By KATH GANNAWAY
WARBURTON’S Keith Thomas says he won’t miss the ‘clunk, clunk, clunk’ of cars going over the old boards of the town’s historic Brisbane Bridge.
Mr Thomas, a former shire president of the Shire of Upper Yarra (and well-known retired auctioneer) was joined by Federal Casey MP Tony Smith, Yarra Ranges Council mayor Maria McCarthy and Cr Jim Child, to officially open the new bridge on Tuesday 9 June.
“Especially at night”, he added, pointing out that his home is just a road’s width away from the bridge, and the trademark clunking!
“What a wonderful day it is to see the opening of this, the Brisbane Bridge, and what a wonderful job the workmen and artisans involved have done it its resurrection,” he said.
The opening of the bridge, with the addition of a pedestrian walkway, was a much anticipated community event with some charming back stories.
Addressing the crowd, Mr Thomas said he and his late wife, Edna, often sat on their front verandah and saw the confusion caused when cars and people had to negotiate the bridge simultaneously.
He said the bridge, one of six bridges that cross the Yarra River in Warburton, derived its name from another auctioneer, William Brisbane, who sold the land on the north side of the river in the early days of Warburton.
The ‘new’ Brisbane Bridge was built in 1936, replacing a previous one.
The bridge was ‘blessed’ at the opening by the Reverend Gail Pinchbeck, who inadvertently played a pivotal role in getting the current upgrade.
Reverend Pinchbeck fell on the bridge in 2013 sparking resident, Megan Wallens, to reignite a campaigning for an upgrade – with a walkway for pedestrians and cyclists.
They walked together in the front line, along with Mr Thomas, Tony Smith, Cr McCarthy and Cr Child, when the crowd tread the boards for the first time after the official opening.
Among the crowd were council staff and contractors who had worked on the bridge, local pre-school and primary school children, members of walking and cycling groups and residents for whom the bridge is a link to the main township area.
The 2015 bridge meets modern engineering standards, but still keeps the look and feel of its predecessor.
The historical context, was prominent in the mind of Yarra Ranges Council engineer Garfield D’Costa when he first met with Ms Wallens and other community members in relation to the function and design of the upgrade.
“We were aware through talking to Megan and others that apart from the aesthetics, we had to appreciate more than just the bridge structure,” Mr D’Costa told the Mail.
He said it was about bringing the bridge up to standard from a safety point of view, but also maintaining the aesthetics.
“We had to ensure that anything that was done did not detract from the heritage of the structure.
“It is very much seen as part of the township and associated with the town and its people.”
Cr McCarthy said the bridge was a great example of the council working together with the community and the Federal Government, while Cr Child said it was a fantastic improvement to the Warburton landscape that blended new engineering techniques while respecting heritage.
Tony Smith said the long overdue makeover would make the bridge safer for both motorists and pedestrians.
“I am delighted that our Federal Government provided funding through the Roads to Recovery Program and look forward to joining locals in utilising the bridge,” he said.
The Federal Government provided $350,000 and Yarra Ranges Council $378,000.
