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1864-65 Sandstone and brick drainage culvert

1865 Southern & Western Railway (built in 1864-65)

Under Threat From Future Development :
A series of drainage culverts that have survived the ravages of time since this original 1865 section of railway was made redundant in 1873.

These priceless examples of mid 19th century Southern and Western Railway engineering are also only protected by the same Ipswich City Council Heritage List that the nearby Heiner Road Precinct was supposedly protected by.

Queensland's first section of railway, the sandstone abutments of the first overbridge and the first road built by a government enterprise railway in the world will soon be destroyed by a development that has been approved by both the Ipswich City Council and the State Government of Queensland without due regard to their priceless heritage value to the community for local or international tourism.

History:
This is the original route of the railway to Granchester (Bigge's Camp) opened in 1865 over the Mi-Hi to Wulkuraka through Brassall which has been redundant since 1873. Hidden treasures such as these drainage culverts are spaced along the former railway, along with the nearby Historic Heiner Road Precinct and Rail Museum they could form an exciting Heritage Trail to attract tourists from all over the world. It is more than likely that they would have been constructed as part of James Gilliver's earthworks subcontract under Peto, Brassey and Betts who were the main contractors. The stone masons who constructed the Heiner Road Overbridge and Bremer River Bridge sandstone abutments nearby would most likely have worked on these culverts.

1864-65 Sandstone and brick drainage culvert