Historical information

The local photograph shows the original footbridge across the Merri River near its mouth, the Viaduct road and the Warrnambool Breakwater with the Titan crane on it. The breakwater's construction was completed in 1890, the year this photograph was taken. The Viaduct has since been filled in to prevent water passing through the pylons, and the footbridge has been replaced.

The photograph was presented to Flagstaff Hill on the centenary of South Warrnambool Primary School, 1877 to 1977, by the school's Warrnambool South Primary School Centenary Committee. The centenary was celebrated during August 12-13-14. The school was decommissioned in the 1990s.

Significance

The photograph is locally significant for recording the completion of the Warrnambool Breakwater, for showing the original design of the Viaduct and for a clear view of the original footbridge across the Merri River.
It also records the date of the presentation of the photograph celebrates the centenary of the 1877 to 1977 Warrnambool Sough Primary School.

Physical description

Photograph, black and white, mounted onto cardboard with a pasted-on label below the photograph. It shows the Merri River footbridge, the Viaduct, the Warrnambool Breakwater with the Titan crane, and the Port of Warrnambool. The label has an inscription. The photograph was taken in 1890 and was presented to Flagstaff Hill by the South Warrnambool Primary School's Centenary Committee ca. 1977.
The photograph was taken in 1890 and was presented to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum by the South Warrnambool Primary School Centenary Committee in the Centenary year of the South Warrnambool Primary School;1977.

Inscriptions & markings

Typed onto the label: "PRESENTED TO FLAGSTAFF HILL / BY THE SOUTH WARRNAMBOOL / PRIMARY SCHOOL CENTENARY / COMMITTEE / "VIADUCT TO / WARRNAMBOOL BREAKWATER" / - 1890 - "