Strathallan Bridge is a representative example of the larger reinforced concrete girder bridges designed and built by General Sir John Monash and the Reinforced Concrete & Monier Pipe Construction Co. in country areas just prior to World War 1. The bridge has historical significance for its association with the development of closer settlement districts in the pre-war years and demonstrates the necessity for adequate transport links with the railway.
Strathallan Siding was situated in a wheat growing district centred on the Campaspe River. Subdivision for closer settlements of the Restdown and Cornelia Creek Estates began in 1906 and by 1913 Restdown had 55 households and Cornelia Creek had 90.
The two estates were separated by the river and with no bridge on the 18 mile stretch between Echuca and Rochester, Restdown, to the west of the river, was cut off from the Strathallan Siding. Farmers had to cart their wheat to Echuca or Rochester.
Campaigning by progress associations finally persuaded the Rochester Shire Council of the need for a bridge. In August 1912 plans and specifications for a timber bridge were being prepared by the Public Works Department. Two smaller bridges were also needed to span nearby billabongs.
Construction of Strathallan, formwork in place.
The Shire Engineer, W. T. Chaplin, suggested that the estimated cost of £2100 could be reduced by changing the design and substituting cheaper wood.
Of the four tenders received one was submitted by the Reinforced Concrete & Monier Pipe Construction Co., owned by John Monash & JTW Anderson, for reinforced concrete to a plan drawn up by J. A. Laing. With a promise of durability, this lesser costing tender of £1791 was selected. Work commenced in April 1913, and the three bridges were completed by July.
The Shire Council was proud of its progressiveness in adopting modern technology and a festive test and opening was held on 12 August. However there were still some reservations regarding the safety. A traction engine was rigged up with a cable to draw a 15 ton test load across on a wagon. Monash was disgusted that such elaborate safety precautions should be reported in the press in a manner "calculated to inspire want of public confidence in our work and specialty", protesting that "the days when tests of reinforced concrete bridges were regarded as anything but a formality have long passed away".
The Bridge about 1997
The bridge united the Restdown and Cornelia Creek communities, initiating the formation of a small township around the Strathallan Siding, where a passenger platform was soon to provided. Township blocks had already been sold and a post office was planned. Strathallan school opened the following year.
Similar bridges were built in Shepparton (built 1911 now demolished), the ruined Cremona Bridge, and the 3 span Darraweit Guim Bridge. It is also of similar design to the much smaller Edgarley Bridge and the town bridge at Wattle Street Bendigo. Despite being strengthened in a manner unsympathetic to its original design, the Strathallan Bridge is the largest surviving of this group.
By 1997 the bridge had developed considerable spalling of the concrete surfaces and large horizontal cracks in the piers. It was heritage listed in 1998, but safety issues saw it closed to vehicular traffic a few years later.
In July 2005 the Shire of Campaspe awarded a tender for a new Strathallan bridge to be built alongside existing 92 year old bridge. It would provide heavy commercial vehicles access to facilities such as the grain silos and the new saleyards that had been built in Echuca. The budget for the new bridge was $626,089 and was commenced in September 2005 and was expected to take 14 months to complete.
The Cache: A small container with room for swaps. Plenty of off road parking.