Barber's Bridge

Statement of Significance

Historic Value: The place is associated with the Peel Estate drainage project, which involved draining lowland swamps to open up new tracts
of land for farming.

Social Value; The place is a well-known crossing of the Banjup Lake drain and contributes to the community’s sense of place.

Representativeness: The bridge is representative of the continual rebuilding and maintenance of road construction.

Level of significance: Some

Physical Description

The place comprises a simple road bridge crossing the open drain that extends southwest from Banjup Lake. Culverts on either side of the bridge are constructed with limestone blocks, and a pre-formed square concrete channel runs beneath the road, providing free flow for water in the drain. The drains constructed during the Inter-War period can be seen from Lyon Road, comprising narrow but deep drains, characterised by their mounded earth banks, extending east and west of the road.
The western culvert appears to be of quite recent construction, possibly connected with the Honeywood residential development on the western side of Lyon Road.

History

Lake Banjup was part of the Peel Estate drainage project which commenced in the 1920s, whereby lowland swamps were drained to reveal more fertile soil than the surrounding dry land could provide. The drains were designed by engineer-in-charge, R.J. Anketell, and the main drain started east of Mandogalup, passing through Beenyup, The Spectacles, Bollard Bulrush Swam, Baldivis and Folly Pool, onto Mandurah where it discharged into the sea. The Lake Banjup drain extended due south from the lake until heading west with numerous road crossings before it terminates at Mandogalup. The crossing at Lyon Road, known as Barber’s Bridge, was most likely first constructed in the 1920s as part of the Drainage scheme works, although it is believed to have been rebuilt in the 1940s. The existing culverts and channel are of recent construction. The place name was used by early settlers for identification of the crossing, and is believed to be named after a local settler.
(Source: Laurie Russell, Kwinana “Third Time Lucky”, 1979; Town of Kwinana MHI, 1997)

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Last Update

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