both Houses and proclaimed on 1-1-1923.

Bridge Sites Determined

The sites selected for the bridges were at Abbotsford, 30 chains upstream from the Curlwaa pumping station, and near the Mildura punt. The bridges would be constructed by New South Wales at a cost of 78,000 pounds and 98,000 pounds respectively. As the Abbotsford and Mildura bridges would initially be used for road traffic only, the cost would be shared equally by Victoria and New South Wales.

The bridge at Mildura would consist of one 60 feet steel vertical lift span and four steel truss spans of 121 feet. The successful tender for construction was awarded to Armstrong-Whitworth Pty. Ltd. of Melbourne. Although the bridge was designed to carry a railway, this was never to eventuate. The bridge was officially opened on 22-10-1927 but by the 1980's it was inadequate to carry the large volume of local and interstate traffic (Sturt Highway) and was replaced in 1985 by a concrete bridge and demolished.

After the official opening of the replacement George Chaffey bridge on 12-3-1985, dismantling of the 1927 steel bridge began, commencing with the lift span. 24-3-1985. Photo: Bruce McLean

The Abbotsford Bridge on the other hand, was on the alignment of the proposed railway extending through the Coomealla Irrigation Settlement to a point 20 miles north of Gol Gol.

The contract for construction of the bridge was awarded to Christiani and Nielson (Australia) Pty. Ltd. of Melbourne. The bridge was opened on 10-7-1928 by the Governor of New South Wales.

The Abbotsford Bridge was built to accommodate a railway line under the Border Railways Act. A line from Yelta would have entered the bridge from the right hand (Victorian) side. 2-5-2003. Photo: Bruce McLean