Redesdale Bridge
Opened in 1868, the bridge is one of the oldest iron-lattice truss bridges in the state. The single span wrought iron and timber structure with bluestone abutments is located over the Campaspe River, just downstream from the 1836 Major Mitchell crossing.
The bridge has a very interesting history and was salvaged from the shipwreck of the 'Herald of the Morning' and was originally intended for the Yarra River at Hawthorn.
In 1859 a cargo ship, the 'Herald of the Morning' was docked in Hobsons Bay, carrying 350 tons of ironwork from England which was intended for the Hawthorn Bridge. It caught fire and was manoeuvred away to save the dock, then scuttled in the bay. The ironwork was raised from the bottom of the bay by a Melbourne salvaging firm. After a scandal in Parliament regarding an arranged sale to the government, the ironwork was privately sold to Langlands & Co, a Melbourne foundry. Two hundred tons of the ironwork was sold to the McIvor and Metcalfe shires for 1,000 pounds and the Redesdale Bridge was designed and constructed from it.
The bridge is located east of the town.
Redesdale History
Midway between Heathcote and Kyneton is the small community of Redesdale. It's said that Major Thomas Livingstone Mitchell passed through the region in 1836 on his journey through Australia Felix. His travel party crossed the river he'd earlier named 'Campaspe' near the present location of Redesdale. Then, in 1860, the Burke and Wills expedition passed through Mia Mia on their journey across Australia.
Squatters and settlers started moving to the area in the late 1830s and before the Mclvor goldrush had even begun in the early 1850s, squatters under license had taken up the entire district.
Location
Heathcote-Redesdale Road, Redesdale 3444 Map
