Pumphrey's Bridge Group

Child Places

• 23819 Pumphrey's Historic Homestead

Values

The place is associated with the development of the wheatbelt area generally and the Wandering region in particular and demonstrates the need for river crossing to enable movement of people and goods.

Physical Description

The bridge is of traditional road bridge construction. The bridge is built in sets of three poles buried into the ground and connected to the top with transitional beams. These sets of poles are evenly spaced and support the bridge work that comprises of secondary timber beams and planks. Each set of poles in diagonally braced. The bridge is finished on both sides with a timber balustrade with a painted top rail and intermediate rail.

A new road bridge is located 100m to the west.

History

Although a return issued by the Wandering Roads Board on 17 December 1895 showed that since its inception four bridges and 59 culverts had been built, no necessity for large bridges had been noted. That is, until 1905, when a considerably larger bridge than the usual small bridge was required. After the opening of the Great Southern Railway in 1899, both Pingelly and Narrogin were surveyed as townsites. This meant that both places were being prepared to accommodate Wandering settlers from both sides of the Hotham River. Since about 1865, a crude stone structure across the river was the only means of crossing, and this could only be accomplished during the summer.

Owing to the increasing number of settlers, both south and north of the river, it was decided to build a large bridge to span a straight stretch. The contract for the building of the bridge was let to Mr White by the Road and Bridge section of the Public Works Department at an estimated cost of 750 pounds.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity-Moderate
Authenticity- High

Condition

Sound

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.