The Bethanga Bridge was built between 1927 and 1930 as a joint venture between Victoria and New South Wales and was a key element of the River Murray Waters Agreement. It consists of nine spans of 82 metres long. Each span is supported between double reinforced concrete pylons and a riveted steel camel back Pratt truss. The overall span of the bridge is a length of 752 metres. It was completed in 1929 at a cost of £194,000. The road deck was initially constructed from timber but was replaced in 1961 with a concrete waffle slab deck 7.7metres wide. In 1961 the bridge deck and truss structure were raised 300 millimetres to allow for the enlargement of the lake. The bridge was designed in NSW by road engineer Percy Alan and the trusses were built by the Charles Ruwolt Pty. Ltd. Charles Ruwolt Pty. Ltd. was originally established by Charles Ruwolt as a foundry at Wangaratta in 1902 and transferred its operations to Richmond, Melbourne in 1914. By 1938 it had become one of the biggest engineering companies in Australia. After Charles Ruwolt’s death in 1946, Vickers Ltd. acquired the company and in 1948 the firm became known as Vickers Ruwolt Pty. Ltd. Because of the Bethanga Bridge’s unique location, over the waters of a dam with the border running down the centre of the body of water, the Bethanga Bridge is the only built structure shared by both Victoria and New South Wales. As the border of New South Wales aligns with the southern bank of the Murray River all of the other bridges along its length are deemed to be in New South Wales. The Bethanga Bridge is listed on both the New South Wales State Heritage Register and the Victorian Heritage Database. In 2015 the Bethanga Bridge was nominated for a heritage award by the Institution of Engineering Australia.These images are significant because they document the construction of a bridge which links Victoria and New South Wales and has been recognised for its historical, technical and engineering significance.A collection of photos documenting the construction of the Bethanga Bridge which links the States of Victoria and New South Wales as part of the construction of the Hume Dam .bethanga bridge, hume dam constuction, charles ruwolt, percy allan engineer

This set of photos is from a leather bound album bearing the inscription "HUME RESERVOIR AUSTRALIA" plus 'The Rt. Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, P. C., M .P.' all inscribed in gold. It was presented to The Rt. Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, P. C., M. P, Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs on the occasion of his visit to the Hume Reservoir on 2nd November 1927. This album is of local and national significance as it documents the planning and development of the Hume Reservoir up to 1927. It was the largest water reservoir in the British Empire. The album records the pioneering engineering work that went into its construction.DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, N.S.W. RIVER MURRAY WATERS SCHEME. HUME RESERVOIR. 36. Valley of the Murray to be crossed by the Bethanga Bridge described in the next photograph. (WHS 00731) This view shows the marshalling sidings for trucks below the Quarry, New South Wales, and the branch line to the site of the bridge.hume reservoir australia, river murray waters scheme, hume reservoir construction

This set of photos is from a leather bound album bearing the inscription "HUME RESERVOIR AUSTRALIA" plus 'The Rt. Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, P. C., M .P.' all inscribed in gold. It was presented to The Rt. Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, P. C., M. P, Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs on the occasion of his visit to the Hume Reservoir on 2nd November 1927. This album is of local and national significance as it documents the planning and development of the Hume Reservoir up to 1927. It was the largest water reservoir in the British Empire. The album records the pioneering engineering work that went into its construction.DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, N.S.W. RIVER MURRAY WATERS SCHEME. HUME RESERVOIR. 37. Bethanga Bridge Site. A bridge is being built to cross the Reservoir to serve a large area of country which will be cut off from its natural outlets by the submergence of existing bridges when the Reservoir is in being. The site of the bridge is nearly a mile up the Murray from the Hume Reservoir Quarry. Its length will be approximately half a mile. There will be nine spans of 269 feet with steel truss girders resting on concrete pillars. Some of the pillars are founded on rock while others will rest on nests of reinforced concrete piles. The foundations and concrete piers are in the hands of the Victorian Constructing Authority and the superstructure in those of the New South Wales Authority. August 1927.hume reservoir australia, river murray waters scheme, hume reservoir construction

Black and white photograph of the Bethanga Bridge with hills in the background.On back of photo: "Hume Weir" and an oval rubber stamp "V. Peterson | Photographer | Hume Reservoir"hume dam, hume weir, hume reservoir, lake hume, bethanga bridge

