Bridges

Old and New Seven Mile Bridge, Rosewood 1968
Photo: Spencer Yarrow Src: Picture Ipswich

Rosewood History

Three Mile Bridge – Opened 9th December 1857, New bridge opened 10th June 1912
Old Toowoomba. Road, Leichhardt between Leichhardt and Amberley. (Bremer River)

Five Mile Bridge – 664 Haigslea Amberley Rd, Walloon (Bremer River)
Queensland Times, 9th October 1953 page 2
Walloon Bridge Be Replaced
An amount of £24,332 has been provided for the construction of an A class timber bridge over the Bremer River about one mile southeast of Walloon on the Walloon-Amberley Road in the Moreton Shire. The new bridge will replace an old structure which has reached the end of its useful life. Announcing this yesterday, the Minister for Transport (Mr. J. E. Duggan) said the road gave access from four coal mines to the railhead at Walloon and served a farming area.

Seven Mile Bridge – Log causeway 1857 Bridges were built in 1861, 1900 (started Sept) and in 1968 the newest bridge was opened on 23rd July by the then Governor of Queensland, Sir Alan Mansfield. (Bridge over Bremer River)

21st July 1857 – THE BRIDGES AND ROADS — We understand that Mr. James Lewis has obtained the contract for the erection of the bridges over the Three Mile and Seven Mile Creeks, on the Drayton Road, at a cost of £390, the same to be completed within the period of four months. The bridge at Little Ipswich is now being proceeded with as rapidly as possible, but there in a great want of bullock-teams to bring in the necessary material. The Surveyor of Roads intends to send a road party, in the course of another week, to drain and log the worst portion of the the “slough of despond” on the Drayton Road; so that, ere long, under the energetic management of Mr. Roberts, we hope to be enabled to report a decided improvement in the state of the main thoroughfare to the interior.

12th December 1857 – A good and substantial log causeway at the Seven Mile Creek is now finished, and is expected to serve its intended purpose until the bridge itself is constructed.

8th February 1859 – Called for tenders for Sawyers for the Seven Mile Bridge.

14th November 1861 – The bridge over the Seven-Mile Creek beyond, Ipswich may be considered as finished.

1st April 1897 – Rosewood. Nothing of importance has happened in our quiet town during the past fortnight, unless it is the excitement existing over the proposed repair of the Seven-mile Bridge. It is unfortunate for travellers who do not know that it is uncrossable to find, when they get there, that they have to go a long way round to cross, especially as the bridge is on a public road.

7 November 1898 – A Ministerial party, piloted by Mr. D. T. Keogh, member for Rosewood, passed through the greater portion of that electorate. The party comprised the Hons. R. Philp, J. Murray, J. V. Chataway, Messrs. Stodart, Cross, and Castling MMLA., A. W. Darvall (manager of the Australian Joint Stock Bank, Ipswich), and J. Farrell. The Seven-mile Bridge, on the main Toowoomba road, was inspected. The structure was erected before separation, and was now in a state of almost utter collapse. Mr. Murray stated that the Government would be prepared to pay one third of the cost of the erection of a new structure, and advised the Mutdapilly and Rosewood Divisional Boards to endeavour to come to some understanding about raising the other two-thirds of the cost, so that the work might be proceeded with.

25th September 1900 – The contractor for the Seven-Mile Creek Bridge (Michael Cannon, Grandchester) has started work in the viaduct, and, in the meantime, a temporary crossing has been made for the convenience of the travelling public. The necessity for a bridge at this place has been greatly felt for several years, as the old one had almost collapsed, and was dangerous to pass over. Mr. D. T. Keogh, M.L.A., certainly deserves the thanks of the community for obtaining the grant to assist the Boards in this matter and enable them to open this highway which has been closed for so long.

20th January 1921 – At the monthly meeting of Rosewood Shire Council the overseer reported: The gang is at present working on the Toowoomba-road, near the Seven Mile. since commencing this work, it has been necessary to reconstruct a bridge near the work.

19th May 1921 – At the monthly meeting of Rosewood Shire Council the overseer reported: – The gang has completed the new bridge and approaches at the Seven Mile.

May 1940 – The Main Roads Commission placed flood gauge posts at the Seven Mile Bridge.

27th February 1945 – Because the Seven Mile Bridge was underwater, 102 Ipswich miners could not get to 6 coal mines in Rosewood district and the mines were idle; with the loss of 400 to 500 tons of coal. It was reported that a rise of 10 feet blocked all traffic between Brisbane and Rosewood.

Mason’s Bridge – Rosewood – 1876 (Bridge over Mason’s Gully)
For many years the underpass at Moran’s Bridge was the only means of crossing the railway line when the railway gates were closed.

8th February 1887 – Surely the engineers of railways can see that the viaducts are not large enough to carry the flood-water off, as, on two previous occasions, the embankment at what is called Moran’s bridge has been swept away.

