Lower Kalgan River Bridge & Jetty Group

Child Places

• 15422 Lower Kalgan River Road Bridge
• 15636 Kalgan River Jetty
• 15582 Government Jetty
• 15636 Kalgan River Jetty

Statement of Significance

Lower Kalgan River Bridge & Jetty Group, comprising the Lower Kalgan River Jetty ruins (1912), and, the two-lane timber Lower Kalgan River Bridge (1958), located in the area called Tamungup by the Menang Noongar, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: The place is rare as a group of timber structures associated with river transport and access including the navigation trusses of an earlier (1905) bridge, a 1958 replacement bridge and the ruin of a 1912 timber jetty built for the transport of farm produce; Outside the metropolitan area the Lower Kalgan River Bridge (1958) is the longest timber road bridge in the State and an uncommon and fine example of a road bridge with a navigation span for small craft; The place is a significant man-made landmark in a rural estuarine setting; the Lower Kalgan River Bridge (1958) and Lower Kalgan River Jetty (1912) and the associated trusses are representative of timber transport structures built between 1905 and the 1950s, and demonstrates the continued use of timber in bridge building in Western Australia, where its cost was relatively low and its qualities well understood; The construction of the Lower Kalgan River Bridge (1958) and the Lower Kalgan River Jetty (1912) were undertaken specifically to facilitate the agricultural development of the Lower Kalgan district in the Albany hinterland; The place has strong social value for the Lower Kalgan and wider community for its historical and recreational associations; The refurbishment of the Lower Kalgan River Bridge (1958) in the 1980s demonstrates innovative maintenance of timber bridges developed by the Main Roads Departmen; The place has been associated with the Albany town water supply pipeline since 1914.

Physical Description

Bridge Some of the notable features of this place include: • Spans the Kalgan near the mouth of the river • Wooden pylons • Tarmac surface • Carries the water pipeline that feeds Albany from Two Peoples Bay Jetty As of 2020 the jetty is no longer extant, with only remnant fabric from the former pylons and decking scattered in the waters and along the foreshore Some of the notable features of this place included: • Jetty located to the south of the Lower Kalgan Bridge near the mouth of the river • Finger jetty with ‘T’ shaped head • Timber pylons and decking, iron fastenings Trusses Some of the notable features of this place include: • Originally situated either side of the entry to the reserve, located on the east side of the Kalgan River • Sturdy painted timber Some obvious modifications include: Trusses have been conserved and relocated to near their original location and interpretation installed on the other side of the road at the entry to the foreshore.

History

The Lower Kalgan Bridge spans the Kalgan River at its mouth and stands a few metres downstream from the original bridge which it replaced in 1958. The area is named Tamungup by the Menang Noongar which refers to it being the mouth of the river and to its receding waters owing to its tidal nature. The previous single-lane bridge was 54 years old and had become inadequate for modern traffic. The new bridge is built of timber, has a tarmac surface, has two lanes and is 176 metres long. After its completion it was hailed as the biggest bridge south of Perth offering a scenic outlook. Originally the bridge carried the main water supply for Two Peoples Bay to Albany. Once the new bridge was erected the old bridge was subsequently demolished. The trusses constructed just after the turn of the century for the original 167 metre, single-lane bridge (c1906-1908), were however, were saved and originally mounted on the shore nearby as an entrance statement to the Lower Kalgan recreation reserve. In c2006 the trusses were removed for conservation and reconstructed in a new location of the foreshore reserve on the north side of the road. The Reserve also contains the site of the Candyup Primary School, which closed in the 1940s. The site is near the Albany Rowing Club. The Government Jetty was built by the Public Works Department in 1912 for the landing of the construction materials for the Lower Kalgan Bridge. According to local people there used to be a small rail track on the jetty for a trolley for transferring materials from the barges to land. The jetty was also used for landing materials needed for the construction of the Two Peoples Bay to Albany water supply line which was opened in 1914. It was also used for recreational and tourism purposes. In the 1980s the jetty was decommissioned and was transferred to the management of the City of Albany. In 2019 the jetty is in poor condition with much fabric dislodged into the river.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Moderate Authenticity: High/Moderate

Condition

Fair

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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