|
Bridging the Kalgan
Discussions are recorded of proposals to bridge the King and Kalgan rivers at their mouths as far back as the first meeting of the Albany Roads Board in June 1896. Plans were drawn up in 1897, and the first of the bridges was built across the King River shortly thereafter, but the plan for the one across the Kalgan River was delayed for some years. Local settlers had apparently been dissatisfied with the width and height of the navigation span provided for in those plans as inadequate for river traffic to pass beneath it. The original plan was consequently modified to specify a special navigation span 40 feet wide at the deepest part of the river, where it was 20 feet above low water mark. For its time, this was one of the most complicated bridge construction feats tackled in the colony. Tenders were called, and a contract let to Messrs Davis Hankinson & Co. for construction of the Lower Kalgan Bridge in May 1904, for a price of £2,844.12.1.
When the bridge eventually opened in March 1905, at 900 feet in length, it was the longest of its kind over water in the State. More than any other single event, this bridging of the Lower Kalgan is considered to represent the opening up of the Kalgan district. Whereas less than twenty settlers lived east of the Kalgan River prior to construction of the bridge, there was a virtual population explosion in the years that followed its opening.
That original bridge stood until 1958, when it was replaced, but the unique navigation span trusses were removed for preservation. Some years later, the Lower Kalgan-Nanarup Progress Association raised a loan to meet the costs of transport, crane hire, concrete foundations, erection, renovation and painting. The trusses were eventually restored and returned in 1968, where they have remained since displayed in the river front reserve at the western end of the bridge.
Australian branch of the Institute of Engineers in Australia accorded their highest ranking to these Lower Kalgan Bridge relics as being ones of major historic importance with significant heritage features and local interest. Their report went on to note that the only known surviving Western Australian road bridge timber trusses.
LKPA Committee members consequently consulted experts on restoration of timber bridges, who advised that “the original bridge is a fine example of a trussed timber bridge and the Institute of Engineers Australia recognises it as a major one of historic importance with significant heritage features and local interest, one of the only remaining bridges of its type in WA. This bridge was an essential part of the infrastructure of the local area for the first part of this century before the present bridge replaced it. There are important aspects of the design and construction of the original bridge that would be of interest to visitors to the area that could be detailed on an information board set near the refurbished bridge. This would ensure that they had some appreciation for the engineering required to construct a bridge from locally sourced timber (that is essentially no longer available in the sizes originally required) to span one of the widest permanent watercourses in WA. “It is certainly possible to restore the remaining sections of the bridge as an exhibit of historical significance to the region.”
“Heritage nomination”
The navigation span trusses have been listed on the Albany Municipal Heritage Inventory. As recommended by the Institute of Engineers, the trusses are also listed in their database of recommendations for inclusion in the State Register by the Heritage Council of WA. The Heritage Council has since decided to accelerate consideration of such registration.
One point of focus for the bridging centenary celebrations is consequently a project to restore the remnants of the navigation span trusses of the original Lower Kalgan bridge, representing continuation of one commenced half a century ago when the trusses were installed on the Kalgan riverfront reserve, land vested in the Progress Association.
Courtesy of David Giles
Large Timber Structures in Western Australia, Volume 2; Section One; Road Bridges; Entry 1301; published by the Western Australian branch of the Institute of Engineers in Australia. |
|
Gull Rock National Park Launch
Environment Minister Mark McGowan launched the establishment of Gull Rock National Park on 5th July 2006. Gull Rock National Park is now vested in the Conservation Commission of Western Australia (the Commission) and will be managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC).
As per the agreement with the City of Albany, the Commission and DEC will establish a Gull Rock Community Working Group. Preparations for establishment of the Community Working Group are currently being made. A call for nominations will be advertised in the near future, and nominations from local community members will be encouraged.
The Community Working Group, in consultation with the broader community, will assist the Commission and DEC with the development of a draft management plan for Gull Rock National Park. The preparation of the draft management plan is likely to occur under the umbrella of the “Conservation Reserves of the Albany Coast” management planning process.
A separate community working group will also be established for the Mt Martin reserves.
Janet McArtney.
David Giles adds:
It was interesting to hear about (a) the huge area of parkland that the CofA has, and (b) the nice things the speakers had to say about the contribution made by Janet and her Gull Rockers in arriving at the arrangement for local representation on the management committee.
|
