Burdekin River Rail Bridge

The Burdekin River Rail Bridge is a railway crossing that spans the river in Queensland, connecting the towns of Ayr and Home Hill. The structure was built using concrete caissons as its foundation, a special engineering approach to handle the river's conditions and maintain stability.

Construction started in 1947 and took around a decade to finish, slowed by steel shortages following World War II and harsh working conditions. Once completed, it became a key link between the northern and southern parts of the state.

The bridge represents a turning point in how the region connected communities that were previously separated by the river, making travel and trade between them possible.

The bridge is visible from nearby areas on both sides of the river, offering good vantage points to view the structure from the banks. Plan to visit during dry weather to get the clearest views of the crossing and its surroundings.

The foundation rests on eleven large concrete columns sunk into the river bed instead of using traditional rock foundations. This method was an innovative solution for the specific challenges presented by this location at the time.