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Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
From the collection of Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
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Furniture - Table, Ralph Speirs, Warrnambool Triton Woodwork Club, 2009

  • Timber table in location showing brass plaque on top

    Table from above at an angle

  • Plaque has eight rows of printed text

    Plaque from above

  • Image of bridge, taken from the back of the Warrnambool cemetery to the Hopkins River mouth

    Mouth of Hopkins River and bridge,, 1st bridge, ca. 1878

  • Photograph taken from the north towards the Hopkins Bridge and river mouth in the south

    Mouth of the Hopkins River, Warrnambool, 2nd bridge ca. 1907

  • View from the south towards the bridge, boat houses and railway line

    Bridge over the Hopkins River Warrnambool Vic., 2nd bridge, ca. 1950

  • Looking north from the river mouth towards the bridge and Tower Square water tower

    The current, third Hopkins River Bridge,. Image taken in May 2009

  • Timber table in location showing brass plaque on top
  • Plaque has eight rows of printed text
  • Image of bridge, taken from the back of the Warrnambool cemetery to the Hopkins River mouth
  • Photograph taken from the north towards the Hopkins Bridge and river mouth in the south
  • View from the south towards the bridge, boat houses and railway line
  • Looking north from the river mouth towards the bridge and Tower Square water tower

Historical information

The turpentine timber used to construct this table was originally used to build the second Hopkins River bridge in 1895. That long timber truss road bridge was built across the river close to the river mouth.

The first Hopkins River bridge was built in 1862. That bridge was replaced by the second bridge, built in 1895. In 2001 the new third bridge was built to replace the 1895 bridge, in a design to look similar to the 1895 bridge. The timber from the second bridge was recycled to make this hall table, a cheeseboard presented to the Mayor at that time, and other mementos. The plaque attached to the table states the table was made in 2009 by Ralph Speirs, Warrnambool Triton Woodwork Club.

Significance

The table is significant for its connection with the second Hopkins River bridge, built in 1895. The timber used to make the table has been recycled from the second Hopkins River bridge that was destroyed to make way for the new, third bridge.
The Timber Truss Hopkins River Bridge was classified with State Significance on 16th April 1996, being the oldest of six surviving timber truss bridges in Victoria and the most intact timber road bridge of any type for its size and age. Its design was unique within Australia. It was the largest timber bridge built in Victoria during the 1890s.
The bridge was of importance to the economical development of the region, opening up access to allow ease of trade and social connections between the eastern region of southwest Victoria and the town, later city, of Warrnambool and regions further west.

Physical description

Table made from turpentine timber. The timber was recycled from the second Hopkins River Bridge after the bridge was destroyed. The bridge was built in 1895. The table was constructed in 2009 by Ralph Speirs, Warrnambool Triton Woodwork Club. The front corners of the table are rounded and bthe back corners are straight. A plaque with eight rows of text is attached to the table.

Inscriptions & markings

"TABLE BUILT FROM TURPENTINE TIMBER RECYCLED FROM THE SECOND HOPKINS RIVER BRIDGE, BUILT IN 1895 AND DEMOLISHED IN 2000 TO BE RPLACED BY THE PRESENT THIRD BRIDGE. CONSTRUCTION BY RALPH SPEIRS, MEMBER OF WARRNAMBOOL TRITON WOODWORK CLUB, IN 2009"

Subjects

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