Barwon River (Victoria)

Infobox River
river_name = Barwon River

---

caption = The Barwon River in 1907
mouth = coord|38.2821|S|144.4964|E|display=inline,title|region:AU-VIC_type:river
basin_countries = Victoria, Australia
length_km = 160
length = [ [http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/angling/33-Barwon/Basin%20TEMPLATE%20ED21Jan-worked.htm Department of Primary Industries: Barwon River Basin] ]
watershed_km2 = 8590
watershed = [Corangamite CatchmentManagement Authority: [http://www.ccma.vic.gov.au/GLOBAL/uploaded/2174_CMA_EwBro_FA.pdf What is an estuary?] ] The Barwon River rises in the Otway Ranges of Victoria, Australia, runs through Winchelsea and the city of Geelong, where it is joined by the Moorabool River, and enters the sea at Barwon Heads after passing through Lake Connewarre.

The river is crossed by a number of bridges in Geelong. Of particular note is the unusual one lane truss bridge in Newtown, Geelong. The 'Breakwater' in East Geelong was constructed by Foster Fyans to supply drinking water.

Water from the river feeds agriculture and industry. The river is a popular recreation spot for Geelong, with parklands such as Balyang Sanctuary along the banks, and sees use by water skiers and rowing regatti such as Head of the River.

Towns

Towns the river flows through include:
* Forrest
* Barwon Downs
* Birregurra
* Winchelsea
* Inverleigh
* Geelong
* Ocean Grove
* Barwon Heads

Tributaries

* Leigh River / Yarrowee River, at Inverleigh
* Moorabool River, at Fyansford

Dams and weirs

"Ordered upstream to downstream"

West Barwon Dam

The West Barwon Dam was constructed near Forrest in 1965 by what is now Barwon Water. [ [http://home.vicnet.net.au/~fobr/geelongwater.html General Overview of the Development of Geelong's Water Supply] ] The dam is now the major water supply for Geelong. [ [http://www.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/index.cfm?h2o=corporate.about_us Barwon Water - About Us] ]

Buckley's Falls

Buckley's Falls is located between Highton and Fyansford. A weir and water race was built above the falls in 1876 to provide power for the Fyansford Paper Mill. [ [http://www.geelongcity.vic.gov.au/Visiting_Geelong/Towns/Fyansford/ City of Greater Geelong: Fyansford] ] The falls were named by John Helder Wedge [ [http://www.visitgeelong.org/heritage/williambuckley.asp Geelong Heritage - William Buckley] ] after escaped convict William Buckley who lived in the area with Aborigines for 32 years from 1803. [ [http://www.visitgeelong.org/barwonriver.asp Geelong - Barwon River] ]

The 'Breakwater'

The 'Breakwater' is located in the current Geelong suburb of the same name. Originally built to prevent salt water moving upstream, it now keeps the river level though Geelong constant, and is an important crossing point.

Construction on the weir started in late 1838 under Captain Foster Fyans, and was completed by May 1840.David W. Tournier (1970), "History of the Barwon River in the Vicinity of Geelong"] Built by convicts, the weir failed in flood in 1844, not being fully rebuilt until 1849. Little changed to the breakwater until it was rebuilt by the Country Roads Board for modern traffic in the mid 1960s. ]

Barrage

A second weir was built over the Barwon River further downstream. Located near where the river enters Lake Connewarre, the barrage again keeps water levels constant upstream for waterskiiers, and prevents saltwater moving upstream.

Bridges

"Ordered upstream to downstream"

Geelong Ring Road

The Geelong Ring Road bridge carries four lanes of freeway over the river. It is made up of twin 110 metre long bridges, [cite web
url=http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/955cbeae7df9460dca256c8c00152d2b/714832ff19315bcbca257323007e9334!OpenDocument
title=GEELONG RING ROAD SET FOR STAGE 3
work=Media Release: MINISTER FOR ROADS AND PORTS
date=July 25, 2007
publisher=www.legislation.vic.gov.au
accessdate=2008-07-18] with construction commenced in 2007.

