Hepburn Council has taken the necessary step to immediately close Wheelers Bridge on the Creswick–Lawrence Road after receiving advice that continued use now poses an unacceptable risk to motorists and pedestrians.  Bruce Lucas, Council’s Director of Infrastructure and Delivery, said the decision was regrettable and had been reached only after careful consideration of expert assessments.

Located in Lawrence, Victoria, Wheelers Bridge (completed in 1900) is one of Australia’s most significant early examples of reinforced concrete engineering.  It crosses Birch Creek on the Creswick-Lawrence Road and is the oldest Monier arch bridge in Victoria still carrying traffic.

The first bridge at this site was a timber structure built in 1864.  By the late 1890s, it had become dangerously dilapidated and rotting.

For the replacement, local authorities chose the innovative “Monier” system of reinforced concrete, originally patented by French horticulturalist Joseph Monier.

The new bridge was designed and partially built by the Melbourne engineering firm Monash & Anderson, led by Joshua Anderson and future military general Sir John Monash.  The bridge was formally opened by the then Victorian Premier Sir Alexander Peacock on March 30, 1900.  To prove its strength, it was load-tested with two large traction engines.

The bridge features a two-span arch design with each span measuring 22.9 meters.  While the arches use reinforced concrete, the piers are constructed from bluestone.  The bridge is named after James Henry Wheeler, a local member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly who served the district for over 20 years.  It marked a milestone in early reinforced concrete engineering in Victoria

Wheelers Bridge was only the third bridge in Victoria built using the Monier system, following the Morell Bridge in Melbourne and the Fyansford Bridge near Geelong.  The bridgeis recognised by Engineers Australia with an Engineering Heritage Marker (awarded in 2013) and has a regional heritage listing from the National Trust.

In 2019 a series of mitigation measures were introduced, including lower speed and load limits and restricting the bridge to a single lane of traffic.  Council has also previously investigated options to renew or duplicate the structure, allocating funding toward a renewal project supported by grant funding.  However, an Expression of Interest process earlier this year revealed that the cost of renewal works in today’s construction market would be far higher than originally budgeted.

An independent bridge expert was engaged to review the scope and cost estimates for renewal, and an updated condition audit found that deterioration has progressed more rapidly than anticipated.  The expert assessment identified risks that now exceed acceptable levels for continued use.

Mr Lucas said it was on the basis of this expert advice that Council resolved to implement an interim closure to ensure the safety of the community.  He acknowledged that the closure would be inconvenient for local residents and thanked the community for its understanding.  A detour route will be in place to provide an alternative for road users.

Council will continue the peer review process and prepare a further report on the long-term future of Wheelers Bridge, considering factors such as safety, risk, cost, level of use and heritage value.  That report is expected to be presented to Council at its February 2026 meeting.

Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

This article is based on a media release from Hepburn Shire Council and information from Engineers Australia, Engineering Heritage Victoria and the Goldfields Guide https://www.goldfieldsguide.com.au/