About SideTracked Caches
This cache belongs to the SideTracked series. It is not designed to take you to a magical place with a breath taking view. It's a distraction for the weary traveller, but anyone else can go and find it too. More Information can be found at the SideTracked Website
Summary for Those Who Just Want The Smiley Face On:
BYOP. Maybe tweezers? The cache is located close by to Chelmer Station.
Please be careful near the road, especially if you have children with you. Chelmer Street East can be a busy little street. In case you’re interested, the ‘may require wading’ attribute has been added because under the bridge has flooded once or twice since the cache was placed - although it is more than likely I’ll temporarily disable the cache if this looks likely (like I’ve done previously). Please ensure the cache is replaced in the exact position. Happy train-spotting!
Congratulations on First to Find to 1MinnieMoo, with keepingupwith, SelvaGirls and 1MinnieMooJnr!
For Train Buffs & Local Area History Enthusiasts:
The Ipswich/Rosewood and Springfield train lines both run through here - so trains pass by regularly (watch out for muggles!). That includes freight trains. And cattle trains. A highlight is when the steam train goes past some Sundays - full of happy passengers waving out the windows to us.
The cache GZ itself may not have the most exciting of views - but Chelmer itself has an interesting history. Including an interesting rail history.
You will be standing somewhere near the intersection of Honour Avenue and Chelmer Street East (watch out that you don’t get confused with Chelmer Street West – Google & Apple maps may have it as plain Chelmer Street or Halsbury Street rather than Chelmer Street East).
Honour Avenue was originally known as Albert Terrace. In 1917, it was changed by the Sherwood Shire Council (in the days before Brisbane had one Council) in response to a request by the Chelmer Progress Association. Permission was given to the Association to plant one tree, on the Western side of the railway line, for each man from the area serving in the war. The trees would be of a uniform kind and the families of the volunteers would be invited to plant the trees.
But in March 1919, discussions as to the type of tree to be planted were still continuing. The Government Botanist, Mr Cyril White, suggested suitable species at a public meeting in Graceville.
Just when the camphor laurel trees were eventually planted on the western side of Honour Avenue is still the subject of research.
Meanwhile, down the road a bit, all the locals know the name of the car bridge (the Walter Taylor) but not many people know the name of the heritage-listed steel truss railway bridge. It is the Albert Bridge. It was first completed in July 1876 (the Walter Taylor wasn’t built til 1937). Here is a picture of the original bridge:
But this first bridge was destroyed in the February 1893 Brisbane flood. These pictures show the bridge after the flood damaged it. Just after the centre spans were carried off downstream, sightseers appear to survey the damage to the bridge (look closely & you'll see the people's heads).
The current railway bridge was opened to traffic in August 1895 and remains one of Australia's largest truss bridges. The northern truss was floated into position. The shore end rested on two trolleys, and when the tide was at its highest, specially constructed staging on an old barque (ship) took the weight of the other end of the truss from temporary piles. Winches were then used to pull the hulk across the river toward the centre pier, to which the truss was attached.
This photo shows it in 1896 when still new:
In fact, it was the subject of postcards!
And people used to swim at "Chelmer Beach". Actually, the 1893 flood had deposited a sandy beach downstream from the Albert Bridge, providing a popular picnic area, until it was worn away in the 1930s.
A second unnamed railway bridge is located between the Albert Bridge and the Walter Taylor Bridge. This second crossing was constructed in 1957 as part of the quadruplication of the Ipswich railway line.
Hope you enjoyed learning a bit of the railway history of Chelmer. Happy geocaching too!
Here are a couple of YouTube links with videos of the steam (and other) trains around Chelmer Station:
Steam Train Sunday at Sherwood & Chelmer
Steam Train Sunday from Chelmer
Peak Hour Night for Qld Rail at Chelmer
Steam train through Taringa, Indooroopilly & Chelmer - a passenger’s perspective