Melton Viaduct

Melton Viaduct is an iron railway bridge completed in 1886 that spans across the Werribee River valley, now part of the Melton Reservoir area in southwestern Victoria. The structure rises roughly 40 meters above water level and consists of 29 metal trestles supported by bluestone foundations with concrete fill.

Victorian Railways constructed this viaduct in 1886 to establish direct railway service between Melbourne and the expanding city of Ballarat. The design with metal trestles and bluestone supports reflected the engineering advances of that era and became essential infrastructure for regional growth.

The viaduct stands as a marker of how railway expansion shaped regional identity and settlement patterns across Victoria during the late 1800s. Walking near it or crossing it by train offers a sense of the confidence that locals had in industrial progress and connection to distant cities.

The viaduct remains in active use with regular trains passing through, so access to walk on it is not possible. Best views come from the shores of Melton Reservoir or from train windows if you travel on services using this route.

The structure was originally designed using bluestone foundations sourced from nearby quarries, combining local materials with the latest iron-working techniques of the 1880s. This blend of local resources and industrial innovation made it a distinctive engineering achievement for its time.

Location: City of Melton

Location: Victoria

Inception: 1886

GPS coordinates: -37.71658,144.54167

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:45