This photograph was taken near the Nicholson River Bridge. The gang re-laying the rail tracks on the Bairnsdale - Orbost line were working in the Bruthen area. In this photograph the men had just finished work near the Nicholson River Bridge.This photograph is associated with the Easy Gippsland Railway.A black / white photograph of a group of men working on a railway line. There is another group behind them.on back - typed information as beloweast-gippsland-railway nicholson-railway railway-construction

Orbost and East Gippsland Railway League had proposed a railway extension through East Gippsland in 1908, which aimed to develop an isolated part of the country. At the time, construction of a railway could be considered a beneficial investment for the country as it could increase the population in the region. The proposed railway length in 1908 was about 140 miles and the cost was estimated £800,000. The line was proposed to proceed from Bairnsdale by way of the Lower Nicholson to Bruthen. “After crossing the Tambo River, it would be carried to near Nowa Nowa; the head of Lake Tyers, forward to Orbost. From Orbost it would proceed in a north-easterly way to the New South Wales border. There were different suggested routes between Orbost and the New South Wales border, the first was through Bendoc, another by the Cann River and another which is located between these two. This item is associated with the history of the Orbost-Bairnsdale railway line and therefore reflects the role that the rail line played in the social and economic history of Orbost. The Bairnsdale-Orbost railway was opened in 1916 to serve the agricultural and timber industry. Because of the decline in traffic and heavy operating costs, the line was finally closed in August, 1987. Two small magazines showing the railway extension through East Gippsland. 678.1 has a dark maroon cover with gold print writing. It contains b/w photographs. 678.2 has a red cover with black print writing. Both are bound. 678.1 - inside front cover - M. Beattie ???????? Newmerella 678.2 - inside front cover - Gordon Fisher Orbosteast-gippsland-railway-league railway