Melbourne to Bendigo and Echuca Railway, 1862 -
Description
Malmsbury Viaduct has been in continuous railway service for 150 years. It was completed in October 1860, two years before the opening of the Melbourne to Bendigo Railway in October 1862.
The railway, first constructed to Bendigo, crosses the Great Dividing Range at Mount Macedon after climbing to the watershed in great sweeping curves from the Melbourne Plain. Once over the Range the railway encounters two major river crossings at Malmsbury and Taradale, both requiring massive viaducts and hilly country involving two long tunnels at Elphinstone and Big Hill before reaching Bendigo.
The two track Irish Broad Gauge line was built to the highest British railway construction standards, one of only two in Australia to aspire to there lofty standards.
The line was later extended to the Port of Echuca through relatively flat and easy country for railway construction.
The railway remains in service today almost unchanged, a tribute to the foresight of its builders.
Division
Marker Type
- EHNM: Engineering Heritage National M'arker (replacing EHNL From 2011)