Queens Bridge

The one lane Queens Bridge carries Queens Park Road which links Highton and Newtown.

The bridge was first the site of a punt, with a wooden cattle crossing not being built until 1861, with those crossing a bridge being charged a toll. The bridge collapsed in the 1870 flood, with a new wooden bridge opened in 1872. The toll ended 1877. The bridge remained until wrecked by the 1909 flood, but was rebuilt.John, McNeil (1990) "A Journey to Destiny 1890-1990 100 Years of Cement Manufacturing at Fyansford by Australian Cement Limited"]

The current one lane steel bridge was built in 1930, a water main and footpath being added to the side in 1963, and the height and deck modified in later years.Jack Loney (1988) "The Historic Barwon"] The bridge is still in use today.

Princes Bridge

The two lane Princes Bridge carries Shannon Avenue between Belmont and Newtown. It is the third bridge on the site, the previous ones being named after Prince Albert.

A bridge was first proposed for the site in the 1850s as a second Barwon crossing in Geelong. At the time many wanted the bridge to be located at end of Pakington Street instead, but they were defeated.

The wooden 'Prince Albert Bridge' was constructed by the City of Newtown in 1861, it was named after Queen Victoria's consort who died the year before. The bridge was originally not tolled, and provided competition for the Barwon Bridge on Moorabool Street, that was tolled by the South Barwon Shire. As a result, the shire erected a fence across new bridge to prevent people from using it,with the fence being removed several times by an unknown party until a guard was placed.cite book
last = Begg
first = Peter
title = Geelong - The First 150 Years
publisher = Globe Press
date = 1990
isbn = 0-9592863-5-7 ] At the same time, the Newtown and Chilwell Council decided to erect their own toll gate at the new bridge, with the South Barwon council retaliating by erecting their own 'check toll' gate on its side of the river. Soon afterwards Newtown and Chilwell councillors refused to pay the toll, the toll remaining for another year.

The bridge became dilapidated, with a tender accepted in June 1888 for the construction of a replacement. Provided with separated lanes, the new wooden bridge was opened on May 31 1889. This bridge remained until 1959, when extensive repairs were carried out to handle much heavier traffic from the expansion of Highton.

The current steel girder bridge was opened in June 1965 upstream of older bridges. The new bridge was connected to Shannon Avenue by a high level embankment to avoid flooding, which skirted what became Balyang Sanctuary.

McIntyre Bridge

The 192 metre long [ [http://www.savcorart.com.au/PDF/mcintyre_bridge.pdf Savcor: McIntyre Bridge] ] McIntyre Bridge is located to the east of the James Harrison Bridge, and has a concrete walkway and pipe supported with steel cable stays. Constructed in 1967 to carry sewage from Geelong to the ocean outfall at Black Rock, the bridge provided relief for the 1916 sewer aqueduct further downstream. The bridge designed by J.L. van der Molen, and was one of the first in Australia to use computer engineering in the design process. [City of Greater Geelong: [http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/library/pdf/5276/11.pdf Belmont Heritage Areas Report Volume 1, August 2007 (page 47)] ]

James Harrison Bridge

The four lane James Harrison Bridge carries the Princes Highway though Geelong and is the most recent crossing. Construction started in 1988 and was completed in 1990, removing heavy through traffic from the main Belmont shopping centre. [ [http://mrv.ozroads.net.au/southwest/M1princes/M1princeswest.htm Main Roads Victoria - M1 - Princes Freeway / Highway West] ] Consisting of twin parallel two lane bridges, The main river span is of concrete cantilever design, with a number of smaller concrete box girder spans completing the viaduct to the south. The bridge was named after Geelong engineer and refrigeration pioneer James Harrison.

Barwon Bridge

The four lane Barwon Bridge carries Moorabool Street over the river, and is located on the site of the first Barwon crossing.

