Maribyrnong River Viaduct

The Maribyrnong River Viaduct is a railway structure in western Melbourne that rises high above the river valley to carry trains across the landscape. It is built from concrete pillars and steel beams arranged in a series, forming a strong bridge that demonstrates early industrial construction methods.

The viaduct was built between 1927 and 1929 as part of Victorian Railways expansion into the western areas of Melbourne. Its completion established a major rail connection that supported the development and settlement of the surrounding region.

The structure marks an important shift in how Melbourne's western areas developed, as railway connections opened these distant suburbs to the city. Visitors can still observe how such engineering works shaped the region's settlement patterns and daily transport needs.

The best views of the structure come from nearby roads and public areas that run below or beside it. Access to the railway line itself is restricted, but you can walk around the base and approach it from several nearby streets.

This structure was among the first large projects to use reinforced concrete construction at such a scale in Australia, earning recognition as an engineering achievement of its time. Its design innovations later influenced how other railway bridges were built across the country.