Kalkallo Creek Bluestone Bridge (Victoria Bridge) – Opened May 24th 1876.

 

The segmental arched structure is faced in rusticated masonry and has long abutments. Features of the design of the bridge are the voussoirs, string course, parapet and its capping and the carved plaques which record the opening of the bridge and the name of John Worth Kelly, Engineer.

 

The Victoria Bridge was erected by the Shire of Merriang in 1876 across a tributary of the Merri Creek known variously as Rocky Waterholes, Mull creek, and Kalkallo Creek, as a pan of a link between small fanning communities at Donnybrook and Mickleham to the west and Yan Yean, Woodstock and Whittlesea to the east.

 

Another nearby composite timber and blue stone bridge was erected on the same road across Merri Creek itself in 1868 but demolished in recent years. The Victoria bridge was constructed by R. Anderson at a cost of £679 raised by the shire.

 

Although the creek is quite small at this point, it runs through a narrow, steep-sided valley, the basalt clay banks of which would have posed a considerable difficulty to horses and cans trying to negotiate the previous fords. By the mid-1870s, most of the land in the area was well established agricultural and pastoral freehold, and village settlements had sprung up both at the railway line at Donnybrook, and on the main north-south roads. The Donnybrook Road and Victoria Bridge therefore linked settlements such as Kalkallo on the Sydney Road, Wollert and Woodstock on the Epping Road to the east and Mickleham to the west.

 

A plaque on south side of the bridge commemorates the Shire president, W .N. Budd and Engineer, John North Kelly while that on the north side states that it was ‘opened May 24, 1876 by F. Godfrey J.P. M.L.A.

 

Opened on Queen Victoria’s birthday, the bridge commemorates the then – British monarch and stands as a symbol of the civic achievements of the Shire of Merriang.

 

The Kalkallo Creek Bluestone Bridge, is a notable example of a small bluestone bridge, both for its masonry work in bluestone and by virtue if its exemplification of this type of bridge structure used for secondary roads. The structure is typical of the vernacular engineering tradition. This bridge is distinguished by its carved stone plaques, string courses, parapet cappings and voussoirs and is very largely intact and is in good condition. After 132 years of service with trucks and cars in 2008 its usage was officially replaced with a new 2 lane bridge across from it.” — in Kalkallo, Victoria.— celebrating this special day in Kalkallo, Victoria.