This is a bridge across the Snowy River at Orbost. This bridge was built in the 1920s as a road and rail bridge, and was partly washed away by flood waters in 1934. After the end of the first World War the Victorian Railways considered an extension of the railhead across the river at Orbost, and in 1922 a new timber and steel girder structure, a joint Country Roads Board — Victorian Railways venture, was built and completed at a cost of £41,000 (the steel girders came from the Flinders Street viaduct reconstruction). Subsequently it was decided not to take the railway across the river, and the bridge has only been used by road traffic.This is a pictorial record of an early bridge across the Snowy River at Orbost.A very large black / white photograph under glass in a timber frame. It is of a bridge across a river and is framed by trees.bridge snowy-river-bridge road-transport-orbost

This photograph shows vehicles and people being ferried across the Snowy River during the 1934 flood. The Orbost punt was reinstated on a temporary basis following damage to the bridge. Damage estimated at £500,000 was caused by the 1934 floods in the Orbost district. This 1934 flood was devastating, destroying a section of the 1922 Orbost bridge, wrecking fences, bridges and roads, dumping silt and debris on the rich river flats and drowning cattle. The centre span of the Orbost Bridge was washed away.This is a pictorial record of the effects of the 1934 floods in the Orbost district.A large black / white photograph of a punt with a motor vehicle and people making their way across a river.on front - "On the Snowy 1934"snowy-river-orbost flood-1934 river-transport-punt

This photograph shows Country Roads Board men clearing a bush track at Hospital Creek. Their vehicle was bogged. The y Roads Board was formed in 1913 1910 it had become apparent that there was a need for a central roads authority to take over responsibility from the Board of Lands and Works for the care and management of the main roads of the state of Victoria. Because there was no consistent and systematic policy for road maintenance Victorian roads were in a deplorable condition. At this time the use of the motor car accentuated the demands for better roads. As a result of these needs the Country Roads Act 1912 was proclaimed in 1913 providing for the establishment of the Country Roads Board as a central road authority with responsibility for those roads within the State considered to be main roads. the C.R.B. was responsible for the construction of roads and bridges including the Snowy River road bridges in Orbost.. This is a pictorial record of transport difficulties in East Gippsland in early 20th century.A large black / white photograph of three men clearing a bush track with a motor vehicle behind them.transport roads road-maintenance country-roads-board

This is a photograph of the second Snowy River Bridge at Orbost. The section in the central span could have been built after flood damage. This bridge over the Snowy River was opened on July 4 1922. It was constructed in 1922 alongside the previous suspension bridge. Its building was a combined effort of the Victorian Railways and the Country Roads Board at a cost of 35,000 pounds. It was replaced in 1976 by the present bridge after several major floods.This bridge was replaced in 1976 after several major floods.A black / white photograph / postcard of a bridge over a river. It has what looks like a bo girder in the central section. On the left is the river bank.on front bottom left - "SNOWY RIVER BRIDGE"orbost snowy-river-bridge transport-bridge

These photographs were taken on November 25, 1976 at the official opening of the current Snowy River road bridge. Included in the photographs are: John Duggan; Pat Hall, C.R.B. chairman, R.E.V. Donaldson (3240.7) and J.A.Rafferty, the state minister for Transport, who cut the ribbon (3240.8). Di Young and Cheryl Dusting (3240.9) distributed souvenir information pamphlets to official guests. The Snowy River road bridge is one of four built as part of the 8.4 km project spanning the Orbost flood plains. The Snowy River bridge and another over the nearby Ashbys Gulch are among the 10 longest bridges in Victoria, being the eighth and fifth longest respectively. The new bridge removed through traffic from Orbost township crossing the Snowy River 45 m downstream of the old bridge.This bridge is the fourth to provide a crossing to the township of Orbost. (info from CRB NEWS No. 34. DECEMBER, 1976) These photographs are pictorial records of a significant event in Orbost's history.Eleven black / white photographs all related to the official opening of the current Snowy River Bridge. Details are in catalogue folder.snowy-river-bridge