Carlo and the Fisken Street Bridge at Bacchus Marsh

This is the story of the bridge over the Werribee River at Fisken Street, Bacchus Marsh.

At a Bacchus Marsh Shire meeting held in June 1907, the Shire Engineer reported that  - On 25th May, Mr. Catani, an engineer from Public Works Department, inspected the river Werribee from Fisken to Grant street in connection with the erection of a bridge. His report is not yet to hand. (1)

Carlo's report was presented to the Council on July 8, 1907 - 

Report respecting proposed bridge at Fisken street:--I visited Bacchus Marsh on Saturday, 25th May, and there met the President and the Engineer of the Shire, who drove me to the site of proposed bridge. At this place the river used to be only about 60ft. wide, and was spanned by a footbridge. It is now double the original width, and the depth has also considerably increased; and the footbridge has disappeared. Owing to the existence of a clay bank, and the existence of some trees on the south bank, the current has been diverted, and now infringes on the north bank, doing great damage to Mr.
M'Grath's property, where a vertical face of about 18ft. deep of rich but loose alluvial soil for the eight chains north of the site of the proposed bridge now exists. This vertical face, unless some effective protection is devised, at once, is certain to suffer more damage with the next flood. In the event of the Council deciding to erect a bridge in this locality there would be no advantage, in my opinion, of departing from the line of the road. A suitable bridge, in timber, meeting all requirements, could be built for £800. It would be wise, before the Shire undertook this work to obtain a complete indemnity from
Mr. M'Grath, and an undertaking that he would protect his frontage with timber and plantations to the satisfaction of the Council. Unless this is done, in a large flood the river might scour a new channel behind the north abutment of the proposed bridge; as it may be open to Mr. M'Grath to plead that the obstruction created by the bridge is the cause of the damage that his land is certain to suffer in the event of a heavy flood taking place. Signed, C. CATANI. (2)

Fisken Street footbridge, Werribee River, Bacchus Marsh, c. 1890-1905.

State Library of Victoria image H92.320/252

Action on Carlo's report was postponed to another time as no local ward councillors were present; and in fact there was no action at all for years. In January 1909, the Bacchus Marsh Express reported that -
In July, 1907, the Bacchus Marsh Shire Council received a report from Mr. C. Catani, Government Engineer, respecting the Fisken street bridge, and its consideration was postponed. It has never been touched since. Now that the east end of the town is reviving, and irrigation water may get there next year, the Shire Council should have Mr. Catani's report brought on gain. He advised that "a suitable bridge, in timber, meeting all requirements, could be built, on the site of the present road, for £800, and there would be no advantage in departing from that site, but as Mr. M'Grath's vertical bank, 18ft. deep, immediately above the bridge site, on its northern side, is certain to suffer unless some effective protection is devised, at once, he should carry out that work with timber and plantations, and indemnify the Council from any claim for damages." Both the bridge and the bank protection have been too long delayed. Now is the time to consider both. (3)

There was still no action and in November 1909 the Bacchus Marsh Express again reported on the issue - The ratepayers at the east end of Bacchus Marsh have only themselves to blame for the contemptuous rejection of all requests to have a bridge built at Fisken street. "They don't want it," they are told; and certainly they don't ask for it as they should do, with a cheque in one hand and a petition in the other. There is no need to go to the Public Works Department about a bridge in line of Fisken street. A Government engineer (Mr. Catani) reported on 25th May, 1907, and said a bridge could be built for £800. He said nothing about sheet piling, but said that Mr. M'Grath would have to hold the Council blameless for any falling in of his sheer down bank, which he should protect with timber and plantation to the satisfaction of the Council. (4)

Fisken Street footbridge over the Werribee River, c. 1890-1905. (5)  Photographer: N.J. Caire.

State Library of Victoria image H2014.184/177. This image has been cropped, see original here http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/288377

The need for a bridge over the river at Fisken Street was an on-going issue for the people of Bacchus Marsh. There had been a footbridge there since at least 1870 (6); in 1896 the Shire Engineer, Mr D. A. Little (7) noted that a bridge suitable for all traffic could be erected; he is reported as saying-  

I think the bridge itself, sufficiently strong for all traffic, could be built for £700; but the cost of protecting the banks must be added to my former estimate. The estimate in all would then be-Bridge, £700; sheeting, £150; metalling Fisken street, Bacchus Marsh side, £190; metalling road on Parwan side, from bridge to station, £385; total, £1,425. (8)

A vocal supporter of the bridge at this time was Mr Patrick McGrath, as reported in the Bacchus Marsh Express in December 1896 - 

