The building of the original Wright Trestle Bridge in the late 1890s as part of the construction of the narrow-gauge railway from Ferntree Gully to Gembrook, was a significant engineering achievement for its time. The railway (now known as Puffing Billy) was closed in the 1950s. When it re-opened in the 1960s it terminated at Emerald Lake. In the 1990s, it was decided to rebuild the section of the line from Emerald Lake to Gembrook - this was completed in 1998. The major project challenge was to rebuild the historic Wright Trestle Bridge which traversed a very steep gully in Wrights Forest, Avonsleigh. These photographs have been provided by Graeme Smith who supplied the concrete to build the foundations of the bridgeThese photos show the foundation stage of the rebuilding of the historic Wright Trestle Bridge as part of the larger reconstruction of the Puffing Billy line from Emerald Lake to Gembrook.Five color photographs all depicting concrete foundations laid up and down a steep gully as part of the rebuilding of the Wright Trestle Bridge.On back of VEMUP1091 3/5, hand-written: 'Graeme Smith / Unloading on / Puffing Billy line / in Wright Forest / Concrete supplied / from P B M Packham'wright trestle bridge, 1998, puffing billy

Colour photograph of the Eltham trestle bridgeeltham, trestle bridge, bridges

Walter Withers was a significant Australian landscape artist and a member of the Heidelberg School of Australian Impressionists. In 1903 Withers bought 'Southernwood', a house on 2½ acres (1 ha) at Eltham, to which he added a studio. Because of ill health, he lived during the week at his studio in Oxford Chambers, Melbourne, and on weekends and holidays with his family at Eltham until his death in 1914. The Eltham rail bridge is a unique and valuable historic relic of an earlier steam locomotive transport era in the Diamond Creek Valley and has long formed an important part of a magnificent Eltham landscape. When built in 1902 it was close to the terminus point of the Heidelberg-Eltham rail extension, on the route of the proposed Diamond Valley Railway that was then planned to continue much further up the valley towards Kinglake. This bridge is situated in attractive river-valley parkland amidst the tall and spreading manna gums and candlebarks of the Diamond Creek Valley. The Alistair Knox Park river-valley landscape, of which the timber trestle bridge is an important visual component, has been classified by the National Trust. Large manna gum and candlebark trees adorn the adjacent creek banks, and historic Shillinglaw Cottage is also part of this much-prized Eltham landscape. Eltham is home to a historic wooden railway trestle bridge. Mainly of timber-pier and timber-beam construction, but varied by a few longer steel-joists spans on timber piers at the main stream channel, this substantial bridge has almost two hundred metres of timber deck. Built in 1902, it is the only railway bridge of predominantly timber construction that is still in regular use as an integral part of Melbourne's metropolitan electric railway network and one of extremely few timber rail bridges in the State that still carry trains. Apart from its important continuing social function as a carrier of rail transport for the Hurstbridge line, this impressive bridge and its beautiful parkland environs contribute much to the character of Eltham township and that town's special reputation as an historic centre of environmental and conservation concerns. This section of the Diamond Creek Valley was the subject of a Walter Withers painting in the earliest years of the twentieth century and has strong historic links with our Heidelberg School of painters. Watercolour painting on paper of Eltham's Trestle Bridge in the middle of the day. A small section of the wooden bridge is located to the left of the painting. The focus is predominately on the wattle, manna gum and candlebark trees that is to the right of the bridge. The golden hues typically represent the australian sunlight and landscape. "W.W" in gothic script on the lower right side of the painting. Not dated. withers, eltham, trestle bridge, railway, watercolour

Images from Metro Trains regarding maintenance upgrade works on the trestle bridge at Eltham.eltham trestle bridge, maintenance works, metro trains

Three colour photographs; one featuring an Hitachi electric commuter train and two of the Steamrail steam train which participated in the Shire of Eltham 1992 18th Community Festival as they crossed the Eltham Trestle Bridge. See also Photo 564.shire of eltham, festivals, trestle bridge, eltham, bridges, steamrail, steam train, hitachi electric train

Three colour photographs; one featuring an Hitachi electric commuter train and two of the Steamrail steam train which participated in the Shire of Eltham 1992 18th Community Festival as they crossed the Eltham Trestle Bridge. See also Photo 564.shire of eltham, festivals, trestle bridge, eltham, bridges, steamrail, steam train, hitachi electric train

