On the weekend I took a trip to Wagga Wagga for a birthday party. It was 430km there and the same back and it reminded me that I should get out of Sydney more often.
This is the Prince Alfred Bridge at Gundagai. It is 930m long and crosses the floodplain. When other bridges were built it fell into disrepair and was closed. Locals tried to get it heritage listed but were unsuccessful so even as I took the photos, it was partly demolished, with demolition set to be completed this month. It is very unfortunate that I have never heard of the bridge until the demolition order hit the news. Maybe if it had been better known it might have survived.
The view when I stopped for petrol.
I stopped just off the highway at "Barney's", Bookham for a coffee and bacon & egg roll. I loved the casual atmosphere and the access ramp with hand rails.
What a glorious old bridge! Thanks for the photos, they are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
It's gorgeous!
DeleteSo how will people cross the flood plain without the bridge? Or do they not need to? It's a wonderful old bridge, presumably wooden.
ReplyDeleteWood and wrought iron, Nick. I can't see any other way of crossing the floodplain so I guess they just wait for the water level to fall? So much water is diverted from our rivers, maybe it no longer floods
DeleteYour photos capture the freedom you felt at “getting out of Sydney”! Your petrol-shopping photo looks to me as if the nearest petrol station is 430 km away!
ReplyDeleteI always forget how much I love to get out there! The petrol station was on the edge of town
DeleteI saw a news grab on the demolition- ‘they’ say it’s unsafe and part needs to come down but you do wonder why it wasn’t heritage listed. Must be a mighty big flood plain!
ReplyDeleteLike that song said ‘you never know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone’
I wonder why Wagga got a new gun club and Gundagai can't keep their bridge....it's all about who is sleeping with who
DeleteAlan Marshall could have written a story about a guy like me:
ReplyDelete*The Man Who Nearly Saw Wagga Wagga*.
I was ready to go to Australia decades ago, fired by the stories of Marshall and James Aldridge among others, but took fright at the thought of the flight.
I would even have sat out in the sun to hear The Seekers, and I have never been to a pop concert in my life, and feel claustrophobic inside concert halls and theatres.
A great day out, Kylie.
You took me there, which is all a photo-blogger can hope to do.
The floodplain bridge at Gundagai was a masterpiece but developers are greedy.
The tree in the second photo could be the cover of Patrick White's The Tree of Man.
If I lived near Barney's I should be there every day for breakfast, and every afternoon for green tea and toast.
What a perfect haven in which to read, think, and dream.
Jack
P.S. When I was in London I found James Aldridge in the phone book.
He lived south of the Thames.
I intended to ask for an interview for The Scotsman, hesitated, and the moment passed.
They turned his novel *A Sporting Proposition* into a Disney movie.
What a shame you never got here, Jack. It is an awfully long flight though and I'm guessing planes are also clautrophobic?
DeleteIf it makes you feel better, I've never been to a pop concert either. I just don't care enough.
I'm so disappointed that historic bridge is coming down, it could have been a beautiful walking space for bird watching and river gazing.....
I am glad that you had an enjoyable trip. It has been a very long time since I went on a road trip out of Pune and one is overdue. It will be just over 100 kms up and another 100 down but a thoroughly enjoyable one.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy every minute!
DeleteShame about the bridge being demolished as it has a lot of character - perhaps they will use a boat to cross the flood plain in future?
ReplyDeleteGlad to see that you've had a trip out - I've been cooped up for far too long now, so it's good to see your pictures.
Sx
Yea, I'm not sure what they will do.
DeleteDo you have any plans for holidays or even day trips?
Lovely Kylie. What a beautiful old bridge. I hope they recycle the timber.
ReplyDeleteMy aunt lived in a house called Bridgewood, it was made from old bridge timbers. I think it would be wonderful if it was recycled into something
DeleteWagga Wagga is a great name. I looked it up and it means "the place of many crows" in the Wiradjuri Aboriginal language. I hope you enjoyed the birthday party Kylie.
ReplyDeleteNeil, many places in Australia are named to reflect the local indigenous name and I say reflect because I suspect the pronounciations are mangled at times.
DeleteI did enjoy the party :)
Sad that the Wagga Wagga bridge is being demolished! It looks a beautiful piece of the surrounding's landscape.
ReplyDeleteDUTA,
ReplyDeleteWelcome to eclectica! The bridge could have been a real asset to the town, part of a walk or cycle way.