Tag:nagambie

chinamans bridge

Whispers of the Past: Nagambie’s Historic Chinamans Bridge

Chinamans Bridge is a large timber bridge that crosses the Goulburn River, 2.7 kilometres west of the Goulburn Valley Highway. It is believed to have been built in 1891 and was initially known as Kerris Bridge. It is one of Victoria’s oldest “surviving” timber bridges. The bridge’s construction was funded through a grant from the joint Public Works and Water Supply Departments. It was designed by the Goulburn Shire Council Engineer and built by the contractor JB Parkinson for £4188 3s 6d. Chinaman’s Bridge was first built as a drawbridge to allow river traffic to pass through. It was the era of river steamboats, and transport preferred the river to bullock teams on unmade roads. When river transport ceased, Chinaman’s drawbridge was no longer needed.

Architectural Features

The Chinamans Bridge had a lift span allowing sawmill and recreation steamers to pass through the Goulburn River. During the 1890s, the Nagambie Sawmill steamer crossed the bridge six times a week. Initially, the bridge carried the Nagambie-Heathcote Road over the river. However, a new bridge was built nearby, and the road was rerouted to cross the river at the new location.

The bridge was named Chinamans Bridge because it was located on Chinamans Road, an area once inhabited by Chinese market gardeners until 1916. Nagambie-Heathcote Road was initially known as Chinamans Road. Constructed of timber girder with hand-hewn squared timber stringers, the bridge features timber corbels and a deck. Of the lift span, only the timber fenders remain. The former drawbridge span was replaced with a steel span around 1940.

The rotting deck of Chinamans Bridge
The rotting deck of Chinamans Bridge
Heritage Listed

Chinamans Bridge holds heritage significance for the State of Victoria. It is listed in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) as place number 869 and register number H1449.3.

The bridge is historically significant as one of Victoria’s earliest all-timber road bridges. It is notable for using hand-hewn timber in construction and design details. Despite losing much of its original mechanism, the bridge is a rare surviving example of a bridge with a vertical span. From a historical perspective, Chinaman’s Bridge holds a noteworthy connection to the expansion of Victoria’s infrastructure in the 1890s and its role in the development of transport systems.

Chinamans Bridge

The bridge is closely linked with the growth of the township of Nagambie. It represents the prosperous sawmilling industry in the district during the 1890s. Chinamans bridge holds historical significance with its link to the steamboat era in Victoria. During this era in the 1890s, rivers were the preferred mode of transportation for recreational and commercial purposes over roads.

Flood Damage

The decaying bridge timbers were further weakened during the 2022 floods, making it extremely fragile and at risk of collapsing at any moment. Due to the immediate danger of collapse, engineers have deemed the bridge beyond repair. An exclusion zone was declared, and boats have been prohibited from passing under it since then.

The Strathbogie Shire Council has since applied to Heritage Victoria to have the heritage listing removed, allowing the bridge to be demolished.

crossing the long bridge

Nagambie – History, Vineyards and Waterways

The charming town of Nagambie is just 138 km from Melbourne. Situated on the Goulburn Valley Highway, it’s around halfway between Seymour and Shepparton in the heart of the Nagambie Lakes wine region. It is full of history, horse studs, vineyards and waterways. Nagambie was named in 1872, and in the local aboriginal language means “still waters”. The area is well known for its beautiful lake, attracting fishermen, rowers, and water skiers.

Nagambie - History, Vineyards and Waterways
The Vineyards of Tahbilk
Black Caviar Statue

Black Caviar’s life-sized bronze statue is located at Jacobson’s Outlook in High Street Nagambie. Created by sculptor Mitch Mitchell, the statue was formally opened in October 2013. The statue is based on a photograph of jockey Luke Nolen riding Black Caviar in the Schweppes Stakes at Moonee Valley in October 2011.

black caviar statue Nagambie - History, Vineyards and Waterways
Black Caviar Statue

Champion racehorse Black Caviar was born on 18 August 2006 at Gilgai Farm, Nagambie, growing up to become the fastest horse globally, winning all 25 of its races and earning $8 million in prize money. In 2013, Black Caviar retired from racing.

black cavair statue Nagambie - History, Vineyards and Waterways
Lake Nagambie

Behind the Black Caviar statue lies beautiful Lake Nagambie. It is man-made and the largest body of water in the area covering 170 hectares. Before the construction of the Goulburn Weir, the “lake” was a swampy lagoon. Since its creation, however, it has become an increasingly popular destination. Fishing is a hugely popular pastime on the lake. The annual Go Fish Nagambie takes place each February and sees fishermen vying to catch the biggest Murray Cod for an $80k prize. In addition, rowing and yachting regattas, including the ‘Head of the River’, occur on the lake. Lake Nagambie recently also hosted the International Rowing Championships.