Mr. P. M'Grath said he had uphill work with Fisken street bridge. They were told by a man who wrote to the Express that the bridge was not wanted. He could tell the east side of Parwan, and all the township people, that if they do not get the bridge they will lose their properties. There used to be a school and a church in that street, and there was a foot bridge there for 40 years. There must be some mystery in not having a proper traffic bridge there. That street had been neglected. There was no footpath, no trees, and everything was taken to the other parts of the Shire. That street was used by 200 children. Let them look at Mr. Wood's wine and spirit store closed up with grass growing at the door; in the centre of the township. The old post-office store closed, and what was the cause? The people had been hunted up Stamford hill, and the old township would have to follow them. The township had public buildings in the Shire hall and the Mechanics' Institute and Manning's hotel, a credit to any town in the colony, and

were they going to lose them all for the want of a bridge in Fisken street? If the Council would only put on the minutes what money it wanted as a contribution to the bridge he would guarantee to collect it, or do his best at any rate. He could get all the money wanted to put up the bridge on loan. He proposed to collect £150 at once. (9)

Ten years later, nothing had been done and Mr McGrath wrote the following letter to the Bacchus Marsh Express in March 1906  

I have seen paragraphs in the Express about a traffic bridge in Fisken street, and as I am mentioned as one of the promoters of it I think it is only fair that I should explain some of the reasons why the bridge should be there. When the Corporation yards were started it was understood that there would be a traffic bridge in Fisken street to take the traffic of cattle, sheep, and horses, from the main street to the Corporation yards. Anyone walking in Grant street at 9 o'clock, and seeing the traffic of milk carts going to the two factories, and buggies end cabs, and the footpath lined with people going to the station, also children going to school, will see that the Shire Council, or even the Police, should not allow a mob of bullocks or flocks of sheep to be driven among that traffic. The remedy is to take those cattle and sheep across a bridge at Fisken street, either to the saleyards or to the railway station, or the roads on the south of the Werribee. The residents at the eastern end of the Shire, on both sides of the river, have refrained too long from pressing their claim to a traffic bridge in so central a position as Fisken street. There is traffic enough for two bridges, and it is not safe to be depending upon only one road across the river to the railway station. (10)

Patrick McGrath was a farmer at Parwan, who was born in Limerick, Ireland and arrived in Melbourne in 1854. When he died in 1913, at the age of 87 his obituary noted that  Mr. M'Grath was a member of the old Water Trust, and a great advocate of Fisken street traffic bridge. He also took a prominent part in St. Patrick's Society. He helped the Farmers' Society wonderfully in its early years in its present yards, when every supporter was most valuable...A very worthy colonist, who did his share to help all local institutions. (11)

Women walking on rope suspension bridge, probably the Fisken Street Bridge over the Werribee River at Bacchus Marsh. 

This may be 1906 as in September 1906 it was reported that - In the Werribee and Lerderderg rivers there was yesterday a higher flood than that of last week. The bank on the north side of the river at Fisken street fell in, and the suspension bridge collapsed. (12) 

State Library of Victoria image H92.320/177

It was a year after Mr McGrath's March 1906 letter that Carlo inspected the site, and wrote his report,  as you read above. But even Carlo could not get the Bacchus Marsh Shire to budge on this issue, even though it came before Council on a number of occasions. (13)  

There was a footbridge there, as we noted before, from around 1870, which collapsed in 1906 (14), but was obviously replaced as in September 1916, the Melton Express reported that the residents had again lost their pedestrian bridge at Fisken Street -

The swing bridge over the Werribee river at Fisken street was wrecked by the flood last September, and no attempt has been made to provide a crossing of any kind for the number of people who used the bridge as a means of communication with the town. The sole reason why nothing has been done is that the Shire is as low down in funds as the bed of the river; but it could, at least trim the banks, and provide two or three planks, with a handrail, with the necessary notice that persons cross at their own risk. It would serve the purpose until funds are available to erect a permanent structure, either for foot traffic or vehicular traffic-the latter preferred. (15)

The destruction of the suspension bridge proved to be a blessing in disguise for the Bacchus Marsh community as Council finally had their engineer, Mr S. Le Cocq (16), draw up plans for a new bridge - and in December 1917, ten years after Carlo presented his report on the matter, the Melton Express could finally report some good news - 

The long-agitated for Fisken street bridge is now open for traffic. For a number of years a suspension bridge for foot passengers only, has served the purpose here; and a number of times has it fallen a victim to floods, the final being in Sept. of last year. The Bacchus Marsh Shire Council had the alternative of re-erecting this suspension bridge, or launching out on a traffic bridge; the latter was decided on, and the present structure the result. The work has been well carried out by Contractor Jenkin, who also erected the concrete bridge on the main road. The Fisken street bridge is 206 feet long (an extension of 44 feet on the original contract), and 12 feet wide. Cost, about £600. The gravel beams have yet to be tarred, and the hand-rails painted; after which it will have a more finished appearance. If floods will only keep in the background, the structure should stand for years. The bridge will prove a great convenience, especially in diverting the cattle traffic from the main streets, when travelling to and from the railway station and market yards. (17)

Sadly, Patrick McGrath never got to see the Fisken Street bridge, and Carlo had by then retired from the Public Works Department (18). Also, sadly, I cannot find any photographs of the bridge.