Taken between 1928 and 1930, depicted is the Bethanga Bridge under construction. The Bridge was completed in 1930 and was built to assist residents of the Bethanga district to travel to Albury. Other bridges would become submerged by the backed-up water of the Murray and Mitta Rivers so the Bethanga bridge was built two miles above the Mitta Weir. The Bethanga Bridge was built north of the future Hume Dam which would be completed in 1936. At 2430 feet long, Bethanga Bridge was the longest road bridge in Australia at the time of its completion. The Bridge is 20 feet wide and made up of nine 270 feet long spans. Materials used include ten tons of paint for the steel works; 1600 tons of steel; 900 tons of timber for the decking; and reinforced concrete for the piers. The tender for the construction was awarded to C. Ruwolt Pty. Ltd., engineers who were located on Victoria Street, West Richmond. The contract was awarded for £71,890. It was predicted between 250 and 300 men would find employment on the project. The news was well received by trade unions at the time as there had been a drop in available engineering work.This photograph is historically significant as it depicts the progress of the Bethanga Bridge construction, which was important infrastructure for the area. It is also a good example of methods used in the area to assist in travel over the river prior to the construction of the Hume Dam.Black and white rectangular photo printed on matte photographic paper.Reverse: 1997 3186 / 84-19-3 / This is the bridge. / It is not yet open to traffic / yet. will not be completed / until May next / It is a wonderful bridge the / pillars are 100 feet high. / KODAK PRINT Envelope Obverse: Peterson PHOTO / Hume Weir Envelope Reverse: BMM 84-20-1,2+3. bethanga bridge, lake hume, hume dam, hume weir, murray river, bridge, bethanga, albury

This image shows Bethanga Bridge, which was constructed between 1927 and 1930 in Albury, NSW. The bridge was a necessity due to the building of the Hume Dam (Wier), 1919-1936. Bethanga Bridge is a long, nine-span, riveted-steel, variable depth, Pratt Truss road bridge of nine principal spans of 82 metres and a total length of 752 metres over the flooded valley of the Murray River, now part of Hume Reservoir. Because of its unique location, over the waters of a dam with the border running down the centre of the body of water, the Bethanga bridge is the only built structure shared by both New South Wales and Victoria. It was built 1.6 kilometres upstream of the dam and in 1961 was raised 300mm, with a concrete deck replacing the original wooden deck. The State Rivers and Water Supply Commission of Victoria and the New South Wales Department of Public Works were responsible for the construction works for the Hume Weir under the River Murray Waters Agreement. It is apparent that a similar joint arrangement was made for the construction of the Bethanga Bridge as part of the Hume Weir works.This photograph of the Bethanga Bridge is of historical significance as it showcases the architectural skills of Percy Allen and Vincent Packer. Additionally, it reveals the environmental landscape of the 1920s-1930s, is linked to the Hume Dam and both New South Wales and Victorian heritage. Unmounted black and white rectangular photograph. Reverse: 1997.3196 84-20-3bethanga, bethanga bridge, hume dam, pratt truss, murray river, hume weir, transportation

This image shows the Punt (a kind of small boat) that took residents of Bethanga across the Murray River before the Bethanga Bridge was built. Bethanga Bridge was built between 1927 and 1930, and was made a necessity by the building of the Hume Dam. The Hume Dam, formerly known as the Hume Weir, was in construction between 1919 and 1936, which swelled the Murray River into the floodplain to the East of the dam permanently, creating Lake Hume, and isolating the residents of Bethanga and nearby towns, for whom the trip all the way around the new lake to another river crossing was a massive undertaking. The person who wrote on the back of this card instead chose to cross the river on a boat until the Bethanga Bridge became available. Interestingly, partially submerged trees can be seen in the lake in the background of this photograph, illustrating that the dam had already begun to fill the floodplain even before the bridge was built. This photograph shows the methods the residents of Bethanga used while the Bethanga Bridge was being built. This record is associated with the Heritage Listed sites of the Hume Dam and the Bethanga Bridge, and shows the environment during the process of construction and the creation of Lake HumeSepia rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paperReverse: 1997.3189 / 84 -19 -1 / This is the snap of the Punt. / Our only means of getting out / of Bethanga for the present / Until the bridge is completed / it is 2 miles above the junction / of the Mitta + Murray. It is / 1/2 a mile wide + runs across / the Murray into NSW / Kodak Print / bethanga, bethanga bridge, hume, hume dam, artificial lake, lake hume, hume weir, flood, floodplain, boat, punt, weir, pier, dock, transport, transportation

