While we were staying with friends at Curra they took us for a drive to Tin Can Bay. On the way back to their place we detoured a little to see the old Dickabram Bridge over the Mary River. It was completed in 1886. It stands 23 metres (70 ft) high and is over 200 metres long. It is one of few rail and road bridges in the country. Rumour has it that the name is derived from Dick and Abraham the names of two early settlers in the region.
Recent floods were very bad and the river rose over the bridge and left debris on the fence of a park on the river bank.
There were workmen still clearing debris from the bridge. See the twigs stuck on the pylon. The story goes that when the bridge was being built workmen were filling these pylons with concrete. They used wheelbarrows to tip the concrete in. One poor sole went too close and he and his wheelbarrow fell in. Others hadn't seen it and kept pouring concrete in. He was never seen again.
We returned to our friend's house where we played cards well into the night and woke to another lovely sunrise. Taken through the window and fly screen.
to me, the screen adds to the MOMENT in the photo. I love it. wow on that bridge and this gal would not ride on that wooden bridge.. sad story about the bridge being the last resting place of the worker
ReplyDeleteThe bridge is wonderful, a strange mix of steel, concrete and timber. Floodwaters may have gone over the bridge but it was built to last and did not wash away.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos. I love the sunrise.
ReplyDeleteA fascinating bridge. That must have been a terrible flood .
ReplyDeleteGosh, it's hard to imagine that much water! What a sight that must have been (from a safe distance, of course). Sad story about the construction worker. Just love your sunrise photo.
ReplyDeleteSecond attempt at leaving a comment - It's hard to imagine that much water. What a terrible flood, that bridge is a engineering triumph. The flooding river must have been an amazing sight (from a safe viewing place, of course). Love the sunrise photo and also enjoyed very much your photos in your previous post. Very pretty place you visited.
ReplyDeleteBeats me how that bridge can still stand - I have been over it on many occasions
ReplyDeletewhen visiting ex-Territorian mate from Finschaffen and Pindiu days. He had a passionfruit
farm, but really had no experience in that farming - nor did I, but I suppose fun was had
picking, cleaning and weighing the fruit and avoiding damn snakes of various types
who seemed to like lucking with "intent" in the vines!
Many were dispatched to the 'happy hunting" grounds of snake afterlife.
Peter and his wife also had horses which I had plenty of riding on. Reminded
me of my pony club days at Moree.
Neither Peter or Sue had ever ridden a horse before. Meeting the ground became the norm!
But one must admire their persistence.
I do not recommend the passionfruit production business - back-aching, and snake
avoiding!
Oh but they were eventful days and memories of yore.
Cheers
Colin
Very interesting and loved the photos as always. That last shot, such a stunning view!
ReplyDeleteI'm back for the third time trying to leave a comment. That bridge really captured my imagination, the engineers knew how to build for the future obviously. I also loved the photos in your previous post. What a lovely part of the state.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing your photographs, my favourite is your last one.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Beautiful photos, but what a terrible story of the poor worker's demise.
ReplyDeleteWe are back from a road trip to visit family and friends in two states, so nice to read that you and Bill have also been traveling. Diane, when you showed the first photos of the old bridge, I wasn't sure if it was still in use, but then read that you drove over it! Sad to read about the fate of that worker, if the story is true. The sunrise photo, even through the screen, was beautiful.
ReplyDelete