Three colour photographs; one featuring an Hitachi electric commuter train and two of the Steamrail steam train which participated in the Shire of Eltham 1992 18th Community Festival as they crossed the Eltham Trestle Bridge. See also Photo 564.shire of eltham, festivals, trestle bridge, eltham, bridges, steamrail, steam train, hitachi electric train

Date made June 1989|Two photographs taken by Vera Bennett| One photograph taken by Keith Scarce|Six photographs all similar views of trestle bridgeColour photograph of the trestle railway bridge over Stoney Creek, near Nowa Nowa, showing bridge in intact condition soon after the cessation of services from Bairnsdale to Orbost. Nowa Nowa Victoriabridges, transport

A photograph of the railway trestle bridge at Eltham. Built in 1902, it is the only railway bridge of predominantly timber construction that is still in regular use. The bridge is listed on the Victorian Heritage Database.1 colour photograph.peter graham, eltham, trestle bridge eltham

Most likely an F-Class 2-4-0 Steam Locomotive pushing carriage about to cross the Eltham Railway Trestle Bridge heading towards Greensborough, viewed from what was later Eltham Common and site of the re-located Shillinglaw Cottage (1964) and Eltham Library (1994). On the far side of the track on what is present day Central Park oval is a crop field. The railway was commenced in 1900 and passed through the middle of the Shillinglaw Farm. Here it passes through the farm paddocks. The train station at Eltham opened in 1902. Colour photocopy of original photo print (on loan?) 25.5 x 39 cm mounted on coreflutePencil mark at bottom "(c) 1910"eltham, trestle bridge, bridges, shillinglaw farm, f-class 2-4-0 steam locomotive, eltham railway trestle bridge, eltham trestle bridge, railway bridge, steam locomotive

A Tait (Red Rattler) train bound for Princes Bridge crosses the Railway Trestle bridge. Shire of Eltham Offices and library in background (now demolished). Carriages had swinging doors and were "hot boxes" in the summer with no air conditioning. Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP4 black and white transparency Also 8.8 x 13.8 cm original B&W print eltham shire office, eltham trestle bridge, red rattler, tait train, george coop

The substructure of the northern end of the Eltham Railway Trestle Bridge was renewed during the period Monday, 3 Februray to Sunday, March 9, 2025. A replacement bus service was run during this time period to enable closure of the railway line.jim connor collection, eltham trestle bridge, maintenance works, metro trains

Railway Trestle Bridge over the Diamond Creek, Eltham, c.1910 - looking towards Main Road (left to right) and Henry Street (centre). Built in 1901, the railway line was electrified in 1923. Photo was taken prior to 1912 and the relocation of the new St Mary’s Catholic Church on Henry Street near Main Road (or Maria Street). The church site was relocated c.1912 from further south along Main Road (near Wingrove Cottage) to be more central to the congregation following the shifting of the township away from Little Eltham and closer to the railway station. It was subsequently destroyed by fire in 1961.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years. The Reynolds family were early settlers in Research. The Reynolds/ Prior collection of photographs were taken by Tom Prior, the maternal uncle of Ivy Reynolds, around 1900 and the 60 photos in the album give a fine overview of many of the landmarks of Research and Eltham over 100 years ago. lvy lived in the family home for many years at 106 Thompson Cres Research. Ivy's father, Ernst Richard Reynolds and grandfather, Richard Reynolds, lived at the same address. Ivy's father Richard worked for Mr. Trail on his property in Research. Reynolds Road is named after the family. Mr Tom Prior (wife Eva) worked at the Melbourne zoo. He was very innovative and made his own camera, using the black cloth hood to exclude the light. The photographs are a reminder of the rural nature of Research and Eltham and its rich heritage.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Negshire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, bridge, diamond creek (creek), eltham, eltham railway trestle bridge, henry street, main road, reynolds prior collection, trestle bridge

Water lilies reputedly planted by Mrs Horsfield of Lakes Entrance Garden Club.Colour photograph of the lily pond near the railway trestle bridge at Stoney Creek, shows a pond covered with lily leaves and flower buds, surrounded by scrubby bushland. Nowa Nowa Victoriavegetation, waterways

Date made December 2011|This bridge is one of the few remaining of the several constructed on the Bairnsdale to Orbost railway line from 1913 to 1915.|Also eight photographs similar views, four taken of the top, four from below the bridgeColour photograph showing different views if the timber railway trestle bridge at Wairewa. Railway line and sleepers have been removed, structure appears to be reasonably intact. Nowa Nowa Victoriabridges, historic site, transport

