Dr Jeff Brownrigg cutting the ribbon to open the Bridge Centenary Exhibition.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Yarrawonga Mulwala Historical Society officially launched its Bridge Centenary Exhibition at the Pioneer Museum on Saturday evening.
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The society has developed a year-long exhibit which also encompasses 145 years of battling for bridges along with the very historic customs house located on the southern end of the bridge.
This special display was opened by guest speaker Dr Jeff Brownrigg, followed by current community input from Green Route and centenary celebrations working group committee member John Lawless.
There is a rich history of bridges and crossings in Yarrawonga Mulwala, from the early punts, then the first bridge in 1891 and the current bridge built in 1924.
Jeff’s talk ‘Bridges to Federation’ gave an insight into life along the Murray River during colonial years from the 1850s. After community lobbying and a petition in 1879, the first bridge was built in 1891.
The Yarrawonga Mulwala Bridge will turn 100 years old this year. The official opening of the present bridge was on December 13, 1924.
Each colony erected customs houses, demanding taxes on goods that crossed the border. The residents could not tolerate these financial demands. Before long, a groundswell of discontent arose in Berrigan, then spread along the Murray, galvanizing farms, and townspeople alike. The resulting 1893 Corowa Conference ultimately led to Federation in 1901.
Mr Lawless spoke about unforgivable delays in the construction of a new bridge along the proposed green route, as well as the recent revelation of suppressed reports, which are crucial to progress and historical recognition.
Various members of the community gathered at the Pioneer Museum to listen to Dr Jeff Brownrigg’s talk, ‘Bridges to Federation’.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Mr Lawless highlighted the expansion of the munitions factory by the Federal government and emphasised a new bridge west of the current bridge alongside the existing railway line must efficiently remove all heavy vehicles and dangerous loads from Belmore Street and added that the heritage of the current bridge must be protected.
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