The lake’s eastern shore follows the tree-lined High Street with a wide centre median boasting a grassy picnic area with tables and public toilets.

Jacobson’s Outlook

A Methodist church originally stood on the site where Black Caviar now stands. The church was built in 1855 by the townspeople and stood for 118 years. However, in June 2003, a semi-trailer veered off the highway, colliding with the church. The semi-trailer came to rest inside the church, which resulted in the collapse of the building.

Goulburn Weir
Goulburn weir Nagambie - History, Vineyards and Waterways
Goulburn Weir

The historic Goulburn Weir was built between 1887 to 1891 to regulate water flow for irrigation in Victoria. It is the first significant diversion structure building for irrigation in Australia. The dam wall is 209 metres long and 16 metres high. The Goulburn Wier diverts water via the Stuart Murray Canal and Cattanach Canal for later irrigation of nearby farming crops. The design of the Goulburn Weir was considered very advanced. It was so unique that the back of half sovereigns and ten shilling notes featured the design from 1913 to 1933.

original goulburn weir wall
Original Goulburn Weir Pump House

The weir also contained one of the first two hydroelectric turbines in the southern hemisphere. In 1983 and 1988, stabilising and refurbishment works were undertaken. However, two original gates and gear have been preserved to recognise their place in Victoria’s history. The lush park around the weir includes a playground, picnic tables, electric BBQs and public toilets.

Kirwin’s Bridge
kirwins bridge Nagambie - History, Vineyards and Waterways
Kirwins Bridge

The heritage-listed Kirwin’s Bridge is a short 6km north of the lake. Kirwin’s bridge is a single-lane timber bridge, 310 metres long. The bridge opened in 1890 and is still used today for motor traffic. It features a unique design with a mid-river bend and two passing bays for vehicles. Kirwins Bridge is one of Victoria’s oldest timber bridges still in operation.

Chinamans Bridge
Chinamans Bridge Nagambie - Vineyards and Waterways
Chinamans Bridge

The heritage-listed Chinamans Bridge opened in 1891 and is another of Victoria’s oldest surviving timber road bridges. The bridge was one of several “strutted-stringer” river bridges built in Victoria. However, its timber lift span made it unique, which was constructed to allow riverboat traffic to pass under. The bridge takes its name from the Chinese market gardeners who farmed the rich soils of the Goulburn River.

Royal Mail Hotel
Royal Mail Hotel early 1900s and today

The Royal Mail Hotel is known by locals as the ‘The Top Pub’ and sits on the top end of High Street. Built in 1871, it was originally a stopover for mail delivery for Cobb & Co. and passenger accommodation.

Tahbilk Winery
Nagambie - History, Vineyards and Waterways
Tahbilk Winery

The handmade brick and mudstone winery was built alongside the Goulburn River in the 1860s. Tahbilk celebrated its 160th birthday in 2020 and has been in the Purbrick family for five generations. As a result, Tahbilk is recognised as the oldest winery in Victoria and gained heritage status in 2004. The area Tabilk-Tabilk, meaning “place of many waterholes”, by the local Daung-wurrung clans. The cellar door is open daily, and the original underground cellar is still available for visitors to wander through.

historic underground cellar at tahbilk Nagambie - History, Vineyards and Waterways
National Trust classified underground cellar at Tahbilk
Cellar Door Hours

Weekdays 9 am to 5pm Weekends and Public Holidays 10 am to 5pm

Tahbilk Eco-Trail and Wetlands Walk
  • billabong
  • crossing the long bridge
  • the long bridge

Behind the Tahbilk Wetlands View Restaurant lies a hidden oasis of wetlands and a walking trail. The 6.3km trail follows the Goulburn River as it meanders through billabongs, river flats, bridges, bird hides and past lily ponds. Visitors must register at the restaurant before beginning the walk. Dogs are not permitted on the trails. In addition, on days of a total fire ban, the walk is closed.

Mitchelton Winery
Mitchelton Winery Nagambie - History, Vineyards and Waterways
Mitchelton Winery

Famous Architect Robin Boyd CBE (1919-1971) drew up the plans for the winery, cellar door and tower, and renowned architect Ted Ashton completed them. The first crop of vines were planted in 1969. The winery was named after historic explorer Major Thomas Mitchell.

Airstream Hotel, Mitchelton Winery
Mitchelton Hotel Airstream – courtesy of Mitchelton Winery

The iconic building opened in 1974 and boasts a world-class restaurant surrounded by lush lawns, making it a popular destination for outdoor concerts in the ‘on the green’ setting. Gerry Ryan OAM purchased Michelton in 2011. A $16m luxury boutique hotel and day spa were added in 2016. The ‘Airstream Hotel’ opened in 2020 with seven full-sized, sparkling silver RVs for guests. The winery has vineyards in Nagambie and Heathcote and purchases grapes from growers across Victoria.

