The old bridge remained until 1925. NSW constructed the new bridge to the southern bank of the River. Victoria built the section across the mudflats and lagoon.
The distinctive bend and dip of the Yarrawonga Mulwala bridge have made this grand old structure a cherished icon of our community, rich with 100 years of history.
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Each state was responsible for the construction up to their state border. NSW owns the Murray River up to the high edge of the southern bank.
In the early 1900s, majestic paddlesteamers plied the Murray River, carrying goods and passengers.
The bridge was strengthened in 2024, from carrying 38 to 64.5 tonnes today.
The 1891 bridge featured an ingenious lifting section to accommodate these vessels, though it meant brief pauses in bridge traffic.
The new bridge across the river had to be high enough to allow the steamers to travel up the river, without stopping the increasing flow of traffic, which by then included motor cars.
So why the dip?
The Victorian section crossed the lagoon and floodplain. It was to be partly supported by an earthen embankment north of the lagoon, but local residents disliked its appearance.
Then the Victorian Government replaced it with a reinforced concrete bridge, to commence at the northern point of Belmore Street.
The NSW bridge was near completion when Victoria began their section.
The bridge was to slope at a consistent degree from the south side of the NSW bridge to Belmore Street. However, when the earthen embankment was replaced, the concrete bridge across the lagoon was built a metre too high, in error.
The Victorian construction team soon realized that the descending approach from the north was now going to be too low.
So, a decision was made to slope the north part of the Victorian section to meet the descending section from the river bridge end. Hence the dip.
If the Victorian mudflat section and lagoon bridge had been constructed at the correct lower level, the dip would have been avoided.
The bridge would have gently sloped down at a consistent angle.
The Victorian section across the lagoon near Belmore Street was built at a higher level than the original plan, hence the dip required to link the two sections.
What about the bend then?
Bridges always cross a river at right angles, to ensure the shortest distance.
Originally the 1891 bridge was to go straight across the river and continue straight to Coghill or Lynch Street.
However, the Belmore Street traders objected bitterly, so the bridge was re-aligned to curve around into Belmore Street.
The 1924 bridge had to then follow the bend of the 1891 bridge to line up with Belmore St.
The future - A new traffic bridge?
The Yarrawonga Mulwala community, along with local federal and state parliament members and both bordering councils, have made exhaustive efforts for over two decades appealing to both state governments and the federal government to have a new brdige crossing.
There are many echoes of the past in the current campaign for a bridge replacement.
There have been considerable stalling tactics from both governments and state road authorities while both the Yarrawonga Mulwala communities signed petitions, and their respective councils conducted a plebiscite (Moira Shire Council) and a community survey (Federation Council) to determine a preferred route.
The green route (alongside the existing railway line) was eventually the preferred route chosen by both communities and, subsequently, the preferred route determined by both state governments in July 2022 after a further survey was conducted by Transport for NSW.
But, for almost a decade, the grey route (on the existing traffic bridge route) was the preferred route by both state government road authorities.
Transport for NSW continues to work closely with Victoria’s Department of Transport (DoT) on planning for a new Mulwala Bridge.
While planning continues, DoT is focused on building a new connection to relieve congestion and safety issues associated with heavy vehicles using Belmore St through the Yarrawonga CBD.
Major maintenance and repair work continues to be carried out on the existing bridge to ensure it can continue to operate safely and service the community until planning for a replacement bridge is complete and funding for the construction of a new structure has been secured.
Timeframes for the design and construction of a new bridge are yet to be determined and depend on future funding. This is expected to occur within the next five to 10 years, as per the Murray River Crossings Investment Prioritisation Assessment.
With the existing bridge centenary celebrations planned for this weekend, the community can only pray for an official plan forward for a new traffic bridge with further plans of keeping the existing bridge for passive recreation and tourism use.
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