Covered under National Trust of Australia (Victoria) State Significance and Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p103 The Eltham railway trestle bridge is the only one of its kind still regularly used in Melbourne’s metropolitan railway network. Opened in 1902, it is also one of Victoria’s very few timber rail bridges that still carries trains.1 The bridge is part of the railway line extension from Heidelberg - extended to Hurstbridge in 1912. This extension resulted in one of the greatest social changes experienced in Eltham Shire, as it considerably lessened its isolation attracting tourists, artists and suburban commuters particularly after World War Two.2 The bridge has been classified by the National Trust as historically, scientifically, aesthetically and socially significant at state level. But this has not always been recognised, and in 1977, locals fought to save it from destruction. The Victorian Railways proposed to replace the bridge with an earth embankment and large culverts to avoid maintenance problems and fire. This was rejected by the Eltham Council who protested that the bridge helped maintain the area’s rural character, historic link and beauty, as well as avoiding possible serious flooding on the flood plain if a culvert was blocked. The bridge stands as part of a National Trust classified landscape which includes the Alistair Knox Park, named after the local conservationist and architect who helped to make Eltham famous for its mud-brick houses. The landscape includes tall and spreading manna gums and candlebarks, and the historic Shillinglaw Cottage. Artist Walter Withers, one of the Heidelberg School of painters, painted the bridge early in the 20th century. The 38 span single-track railway bridge over creek and road has 34 timber-beam spans and four steel-joist spans, supported by four-pile timber piers and timber abutments. It has almost 200m of timber deck. All of the timbers have been replaced over the years, but the only change to the bridge’s character was the addition of pylons and wiring for electric trains in 1923. A petition for a railway to the shire was first made in 1883. A large deputation of local citizens to the Commissioner of Railways proposed a route passing through Alphington to midway between Greensborough and Eltham up the Diamond Creek valley towards Queenstown and Kinglake. As a result the Princes Bridge-Heidelberg Railway was opened in 1888. From 1888 locals demanded a railway extension. Kangaroo Ground farmers in particular, led by Shire Councillor and Member for Evelyn, Ewen Cameron, said it would assist local farmers and orchardists send their produce to the Melbourne market. In 1890, before the severe economic Depression, an extension of the line to Hurst’s Bridge (now Hurstbridge) was included in a new Railways Bill. The parliamentary delegations were regaled with a banquet at Hurst’s barn and entertained by the Diamond Creek Brass Band, but the extension was abandoned when the Depression struck in 1892-1893. The extension of the railway to Eltham, completed in 1902, was one of the few built in those hard times. That is why the Eltham timber-trestle railway bridge is a rare example of a broad-gauge rail bridge constructed between 1893 and 1910. At the opening, despite persistent drizzle, 300 children waving flags and banners were among the large crowd welcoming the first train, carrying official dignitaries, to Eltham. It had taken 24 years to bring the railway to Eltham. From then Eltham became a popular destination for outings. Mr Orford of Eltham recalled that after the railway came to Eltham ‘the craze for picnics on weekends and holidays began…. During the wattle season, wattle trains came to Eltham frequently. The visitors roamed the creek pulling great armfuls of wattle blossom to take back with them to Melbourne’.3 In 1926 the railway line was electrified as part of the metropolitan rail network. But the Victorian Railways decided not to complete the formerly planned Diamond Valley Railway to Queenstown (now St Andrews) and Kinglake.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, eltham railway trestle bridge, eltham trestle bridge

Early postcard of Puffing Billy on trestle bridge Faded sepia photograph/postcard depicting Puffing Billy on Trestle BridgeFront: text, Belgrave Train on 'Tressel' Bridge Back: Handwritten text: 13/01/1914? Emerald - Dear Mother we are at Emerald, on our way to L. Pa? Everything is going well. Crarj/ys? are going Dande (Dandenong?) Father slept all night. Will write in a couple of days. Jesse's in good form stocking up provisions. No need to worry, Loving son Blair ?puffing billy, belgrave, whiteside