In 1934, the bridge was condemned and closed to traffic for a number of months for repairs (19). Then, eighteen years later at about midnight on Monday, June 16, 1952 (20) the Fisken Street bridge was wrecked by a flooded Werribee River, along with the Parwan Creek bridge on the Woolpack Road.  This meant that the only remaining bridge for north-south traffic over the Werribee River is the Grant Street (Geelong Road) bridge the south abutment of which was seriously undermined by the flood. (21)

In October 1952, the Country Roads Board gave the Bacchus Marsh Shire a grant for bridge and road repairs but as Mr Bond, the Shire Secretary noted - 

The problem in connection with the Fisken Street and Parwan Creek bridges would be to get them built. There was a dearth of bridge contractors and skilled laborers, as so many bridges had been damaged throughout the State. This problem would not have to be faced for some six or eight months, until elaborate plans had been drawn. The new Fisken Street bridge would be of steel and concrete, 12 feet wide, with wooden decking. (22)

By November 1954 it was reported that slow but steady progress was being made on the new bridge; I don't have an opening date, but I presume it was in 1955 (23). It seems to have been replaced in 1979 by the existing bridge. (24)

The Fisken Street bridge under construction in July 1954. 

The date of the destruction of the old bridge is incorrectly listed as February 1951; it was actually June 1952.

Bacchus Marsh Express July 17, 1954 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/262633348

Trove list - I have created a list of articles on the Fisken Street bridge, access it here.

Footnotes

(1) Bacchus Marsh Express, June 15, 1907, see here.

(2) Bacchus Marsh Express, July 13, 1907, see here.

(3) Bacchus Marsh Express, January 9, 1909, see here.

(4) Bacchus Marsh Express, November 13, 1909, see here.

(5) Identified as the Fisken Street Bridge by the Bacchus Marsh Historical Society - they have the photo on their Facebook page. The State Library of Victoria has it labelled as Views Around Bacchus Marsh.

(6) West Bourke & South Grant Guardian, January 8, 1870, see here. The Bacchus Marsh and  Maddingley Road District was asking for tenders to repair and strengthen the Werribee footbridge at Fisken Street. 

(7) David Armstrong Little was appointed the Bacchus Marsh Shire Secretary and Engineer in 1886; in 1909 he was appointed to the same position to the Shire of Melton. This was an acting role due to the death of the previous incumbent,  Mr James Dickinson. Mr Little resigned from both roles in 1914. when he was appointed to the same role at the Shire of Werribee. He died in 1926, aged 62. See various articles in my Trove list, here, and his obituary in the Werribee Shire Banner, April 8, 1926,  here.

(8) Bacchus Marsh Express, November 14, 1896, see here.

(9) Bacchus Marsh Express, December 19, 1896, see here.

(10) Bacchus Marsh Express, March 17, 1906, see here. 

(11) Bacchus Marsh Express, July 5, 1913, see here.

(12) Bacchus Marsh Express, September 15, 1906,  see here.

(13) See articles in my Trove list, here. 

(14) Bacchus Marsh Express, September 15, 1906,  see here.

(15) Melton Express, February 10, 1917, see here.

(16) Samuel Le Cocq - appointed in 1916 as the Bacchus Marsh Shire Engineer; he had previously been the Town Clerk for the Borough of Portland and before that worked at the Bellarine Shire, the Lexton Shire and the Charlton Shire. He left Bacchus Marsh in April 1919. He left Australia in 1926 to return to the Channel Islands, where he was born. Source: see articles in my Trove list, here. 

(17) Melton Express, December 1, 1917, see here.

(18) https://carlocatani.blogspot.com/2022/11/richard-fiddes-brown-1876-1936.html

(19) See articles in my Trove list, here. 

(20) Bacchus Marsh Express, June 21, 1952, see here.

(21) Bacchus Marsh Express, July 19, 1952, see here.

(22) Bacchus Marsh Express, October 18, 1952, see here.

(23) Bacchus Marsh Express, November 13, 1954, see here.

(24) This is a screen shot from a You Tube video - Fisken Street bridge pipeline replacement by Southern Rural Water - 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nR8nJff-OA