Taken during the construction of the Bethanga Bridge (1927-1930), this sepia photograph shows a view of the incomplete bridge taken from inside the structure and looking down the span of the bridge from where the photographer stands. The photograph depicts an incomplete deck, with loose-looking wooden planks/panels lain along the centre in groups of three. Once complete, the original decking of the bridge was made of timber before being replaced by cement in 1961 (Victorian Heritage Database).Bethanga Bridge is of historical significance to the Indigo Shire for its associations with the construction of Hume Dam, its associations with the River Murray Waters Agreement and the River Murray Commission, and illustration of the needs and influence of the farming communities along the river in this area - particularly in relation to the building of the Weir. It also represents the collaboration between New South Wales and Victoria on a large infrastructure project, being the only built structure shared by both New South Wales and Victoria due to its location. also reflecting on the Shire's geographical closeness to this neighboring state. This photograph is part of a series that documents the construction of this well-known heritage site of significance to the Indigo Shire. It reflects upon a period of growth and change in the area.Sepia, rectangular photograph printed on matt photographic paper, unmountedReverse: 1997.3190 / Another snap of the bridge. taken on the bridge showing huge steel sides / 84-19-4 / V [in circle] 354 / KODAK PRINTbethanga bridge, hume dam, bridges album, construction, road construction, hume weir

One of a series of postcards of photographs taken by socialite photographer Nicholas John Caire. N.J. Caire had a great love for the area and in the late 1800's took many photographs of Marysville and its surrounds.One of a series of postcards of photographs taken by socialite photographer Nicholas John Caire. N.J. Caire had a great love for the area in and surrounding Marysville and in the late 1800's took many photographs of Marysville and its surrounds. N.J. Caire was born in 1837 in Guernsey. He arrived in Adelaide about 1860 along with his parents who encouraged his early interest in photography. He opened a studio in Adelaide in 1867 after traveling extensively throughout the Gippsland taking photographs. After marrying in 1870 he moved to Talbot in Victoria until 1876 when he opened a studio in the Royal Arcade in Melbourne. After 1885 N.J. Caire gave up his city work and made his home in South Yarra and devoted the rest of his life to outdoor photography, specializing in the bush, the gullies and the mountains of south-eastern Victoria. POST CARD The Address to be written on this side This space may be used for Correspondence/ within the Commonwealth at 1d. rate./ Foreign, charged ordinary letter rate. St. Fillans/ Narbethong This is the/ little village we/ visited last week/ E.L. Mrs R.D. Cole/ Mozart Villa/ Bethanga One penny Victorian postage stamp Date Stamp/ Illegible Date Stamp/ JA 16/ 6/ VICTORIA/ Illegiblemarysville, victoria, nicholas john caire, postcard, souvenir

A small booklet of 56 pages including text and images.The first church in Bethanga was built by the Wesleyans in early 1876 and was also used by other denominations. In early 1886 the Anglican Church was built followed by St Francis Catholic Church later that year. St Francis Church provided a place of worship for nearly 150 years. It was part of the Parish of Wodonga and the Diocese of Sandhurst. The church was relocated in 1917 after it was decided the original location was unsuitable because of the steepness of its approach. Parishioners found it particularly difficult to attend in winter as the surrounds became wet and muddy. Land was purchased which had stables for horses and coaches that would stop between Wodonga and the Upper Murray. Reverend Dr James Flynn hired a carpenter and other workers to demolish the building and cut the church into sections where it was hauled and rebuilt on the new site in Bridge Street, Bethanga. After changing demographics and a dwindling congregation the last regular Mass was held at St Francis in December 2019. Following a decision to close St Francis Catholic Church a final farewell service on was held on 20th August 2022. The building was sold in October 2023.st francis church bethanga, bethanga community

THE 1917 floods were the second highest recorded in Albury-Wodonga. The gauge at the Union Bridge was 18 feet. All bridges between Albury and Wodonga were washed away and locals had to travel by train between the two towns. It was the only link between the centres for several weeks. The suspension bridge was a temporary fix to allow pedestrian traffic to travel between Wodonga and Albury. A report from The Argus on October 9, 1917 stated: “For the last three or four months the low-lying land between the border towns of Albury and Wodonga has been almost continuously under water, 150 points were registered here on Thursday and Friday and heavier falls were recorded higher up the river, causing all rivers to rise simultaneously. Residents of Bonegilla, Bethanga, Talgarno and the Murray Valley were cut off from railway facilities. In 2025 this location is now the Lincoln Causeway. This image is one of a collection of photos taken by Robert Prentice. The images are clearly identified as he inscribed in the glass a back-to-front capital R (Я) on to which was joined a capital P creating his mark ЯР.This image is significant because it captures a major flooding event in Wodonga and was taken by a recognised Wodonga photographer.A black and white photograph of people observing the flood damage at WodongaWodonga Floods 1917 ЯРfloods wodonga, natural resources, robert prentice