The two bridges on the railway viaduct, which crosses the Snowy River floodplain at Orbost, were built from local Southern Mahogany. The bridge on the Bairnsdale end (770m) is now the longest in Victoria. Despite various attempts to extend the line, the station stayed on the western side of the Snowy River. (info. Helen Martin)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.A black / white photograph / postcard of the Orbost township in the background and the railway viaduct over the flats in the foreground.photo caption - The Rose Series P.479 copywright SNOWY RIVER FLATS, ORBOST, VIC"east-gippsland-railway orbost-viaduct

This photograph shows the pile drivers at work in the construction of the viaduct across the Snowy River flats. The Snowy River Floodplain Railway Bridges, two sequential and exceptionally long and low timber railway bridges on the Snowy River floodplain just west of Orbost, were built in 1916, and provided the original terminus point for the Bairnsdale-Orbost railway. The bridges are 770 metres and 183 metres long respectively. The shorter bridge is of uniformly 4.57 metre timber-beam construction, and has a sweeping curve in its deck. The longer bridge has a combination of 4.57 metre and 6.1 metrespans, and two 3.66 metre spans. The bridges are constructed from 'Southern Mahogany', Eucalyptus Botryoides, which grew along the coast east of Bairnsdale. The Snowy floodplain bridges were initially built in the context of an early twentieth-century interest in American-style 'Developmental Railways', designed to open remote areas to closer settlement, even if that meant running at a loss. The line was closed in August 1987. (information from Victorian Heritage Database)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.A black / white photograph of the farming flats at Orbost during the construction of the East Gippsland railway.orbost-railway east-gippsland-railway viaduct-orbost transport railway

In 1912 work was underrway on the Bairnsdale to Orbost railway. It was opened on April 10 1916. The two bridges on the railway viaduct, which crosses the Snowy River floodplain at Orbost, were built from local Southern Mahogany. The bridge on the Bairnsdale end (770m) is now the longest in Victoria. (info. Helen Martin)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.A black / white photograph, oval-shaped on white background. It is of the railway viaduct across the flats at Orbost,.photo caption -"ORBOST RAILWAY BRIDGE, NEWMERELLA E. S. Vogt, Bairnsdale"newmerella orbost-viaduct east-gipsland-railway

The 1971 flood was the the worst flood on record. At Jarrahmond it was at least 11 metres and up to one and a half kilometres wide on the flats causing enormous damage to the flood plain. Records say that "The brown floodwater stain in Bass Strait could be seen from passing airliners." Considerable damage was done to railway infrastructure, roads and farms. More information from the APRIL, 2008 newsletter by John Phillips. (see orbosthistory.com.au) The railway line was destroyed and was not expected to be opened for a fortnight. Orbost was cut off by 50 square miles of Snowy River floodwater. This train was being shunted across the viaduct when waters smashed through washing away several trucks sending the crew running for their lives.This is pictorial evidence of a significant local event. It is connected to the history of the railway in East Gippsland.A large black / white photograph of flooded railway yards with a train engine stranded on a small section of track surrounded by water and debris.on front - "1971 Flood, Railway Yards"floods-1971-orbost orbost-railway natural-disasters-orbost

The 1971 flood was the the worst flood on record. At Jarrahmond it was at least 11 metres and up to one and a half kilometres wide on the flats causing enormous damage to the flood plain. Records say that "The brown floodwater stain in Bass Strait could be seen from passing airliners." Considerable damage was done to railway infrastructure, roads and farms. More information from the APRIL, 2008 newsletter by John Phillips. (see orbosthistory.com.au) The railway line was destroyed and was not expected to be opened for a fortnight. Orbost was cut off by 50 square miles of Snowy River floodwater. These photographs are pictorial records of the 1971 floods which was a significant event in the history of Orbost. They are also associated with the East Gippsland Railway.Three black / white photographs of flood debris and flood waters near a railway line. 3102.l has a pile driver 3102.2 shows a gap in the viaduct and 3102.3 shows men with a tractor cleaning up the debris,3102.1 - on back - "1971 FLOOD REPAIRS TO ORBOST RAILWAY VIADUCT - 15th February 1971. Donated by Audrey Van Den Berg VRH 3693" 3102.2 - on back - " DAMAGE TO RAILWAY VIADUCT ACCUMULATED DEBRIS" 3102.3 - on back - "DAMAGE TO RAILWAY VIADUCT AT ORBOST. CLEAN UP BEGINS"orbost-flood-1971 orbost-viaduct-flood-damage orbost-railway