Announcement by Premier Daniel Andrews, Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan and Member for Eltham, Vicki Ward mad alongside the Eltham Railway Trestle Bridge. MEDIA RELEASE "More Trains And Fewer Delays On The Hurstbridge Line" https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/180801-More-Trains-And-Fewer-Delays-On-The-Hurstbridge-Line-1.pdf Commuters on the Hurstbridge line will have more trains, more seats and fewer delays with a re-elected Andrews Labor Government to continue its massive upgrade of the Hurstbridge line. The Andrews Labor Government said it would deliver locals in Melbourne’s north-east more peak hour train services and less time stuck at boom gates, and we have. The first stage of the Hurstbridge Line Upgrade has been delivered – six months early and on budget. This includes the new Rosanna Station, duplicated track between Heidelberg and Rosanna and the removal of the dangerous level crossings at Alphington and Rosanna. There’s more to do and only Labor will deliver the next stage of the Hurstbridge Line Upgrade to give local commuters more train services and a more comfortable commute. The $530 million project will include a brand new train station at Greensborough and the duplication of three kilometres of track between Greensborough and Montmorency, and 1.5 kilometres of track between Diamond Creek and Wattle Glen to allow more train services during the morning peak. This will allow trains to run every six and a half minutes at Greensborough, every 10 minutes at Eltham and Montmorency, and every 20 minutes at Hurstbridge, Diamond Creek and Wattle Glen – as well as two extra Hurstbridge express services. Locals on the Labor Government’s new Mernda line will also get five extra train services during the morning peak, with a major upgrade of the Clifton Hill junction where the Mernda and Hurstbridge lines connect. Labor will also protect the Eltham Trestle Bridge – the last remaining timber bridge on Melbourne’s electric train network – which has local heritage protection and is an important part of the area’s character. The Liberals will leave this bridge to rot and demolish the nearby childcare centre and football club with their under-cooked and under-costed promise to upgrade the Hurstbridge line. Only Labor will protect this important piece of Melbourne’s history with planning work to be carried out for a long-term solution as part of the project. Stage two of the Hurstbridge Line Upgrade will create more than 950 jobs, with construction to start in 2020 and finish by 2022. Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews “We said we’d upgrade the Hurstbridge line and remove dangerous and congested level crossings at Rosanna and Alphington and we did – but there’s more to do.” “Only Labor will deliver the next stage of the Hurstbridge Line Upgrade with a new Greensborough Station and more trains, more often.” Quote attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan “The former Liberal Government promised new train lines but didn’t deliver a single kilometre of track – now they’re promising a half-baked upgrade of the Hurstbridge line with rubbery figures that don’t add up.” Quote attributable to Member for Eltham Vicki Ward “As a fifteen year old hopping on Red Rattlers at Eltham I wanted to do something to make the Hurstbridge line better. It’s taken me a few decades but finally our line will offer the frequency of services that are expected and needed in a 21st century city.”Born digital image (qty 27)jacinta allan, minister for public transport, panther place, premier daniel andrews, press announcement, railway line construction, trestle bridge, vicki ward mp for eltham, victorian parliament

Two colour photographs of railway trestle bridge over Diamond Creek, Elthambridges, railways, eltham, diamond creek, panther place

Two colour photographs of railway trestle bridge over Diamond Creek, Elthamrailways, diamond creek, panther place, bridges, eltham

fay bridge collection, eltham, eltham railway trestle bridge, trestle bridge, eltham trestle bridge, hot rods

Part of a slide show presentation "A Trip Down the Diamond Creek" by Russell Yeoman to the Eltham District Historical Society meeting of 14 Nov. 200135mm colour positive transparency Mount - Black and Whiteeltham, eltham railway trestle bridge, eltham trestle bridge, trestle bridge

Part of a slide show presentation "A Trip Down the Diamond Creek" by Russell Yeoman to the Eltham District Historical Society meeting of 14 Nov. 200135mm colour positive transparency Mount - Black and Whiteeltham, eltham railway trestle bridge, eltham trestle bridge, trestle bridge

Part of a slide show presentation "A Trip Down the Diamond Creek" by Russell Yeoman to the Eltham District Historical Society meeting of 14 Nov. 200135mm colour positive transparency Mount - Black and Whiteeltham, eltham railway trestle bridge, eltham trestle bridge, trestle bridge

Part of a slide show presentation "A Trip Down the Diamond Creek" by Russell Yeoman to the Eltham District Historical Society meeting of 14 Nov. 200135mm colour positive transparency Mount - Black and Whiteeltham, eltham railway trestle bridge, eltham trestle bridge, trestle bridge, walter withers

jim connor collection, eltham railway trestle bridge, eltham trestle bridge

fay bridge collection, eltham, eltham railway trestle bridge, trestle bridge

Special excursion vintage train. Same engine (K-184) that hauled the vintage train for the Shire of Eltham Centenary celebrations in 1971. K 184 was used on railtour duty by Steamrail Victoria until 1980. It has since been stored at Newport Workshops.35mm colour positive transparency Mount - Grey and White (Fuji)eltham trestle bridge, k-184, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), red rattler, steam engine, steam train, trestle bridge