Pumphouse Bridge officially opens
14 Jun 08
gives way to the new steel bridge
Those of us who walk, cycle or ride horses, dream of the day when the section of the Great Southern Rail Trail between Koonwarra and Meeniyan will be completed.
Although there is still a small section that will not be open until 2011, Friday, 13 June 2008 was a momentous day - the Pumphouse Bridge was opened! A magnificent steel stucture has replaced the Spotted Gum trestle bridge that has stood across the Tarwin River since 1892.
Yes, it is officially open and the hard working Rail Trail Committee and the Friends of the Great Southern Rail Trail are to be congratulated for persevering for 10 years to achieve this.
the bridge for the official opening ceremony
Special thanks must go to Eric & Margaret Cumming and Glenda Pitkethly although there are many others who have striven hard for this project. The "Friends" have some 200 members.
The official party and VIPs mounted the bridge for the official opening and these included South Gippsland Shire Mayor, Cr Heather Bligh, Leader of the Nationals, Mr Peter Ryan, Johan Scheffer, Upper House Member for Eastern Victoria Region and Vince Aitken, Railtrails Australia.
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Also watched from the ground by many members of the community, Police horses and horse riders from the Nyora and District Adult Riders Club |
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| Brian Thorburn & Geoff Clark |
Phil Hargreaves & Tania Franks |
The bridge is 240 m long, is constructed with 1200 tonnes of steel, 1995 bolts and 30 trucks of concrete. It was designed by John Mackay with the fabrication and construction carried out by local Leongatha Company, Hulls Engineering.
The public have been allowed to cross since March and the counter installed has already recorded 8,000 crossings. Who can doubt the popularity of this Trail or the necessity for it?
The Great South Gippsland Railway Line operated from 1892 until 1992 and like many other disused railway lines throughout Australia, much of it is now a rail trail used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
The Trail from Leongatha to Foster is 46 ½ km in length and there are plans to extend it from Foster to Yarram meaning a total of 93 kms of continuous pathway.
There are 34 Rail Trails in Victoria covering 620 km with another 13 potential Rail Trails to be formed adding another 744 kms for Victoria's recreational use.
Throughout Australia there are 97 Rail Trails totalling 1,554 kms. The Great Southern Rail Trail was the first and is said to be in the top three.
So - are we proud of our Rail Trail and all involved with it?
We most certainly are!
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The Great Southern Rail Trail is a trail for walkers, horses and cyclists
To read more about the Great Southern Rail Trail visit
Feedback on the Big Weekend - 13, 14, 15 June 2008
“Congratulations on a GRAND DAY.. Well done one and all.”
“Was great to share it with you.
Margaret and Stan.... Moe Yallourn Rail Trail.”
“Love to the dog. Just loved your style!!”
To all involved
"Margaret and I were thrilled to be part of it, a great sucess, bodes well for the future of the Committee and the GSRT." Brian
For further photos of the weekend and other related Bridge shots:
http://picasaweb.google.com/TheGreatSouthernRailTrail
What's next - The Friends are running a campaign to get funding for the last gap in the trail between the Koonwarra Recreation Reserve and Minns Road.
The South Gippsland Highway bridge over the Tarwin River
adjacent to the Pumphouse Bridge