These photographs relate to the East Gippsland Railway. 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. Orbost Railway Station was opened on Monday 10 April 1916 as the terminus of the Orbost railway line, and closed in 1987. The station was located on the west side of the Snowy River despite the town of Orbost being on the east side of the river, in order to save on the costs of a bridge over the river, which at the time had highly variable levels. These photographs are 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.Seven black / white photographs and one postcard print.3103.1 on back - " Orbost- Snowy River flats viaduct 22-2-1964 ARHS special train Ray Jude photo" 3103.2 - on back -" Orbost Snowy River flats viaduct A.R.H.S. special train 22.2.1969" 3103.3 - on back - " A.R.H.S. special across bridge between Waygara & Nowa Nowa 22-2-1964 3103.4 - on back - " Nowa Nowa Boggy Creek Bridge A.R.H.s. Orbost tour Ray Jude photo" 3103.5 - on back - " Orbost 22-2-1969 SM office & goods shed Ray Jude photo" 3103.6 - on back - " Orbost Railway Yards - 22 February 19369 Ray Jude photo" 3103.7 - on back - " Orbost May 27 -1936 Orbost Rail Station" 3103.8 - on front - caption - Unloading Ballast Orbost line near Newmerella 1915 - J. Sullivan Colin ?orbost-railway east-gippsland-railway bairnsdale-orbost-railway

These photographs are from the Snowy River Mail newspaper, September 9, 1987. Ron Hayward's family ran a shop in Rupert Street, Orbost.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 closure of the line was a significant event in Orbost's history.Five black / white photographs related to closure of the Orbost - Bairnsdale Railway Line.3104.1 - on back - "A view from Grandview, Newmerella, of the last train to leave Orbost on Friday August 21, 1987. As the afternoon sun lengthens the shadows on the Snowy River flats, the sun also sets on an era in Far East Gippsland transport as the last train crosses the viaduct." 3104,2 - 0n back - "Ron Hayward passes over the staff during the last crew changeover for the last train to run on the Orbost line. Ron Haywood (L) who 39 years and 6 months ago drove the first diesel loco to Orbost (T366T) presents the last staff to the driver, Bill Buckley, who took the last diesel out." 3104.3 - on back -" as above - 2nd paragraph only 3104.4 - on back - " Ron Hayward who took the first diesel engine from Bairnsdale to Orbost on February 21. 1957 when he was stationed at Orbosst. Last Friday he rode on the last diesel to Orbost after obtaining a special pass from V Line , he also handed over the staff for the last change at Orbost. The last driver was Bill Buckley." 3104.5 - on back - "LAST TRAIN ROLLS INTO ORBOST B/A Friday August 28 1987 For Ron Hayward the last train journey on the Orbost rail line was a sad occasion. Mr Hayward took the first diesel engine from Bairnsdale to Orbost on February 21, 1957, whe he was stationed at Orbost. Last Friday he rode on the last diesel too Orbost after obtaining a special pass from V-Line. He also handed over the staff for the last change at Orbost. The last driver was Bill Buckley. Mr Hayward was an engine driver with nhe railways and transferred to Orbost when steam engines used the line. He left the railways in in 1957 but took up a job with them again in 1968. He said also it was a privilege to have been able to ride on the last train, the occasion was a sad one,"east-gippsland-railway railway-closure hayward-ron buckley-bill orbost-bairnsdale-railway

3154.1 is a postcard of the Orbost viaduct over the flooded Snowy River flats. 4153.2 is of a goods train on the viaduct. 3154.3 is of a loaded goods train with the driver at the window. Two men are standing on the plate and there are two workers below where there is some water and flood debris. 3154.4 is of amachine moving flood debris on the rail line. 3154.5 shows flood damage to the viaduct across the Snowy River flats. Two men are driving a dozer.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.Five black / white photographs associated with the Orbost railway line during a flood.orbost-railway east-gippsland -railway orbost-floods