10th June 1909 – The truck of ballast promised by the Railway Department for stoning the sub-way at Moran’s Bridge duly came to hand, and was spread by a gang of the shire council’s workmen. The sub-way is now passable, and was promptly taken advantage of by the public.

2nd May 1919 – While driving under Moran’s Bridge Railway Crossing, near Rosewood, a, lad named Cannan from Mt Walker, sustained a fractured collar bone. It appears the lad misjudged the height of the bridge girders, and was crushed between them and the top of a crate on the cart.

Keane’s Road Bridge – Keane’s Road, Rosewood – December 1926 (Bridge over Bremer River). Replaced 2023.

M. Hines Road Bridge – Ebenezer (Bridge over Gully)

Brandy Gully Bridge – Lanefield

John Yates (1838-1920) of Mt Walker stated that in 1857, the career of his father, William Yates, was cut short through an unfortunate accident which occurred at a spot near Rosewood—subsequently known as “Brandy Gully” on the old Toowoomba-road. The team his father was in charge of got into difficulties while crossing this dangerous part, the loaded dray was capsized, and a cask of brandy fell on his father’s leg, crushing it terribly; hence the name of “Brandy Gully.” His father was carried to Ipswich to his residence in Nicholas-street, where he died through loss of blood.

Strong’s Road Bridge – Lanefield (Bridge over Western Creek)

Kavanagh Road Rail Bridge at Thagoona

TMK Evans Bridge – over O’Shea’s Gully, Thagoona
12th November 1928 -Thagoona Bridge – A new bridge, which has been under construction for the last few weeks, is now complete. Messrs. Bachmann and Bestel. Marburg, were the contractors.

Guilfoyles Gully Bridge – 1865 Walloon

Western Creek Bridge – pre 1875 new bridge 1934
In March 1892, a deputation, consisting, of Messrs. F.C. Kingston, G. Lambert, and J. Yates, waited on the Colonial Secretary (Mr. H. Tozer) for the purpose of making representations to him on the matter of the Western Creek Bridge, near Rosewood, which was in a very dilapidated state. Mr. Mort (chairman of the Mutdapilly Board) was unable to attend, and the deputation was introduced by Mr. J. B. L. Isambert, M.L.A., who said that the Mutdapilly Board wished the Government to give them some assistance in the repairing of the bridge, or erecting a new one.

Mr. Kingston said that the bridge in question was in a very dilapidated state, and was on a main road, not half-a-mile from the Rosewood railway station. It was also the main outlet for the farmers of Rosevale and Mount Walker taking their produce to market.

After a long discussion, the end result was to pay for it themselves. Mr. Yates asked if the Rosewood Board might be asked to assist in the matter, but Mr. Tozer positively declined to make the two jointly responsible for the work. They were told to make do as long as possible with the current bridge and while doing so put aside money for a new bridge. Mr Tozer said he would however, send an engineer to look at it.

At the Mutdapilly Divisional Board meeting in September 1892, Mr. Green sent a report on the Western Creek Bridge, which he had been engaged to inspect. He said that there were two ways of making it equal to a new one, either by two piles on each side driven at the centre of the bridge, or three piles on each side 6ft. from the other piles, with two struts to the centre of the bridge. The first method was the cheaper, but was too liable to obstruct dead timber floating down the stream. The esimate for the second plan, including new girders to be placed under and bolted to the present girders, was £90. A long and occasionally hot discussion took place on the question whether the bridge was worth repairing or not. Mr Runge, as a practical bridge builder, said it could not be repaired and a new bridge should be built, and he disagreed right up to and after the final decision was made. In the end the board decided to repair the bridge by additional plies near the end with the struts to the centre of the bridge. In early November the tender of tender of H. Runge and Co.was accepted for repairing Western Creek Bridge: £69 6s. 8d. and six weeks.

5th November 1931- New Bridge – Mr. E. B. Maher. M.L.A., has been Informed by the Minister for Railways (Mr. Godfrey Morgan) that the Main Roads Commissioner has recommended the erection of a new timber span bridge 12ft. between kerbs, chainage 1480ft., over Western Creek, on the Rosewood-Mt. Walker Road, , just outside the town of Rosewood.

2nd December 1933 – Mr. W. G. Bamberry, contractor for the Western Creek Bridge, arrived this week, and has started work on the erection (driving the piles) of the bridge.

31st January 1934 – Western Creek Bridge – Mr. W. G. Bamberry has completed the new bridge over the Western Creek, situated on the deviation of the Rosewood-Mt. Walker Road, near Rosewood.

Spresser’s Bridge – Rosewood Warrill View Rd (Bremer River)

Blundell’s Bridges – Rosewood Warrill View Rd, Lower Mt Walker (Bremer River)

Howe’s Bridge at Lower Mount Walker – pre 1885

Stoke’s Crossing on the Bremer River at Mt Walker.

