chimneys

Kennedy Bridge boasts a quirky history Wayne Heidrich 15 November 2020 A shipwreck and a politician in the last legal hour of his ministerial duties are quirky links tied to the history of Bundaberg’s Kennedy Bridge. Kennedy Bridge which has spanned Bundaberg’s Saltwater Creek for 121 years was opened by then Queensland Minister for Railways and Works, the Hon. J Murray on November 25, 1899. At the opening, Mr Murray commented about the delay in construction, which he said was caused by the shipwreck of the Loch Fergus near Dublin on its voyage from Glasgow. Mr Murray undertook the official opening of the bridge at 11 am, just one hour before the Premier, Mr James Robert Dickson tendered the resignation of his Ministry due to censure motions and political upheaval. In effect, opening the Kennedy Bridge was Mr Murray’s final act as a Minister. Following the official opening of the bridge and subsequent banquet, the official party adjourned to the banks of the Burnett River to view progress on the new Burnett River Bridge. Three spans of the bridge were largely in place as were all pylons associated with the construction. It was estimated that construction would be completed within 10 to 12 months. The group then travelled by launch – “Victor” – on an inspection tour to almost the mouth of the Burnett River. The quality of construction afforded the Kennedy Bridge was also reviewed prior to construction with the Brisbane Telegraph reporting the state government had reviewed the original loan terms which called for a “third-class structure with a loan period of 21 years”. The bridge was reclassified to first-class and the loan to Bundaberg and Woongarra Councils extended over a period of 40 years. Kennedy Bridge was constructed for a little under seven thousand pounds which equates to around $1.13 million in current Australian dollars. Steel span replaced dangerous wooden bridge Saltwater Creek was originally spanned by a timber bridge comprised of three sections and which was constructed in 1878. However, heavy traffic crossing the bridge, principally aligned with the local sugar refining industry and sugar plantations, had seen the bridge become unsafe. State Engineer for Bridges, Mr AB Brady, inspected the bridge in late 1896 and reported to the government on its deteriorating condition. Mr Brady said the wooden bridge which connected the municipality of Bundaberg and the division of Woongarra was of a very poor construction. “Generally, the main span is in a very shaky and dangerous condition, and is, in my opinion, unsafe for anything but light traffic. “All traffic is rightly restricted to a walking pace when crossing the bridge, but loads heavier than 4 tons, exclusive of the wagon, should not be allowed, and only one such loaded wagon should be permitted on the bridge at a time,” reported Mr Brady. He proposed that a single-span steel bridge be constructed on the upstream side of the existing wooden structure with the span to be 160 feet (49m) long and 25 feet (7.3m) wide with a single-lane pedestrian walkway. Mr Brady also recommended the new bridge be raised about one meter above the height of the old wooden structure. A local committee, the Kennedy Bridge Board, charged with selecting the site for the new bridge was provided with three options with the current option selected because of the alignment with Bourbong Street. Local business and transport interests were uninterrupted as the old bridge remained in use while the new bridge was under construction. Bundaberg Now acknowledges the contribution of Mr Merv Hopton in providing historical notes associated with the Kennedy Bridge. Source: www.bundabergnow.com/2020/11/15/kennedy-bridge-boasts-a-q...

While two Bundaberg drink companies have stood the test of time – Bundaberg Rum and Bundaberg Brewed Drinks – they are just part of the Region’s drink manufacturing history that spans back nearly 150 years. In the late 1800s it was easier to make products locally than transport them from somewhere else. Our thriving sugarcane industry and fertile soil meant everything needed for a top-shelf beverage was at the manufacturers’ fingertips. It was around this time Austrian native, Gustav Steindl, expanded his operations to Bundaberg, after running a brewery with his brother in Maryborough. In 1883 Steindl established City Brewery Bundaberg near Baldwin Swamp, which had easy access to the spring water once available there. After selling the rights to City Brewery, Steindl established Bundaberg Brewery. The brewery was flooded in 1893 and moved to higher ground on the corner of Princess and Tomlinson Street (formerly known as Brewery Street) to new, larger premises. An arched gateway with ‘Bundaberg Brewery’ displayed in wrought iron overhead welcomed guests, and the front fence had a top rail for farmers to hitch their horses. Steindl sold pasteurized lager, bitter ale, light ale and stout in bulk. Bottled brandy and other spirits were sold under the Seppelt label and cordial under the O.T label. His effort and talent were rewarded with four medals at an 1894 Commonwealth brewing competition. After the mid 1900s, drink companies flourished in Bundaberg. A generation of families in the 1940s fell in love with cordial label Salters. John Salter took over the Bundaberg cordial manufacturer ‘Castles’ in 1940 and operated under that name for many years. In 1956, he built a new purpose-built ‘Salters Cordial Works’ on the corner of Walla and Woondooma Streets. Upstairs was an 1800-square-foot syrup room. The factory capped its last bottle in 1982 but the iconic building remains part of the central Bundaberg streetscape. Source: www.crushmagazine.com.au/call-me-old-fashioned/

Eee! There be double at t' mill !

Drogheda?

Niall McAuley I think you're right. Note gas works above and on map. geohive.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9...

Niall McAuley Looks a match to the map. Gas works and two chimneys and St Marys mill in the foreground and St Peters C of I in the distance. At a guess taken from railway embankment by the station hence the fence line with sleepers. Edit or maybe the viaduct?

Siena Convent (see note) - the NIAH say the "Convent chapel added to west by G. C. Ashlin, dated 1876." I think it is there; so after 1876? See - www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13619...