Ivanhoe Crossing

Author

Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley

Place Number

09573

Location

Ivanhoe Rd Kununurra

Location Details

Local Government

Wyndham-East Kimberley

Region

Kimberley

Construction Date

Constructed from 1930 to 1953

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Municipal Inventory Adopted 20 Feb 1997

Statement of Significance

Ivanhoe Crossing was an essential crossing over the Ord River, and was part of the Darwin to Wyndham Beef Road initiated in 1948. It was also useful for the pastoralists on Ivanhoe Station. It was superseded when the Diversion Dam was built and opened in 1962. When the new Victoria Highway between Wyndham and Kununurra was completed, a concrete beacon, called Pilot Rock, engraved by Elizabeth and Mary Durack, was in the vicinity. It is now under water.

Physical Description

This concrete crossing over the Ord River was constructed in about 1953 to raise and improve an existing causeway built around 1930. One hundred and four petrol drums with the bottoms cut out were welded together to make culvert pipes for the water to flow through.. The roadway was 16 ft wide. The use of the old drums saved £6,000 worth of concrete. Prior to being raised the crossing was impassable for three months each year when the Ord river was flowing strongly.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Good (was rebuilt c.1953)

Condition

Good

Place Type

Historic site

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Original Use Transport\Communications Road: Other
Present Use Transport\Communications Road: Other

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Other METAL Other Metal
Other CONCRETE Other Concrete

Creation Date

14 Nov 1997

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

01 Jan 2017

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.