Coyne’s Bridge at Rosevale. – 1909. “New Bridge at Rosevale .”

Adams Bridge at Rosevale (over Bremer River) 1877 new bridge 1934. BRIDGE OPENED

Tom Kerle Bridge on Hiddenvale Road, Calvert (Bridge over Western Creek) – A four span timber bridge built circa 1960. Replaced with a concrete bridge (completed in January 2025).

McFarland Bridge at Grandchester (Bridge over Western Creek)

27th October 1870 – TENDERS will be received till Noon, SATURDAY, October 28th, for the ERECTION of a BRIDGE over the Western Creek, at Grandchester. Plan and specification to be seen at the Roads Dept. 167 J. STRINGFELLOW.

Franklyn Vale Bridge – 1909
FRANKLYN VALE BRIDGE. [Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Wednesday 17 February 1909, page 8]
On Friday last, by invitation from the Rosewood Shire Council, a number of ratepayers journeyed to Franklyn Vale to be present at the formal opening of the new bridge recently constructed there. Amongst those present were Mr. John Pender (Chairman) ,and Crs. J. Yates and P. Ahearn, Mr. P. H. Adams (overseer), Messrs. A. E. L. Mort, Simpson, C. F. W. Gehrke, E. Rafter, E. Millis, Miss Gehrke, and the men employed on the bridge.

An excellent lunch had been provided by Mr. H. D. Dow, of Rosewood. The Chairman said it gave him great pleasure to see those present on the occasion. They all new the purpose for which they were assembled. The bridge, which had seen long needed, had been substantially and faithfully built by day labour, slightly under the overseer’s estimate, and he trusted it would long be of service to the ratepayers residing in its vicinity. He then aske!d Mr. Mort to name the bridge, and declare it open for traffic.

Mr. Mort, who was well received, said he was pleased to be present. The bridge had been badly needed, and he was pleased to see such a well-built structure, and surprised that it had been constructed at such a reasonable cost. The Chairman had asked him to name the bridge, and had suggested the name Franklyn Vale Bridge, which he had now the pleasure of bestowing up on it.

Cr. P. Ahearn, member for ithe division in which the bridge is situated, said he was very pleased with the structure, which had been wel, built at a cost which he had not thought possible. He would have liked to see a few more of the ratepayers from that end of the division in attendance. The foreman had done excellent work, and the day gang had also worked well.

Cr. Yates ‘endorsed the remarks of the previous speaker, and congratulated the overseer on getting such a good bridge for the money. The council were also having good and substantial work done all over the shire. As for himself, though a member for No. 3 division, he took great interest in the whole shire, and he thought the day gang system was a good one.

Messrs. Simpson, Gehrkre and E. Millis (rate payers) also made congratulatory speeches.

Mr. J. Zechen. (foreman of the gang), in acknowIedging the compliments paid him, said that he had good workmen under him.

Mr. P. H. Adams (overseer), by request, said that the bridge was 101ft long, supported on piles, with a roadway of 12ft between the kerbs, and contained some 160 deckers, hand-rails, &c. He was pleased that it had given satisfaction. It had been freely stated that the work could not be done for the estimate, £130, and the lowest offer he had received was £170. Nevertheless, the work had been executed, slightly under the estimate by the day gang, who had worked well under their estimable foreman, Mr. J. Zechen. He then gave details of the cost, and mentioned that the dry timber had been given by Mr. Cotton, late of Hidden Vale.

Mr. Mort said that before dispersing, there was one thing they must do, and that was to honour the toast of “The Chairman.” Mr. Pender made an excellent Chairman, and gave his time unsparingly in the interests of the ratepayers. He deserved long commendation for the excellent work the council had been doing.

The toast was heartily honoured, and the Chairman appropriately acknowledged the compliment, also detailing the work of the council in the various parts of the shire.

Mr. Mort said he was very pleased with the gathering which had takens place that day, as he thought such an assembly did a great deal of good. It brought the ratepayers more in touch with the councillors, and enabled the ratepayers to see that their interests were well looked after by those they had sent to represent them.

An adjournment was then made to inspect a bridge built some two or three years ago by this former Rosewood Council near Mr. Mort’s residence. This bridge is now in need of urgent repairs, owing, I am informed, to the action of the water in undermining one corner of the structure. The work is to be proceeded with at once.

Mort’s Bridge – Franklyn Vale Road – 1913 (Bridge over Franklyn Vale Creek)

27th September 1913 – The new bridge over Western Creek, on the Franklyn Vale road was completed. The railing had been painted and the bridge and approaches gravelled. The contractor was Mr. Patrick Madden.

Schmidt’s Bridge – Grandchester-Mt Mort Rd

The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld) Saturday, 22 June 1935, page 1