Malmsbury Viaduct

Containing nearly 4,000 cubic metres of bluestone from a nearby quarry, the viaduct has five spans of 18.3 metres and a maximum height of 25 metres.

The bluestone piers were constructed using extensive scaffolding.

Malmsbury Viaduct can be accessed by car from Ellesmere Place, or by foot from the beautiful Malmsbury Botanic Gardens. An information sign about the viaduct and Victorian Railways is set within the Botanic Gardens.

This is an easy and interesting place to stop by for a look while exploring Malmsbury.

Botanic Gardens, Malmsbury VIC

Featuring a beautiful lake, walking tracks, informative signs, a fenced playground, and excellent picnic facilities, the Malmsbury Botanic Gardens is an outstanding attraction of the historical township. 

An information sign in the Malmsbury Botanic Gardens displays the following text:

In March 1855, it became clear that private companies were struggling to finance and build railways in Victoria. Governor Sir Charles Hotham suggested that the colony could build railways itself, using capital borrowed from London Markets.

A legislative Council Committee was quickly set up and it recommended that the government should build railways from Melbourne to Bendigo (then called Sandhurst) and from Geelong to Ballarat as a first step. These two lines were known as the Goldfields Railways.

The Government was fortunate to have Andrew Clarke, Royal Engineer, as Surveyor-General. In May 1856 Clarke negotiated with the Melbourne, Mount Alexander, and Murray River Railway Company to sell the line they had started to build to Bendigo to the government. The Victorian Railways Department was then created.

Clarke, who was a tactful and vigorous administrator, assembled a team of railway engineers to carry out the work. George Darbyshire, the first Engineer-in-Chief, was an accomplished surveyor and administrator. The finely-graded sweeping curves he designed enabled the railway to take the Great Dividing Range in its stride.

Darbyshire was replaced by Thomas Higinbotham who had extensive railway experience and went on to build many more railways in Victoria. These men in turn appointed engineers and draftsmen with appropriate experience. Most of them had worked in the United Kingdom during the Golden Age of railway building in the 1820s.

Joseph Brady was the supervising engineer for the Melbourne to Bendigo Railway. He took charge of the line between Woodend and Castlemaine which had the heaviest works on the line. This included the great viaducts at Malmsbury and Taradale and the tunnels at Elphinstone and Big Hill. Brady carried out much other important work in Victoria and elsewhere.

A contract was let to Cornish & Bryce for £3,356,937. They had to start work on 1 June 1858 and finish by 31 July 1861. They made quick early progress - the Melbourne to Sunbury section was opened on 13 January 1859.

The line to Bendigo was officially opened on 20 October 1862 by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Barkly. A great banquet was held for 800 guests and this was followed by a grand ball.

Extending the Goldfields Railway to Echuca was relatively simple - that route was across flat plains needing no viaducts or tunnels. The work was completed in 1864 by contractors Collier & Barry.

The opening of the railway revolutionised transport services for the communities along the line. The railways not only carried freight and passengers but also delivered daily needs such as mail, bread, milk and newspapers.

When the railway reached Echuca, it was the first rail connection from the Murray to a major seaport, opening up the river paddle steamer trade to the Port of Melbourne.