Cellar Door HOURS

Open 7 Days Mon-Thurs 10:00 am – 4:00 pm and Fri-Sun 10.00 am – 6.00 pm for Wine Tastings, Education and Wine Sales.

Grain Silos and Misty Sunrises

I love sunrises and grain silos. With Covid-19 restrictions slowly lifting across Victoria, we were finally able to head up the highway for a weekend in the country and chase both loves.

Nagambie

Our destination was Nagambie, a pretty little town on Nagambie Lake just an hour from Melbourne. The lake was created in 1891 with the damming of the Goulburn River and is a popular spot for fishing, sailing, canoeing, water skiing, and swimming. Unfortunately, we missed most of the autumn colour as the trees were almost bare by mid-June. Some colour clung tenaciously to the branches, but they were the exception to the primarily bare limbed trees.

Misty Sunrises and Grain Silos autumn trees at nagambie

The weather did play nice for our time there, with cold nights, misty, crisp mornings, and sunshine during the day. However, while the sun was out, it was still winter clothing weather with not much warmth in the sun.

sunrise and silo's morning frost
Sunrise on the Lakes

We were blessed with a beautiful sunrise on our second morning with thick fog on the way to our chosen spot, and as the sun rose, the mist cleared but hung low over the lakes. We stayed around shooting till the sun was up, and driven by cold, numb hands, we headed back to the warmth of the car and then breakfasted back at our cottage.

Misty Sunrises and Grain Silos
morning fog across the nagambie lake Misty Sunrises and Grain Silos
Colbinabbin Silo’s

We were due back home today, so after loading the car, we struck out towards the new silos at Colbinabbin painted by Tim Bowtell. There are six silos in a row at Colbinabbin – painted over eight weeks in March-April 2020 by Tim Bowtell.

Colbinabbin silo
The Colbinabbin Silo’s

The grain silos at Colbinabbin depict five scenes from the early 1900s to the 1980s and the railway that connected Rushworth to Colbinabbin. The railway was built in 1913 to enable the transportation of livestock and produce to Melbourne. The German settlers also depicted on the silos established farms to the west of Colbinabbin and built a post office, school, and community hall to serve their families.

colbinabbin silo by tim bowtell
The train silo
detail of silo Misty Sunrises and Grain Silos
Detail of train driver
morning sunrise and grain silos at colbinabbin Misty Sunrises and Grain Silos
The station and picnic silos
station detail of silo
Detail of station silo
Misty Sunrises and Grain Silos old cfa truck on silo
The CFA silo
CFA truck on silo at colbinabbin
Old CFA truck
Tim Bowtell

As well as the Colbinabbin silos, Tims work can be seen on numerous walls around Benalla and the silo’s at St James, the Fish Trees at Winton Wetlands and the Winton rest stop.

Tahbilk Winery & Pink Cliffs

With a gorgeous day forecast for Sunday, we took a drive up to Tahbilk Winery at Nagambie before going to the Pink Cliffs at Heathcote.  Along the way, we found and stopped for Canola fields bordered by Wattle shrubs and Gum trees.

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Established in 1860 Tahbilk is the most beautiful and historic family owned winery in Australia, located in one of the nation’s premium viticultural areas.  The property itself comprises some 1,214 hectares of rich river flats with a frontage of 11 kms to the Goulburn River and 8 kms of permanent backwaters and creeks.

Tahbilk Winery

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The Winery

Tahbilk is a lovely old winery, established in 1860 and bordered on two sides by the  Tahbilk Lagoon and Goulburn river.  The cellar door is open seven days a week, and the very popular cafe is definitely one you need to book for.  Its been in the Purbrick family since 1925, with five generations of the family at the helm.

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We tried the Sauvignon Blanc and Verdelho.. and liberated a bottle of the Verdelho to bring home with us. 

wetlands map Tahbilk Winery & Pink Cliffs
A 6km walk around the lagoon is worth it for bird lovers

Downstairs from the cellar is the old, old cellars still in use. They’ve been there since 1867. The floor is worn in front of the barrels. You wonder how many people have worked there over the last 151 years

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Leaving Tahbilk winery, we drove to Mitchelton winery. However, they had a large wedding with people and cars everywhere, so we moved on and stopped at Nagambie lakes for lunch before heading to Heathcote and the Pink Cliffs.

Pink Cliffs

I found the cliffs VERY underwhelming.  They are a series of small, sandy white and reddish rocks and mounds, with a few boulders and lots of gravel and sand. I did do one HDR, which turned out ok. But overall, they are not a place I would bother returning to, and ‘pink’ is drawing a very longbow.

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Update

It turned out we were in the wrong place. We were only on the outer, smaller edge of the pink cliffs. I found the area everyone was raving about – and it was fabulous.

© Bevlea Ross