The first wooden bridge opened early in 1848. Tolled by the South Barwon council, 4 years later it was swept away in a massive flood on May 23 1852. From December that year a government punt operated at the site. By late 1853 two government punts were used to form a pontoon bridge. It was not until 1859 that a proper iron bridge was opened as a replacement. The bridge was narrow, and was only two lanes wide. The old iron bridge was too narrow to permit the extension of trams into Belmont, so was dismantled 1924.

The new bridge was opened on August 18, 1926 by Governor of Victoria Lord Sommers. Of concrete and steel girder construction, it was built by Armstrong Whitworth Pty Ltd, it cost 73900 pounds ($147800) to build. The 1926 bridge was widened to four lanes in 1966 with the addition to each side of the deck.

Breakwater Bridge

The original Breakwater Bridge was a ford running on top of the breakwater.

A timber trestle railway bridge was built over the top in 1876 when the Geelong railway line was extended to Winchelsea. [ [http://railgeelong.com/lineguide.php?line=geelong Rail Geelong: Geelong lines] ] This bridge was replaced by a concrete and steel girder bridge in the 1960s, but the remains of the wooden supports are still visible today. [ [http://railgeelong.com/gallery/geelong-line/south-geelong--marshall/D185_8587.jpg.html Rail Geelong: Old Barwon River bridge] ] [ [http://railgeelong.com/gallery/geelong-line/south-geelong--marshall/D196_9649.jpg.html Rail Geelong: Old Barwon River bridge] ]

The current road bridge was built by the Country Roads Board in the mid 1960s. ] This bridge has a low clearance underneath the railway viaduct and is close to the water, resulting in a number of stuck trucks and frequent closure due to river flooding. VicRoads have a current proposal to replace the existing road crossing with a new high level bridge further upstream to eliminate these issues. [ [http://www.geelongcity.vic.gov.au/Media_Releases/July_2007/Realignment_of_Breakwater_Road/ City of Greater Geelong: Realignment of Breakwater Road] ]

ewer Aqueduct

A sewage aqueduct was constructed between 1913 and 1916 to carry sewage from Geelong to an ocean outfall at Black Rock. Of reinforced concrete construction, is a structure of extraordinary design and on the Victorian National Estate Register. It has 14 cantilever spans covering more than 760 metres. [ [http://www.geelongcity.vic.gov.au/Visiting_Geelong/Towns/Breakwater/ City of Greater Geelong: Breakwater] ] The viaduct was decommissioned in 1993, with the land and river underneath fenced off from public access due to falling debris, the deterioration due to the loss of calcium from its concrete. [ [http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiry/heritage/subs/sub029.pdf PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION INQUIRY into the conservation of Australia's historic built heritage places (2005)] ] The replacement for the sewer was a pump-boosted gravity system. [ [http://www.ittflygt.ca/Site/Fr/Parlonspompes/Etudesdecas/AboostforGeelong.asp TT Flygt Canada - A boost for Geelong] ]

Barwon Heads Bridge

The present twin lane wooden bridge between Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove was built in 1927. [Judy Laging (1974) "Shire of South Barwon - A Brief History"] Before this time a ferry ran by Tom Abernathy operated across the mount of the Barwon. [ [http://www.intown.com.au/locals/barwon-heads/default.htm Intown Geelong: Barwon Heads] ] The bridge was used in filming the ABC television series SeaChange.

In July 2006, the Government of Victoria shelved plans to replace the heritage-listed [ [http://www.heritage.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahpi/record.pl?RNE102760 Australian Heritage Places Inventory: Barwon Heads Road bridge] ] bridge with a new one, [cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/items/200607/1699171.htm?victoria| title='Sea Change' bridge wins reprieve| date=28 July 2006| | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation| accessdate=2006-08-01] with plans put forward for an upgraded to be carried out instead. [ [http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/Media_Releases/March_2007/Councillors_welcome_Barwon_Heads_bridge_announcement/ City of Greater Geelong: Councillors welcome Barwon Heads bridge announcement] ]

References