What Happened to Bridgewater?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- As the new Bridgewater Bridge is being built the Dog and I explore the history and mysterious development of Bridgewater in Hobart, Tasmania.
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Making history live...and, through documents like this, watching history being 'made', like you put it Angus 'the buildings themselves..., are perhaps, future ruins'. Great stuff.
And awesome origin context of Ali Baba tales for Jordan, Bagdad et al..! Thanks again. So good.
Great video. It makes me mad the government won't invest in a functioning passenger train running from the south to the north of the state. What an asset that would be... now I guess we won't ever get it.
As much as I love the current Bridgewater Bridge because it is a huge part of my childhood, I was looking forward to the new one. It's really concerning that it will not allow any yachts up the river, as the old one could with it's capacity to raise the road. Even more concerning is that there is no train track. Trains make a lot of sense for moving a lot of people quickly and economically. The tracks are still there in most places. The only reason our government has ever given for not including one over the new bridge is that to repair the tracks would be too expensive. Interesting given it's commitment to that stadium.
You always leave us with plenty to think about. Thanks Angus!
I always wondered why there were middle eastern names around there. Fascinating.
Well, Christian and hence biblical influences played a part as well. We still have people of European heritage with Jewish first names due to the influence of that middle eastern religion.
Thank you for including the drawing of the pioneer people's meagre "humpy". Very little is mentioned these days about the early settlers lives and how hard they worked to build a life for their families and helped to bring property to Tasmania.
You can always count on Dog and Angus to educate us. I always assumed names like Jordan, Jericho, Walls of Jerusalem etc were lifted from the bible. Great insight as always!
Love your work, Angus. Looking forward to someone commissioning a TV series. Might I suggest "The Dog & I" for a title?
I remember travelling on the steam train as a child in the 1990's from Hobart to National Park. I remember looking out the window as the train travelled over the Bridgewater bridge. It gave me the impression of the train floating across the water. I was also fascinated by the toilets as you could look down the toilet and see the railway sleepers going past. I remember we were asked not to use the toilet while the train was stopped.
Another very enjoyable production, Mr Angus and Dog.
Thank you.
I actually have old video footage that my late grandfather took that day the steam train went to Mt Field, he loved his video cameras. We were all camping at Mt Field that weekend. I’m in the process of converting the old video 8 to a digital format.
What a wonderful resource to have inherited. Good on you for preserving it!
@ I wasn’t that old back then, but I can remember it like it was yesterday. He filmed it from the Mt Field side of the river, so the train footage isn’t great, but it’s the sound of the steam train and the haunting sound of its whistle blowing that I remember most.
@ There are plenty of train enthusiasts who would pay to see/ hear that! I remember Clive Robertson used to get the shits with the banality of the news so asked the crew to run footage of steam trains!
@ once I’ve converted it to digital I’ll load some footage to TH-cam. Also have footage of the long lost walkway across the entire of Russell Falls.
@ excellent, us Hobartophiles will keep an ear out.
Looks like a low tide, kudo's for dealing with the smell
Gorgeous pic of the train coming over the bridge, quite majestic 👌🏼. I'm so going to miss that iconic rusty metal bridge😢, I've always loved it, the sound it makes feels like you're on a train. I travel over it daily. Some are happy to see it go, but I see it's beauty 😊😌. Really interesting as usual 👏🏼🌟🌟
Yes, I think people will miss it. Everything has it's time perhaps. The causeway will at least stay.
My wife just described your style as being like the beat poets!
I've really enjoyed this one I lived out there for 24 yrs so it was interesting ❤❤
Green Point was the first field plowed in tasmania, and the bridgewater area has some very fine soils for farming, as did lot's of southern Tasmania except under housing and roads now
My family has lived in Bridgewater since 1974. My pop ran a mechanical business at Cove Hill for a while before selling it when Coles bought the land.
If I remember right, a relative once mentioned there used to be a beach near the old train tracks before it started falling apart in the early 20th century.
Bridgewater’s been growing slowly over the past few years, but lately, there’s been a lot more happening-new places like Hungry Jack's, the Jordan River Health Centre, a gym, a new police station, and a warehouse. I reckon it’s going to grow even faster once the bridge is finished.
I’d love to see Midway Highway turn into a hotspot for local businesses after the new bridge is done, and I expect housing will boom in the area too.
Would that have been Bridgewater wreckers? It's where the medical centre is now and still has the same fence and gates.
Another topic I never knew about
Excellent video. Really sharp drone footage. My wife and I a real Hobartophiles (if there’s such a word). I often wonder why places like Bridgewater aren’t more developed. In fact both of the sides of the Derwent. I know there’s some crappy spots, with remnants of industrial activity, but it could all be beautiful.
On a separate note. Have you thought of doing a videos on Stoke House, which is regarded as the most beautiful example of Gothic architecture in Australia?
Loved it, I had no idea they were building a new bridge (lived in Tas for a while, Bridgewater intrigued me). Really interesting stuff.
Bit of a correction. The first bridge opened in 1849 was a rolling span type. Swing span "rail" bridge was added in 1874 (This is the one that kinks down steam and the one the train accident happened on) A swing span "road" bridge constructed in 1893 (Replaced 1849 "rolling" bridge) that would then become the combined road/rail second swing span bridge (Turn table for this one is still there) A temporary road bridge was constructed next to the first rail bridge while 1893 bridge was built (Seen at 4:07 ) At 4:37 the location of the current "Lifting span" bridge is between the 1893 structure on the right and the temporary road bridge on the left. The sandstone abutments are form the original 1849 bridge and I believe were incorporated into the 1893 structure. I have a detailed London Illustrated news paper article from April 12 1851 that details the construction of that first bridge which is a very interesting read indeed. All of the timber was sourced from the top of mount Dromedary believe it or not.
Corrected. Thank you. I didn't know that about the timber. Interesting. I wonder what became of the remains when it was replaced.
@@angusthornett My pleasure Angus. Have edited my comment quite a few times while I tried to remember as I studied it's history quite some time ago. Would like to send you a copy of that news article if that's at all possible.
thank you Angus, i always look forward to your very informative and entertaining videos. 👋
Gosh! Another excellent production. I did not know that there was a replacement bridge under construction, is the paper factory upstream still exist...Boyer...was it? I recall observing the barges loaded with huge rolls of paper, being towed down river and then the unladen ones being towed back to mill. The overhead vision is per drone, I suppose, if so, it is all very crisp and clear. Better than the shoulder unit I lugged around for the ABC! I am so far from there now; I now reside in Colorado, USA, after living in Pennsylvania which did remind me of Tasmania, (except for the bears) ...here it is beautiful country (and bloody cold!), but how I would like to return there one more time...But methinks kismet has other plans for this once Port Arthur lad. Outstanding presentation mate and thank you for your sterling work.
Yes the paper mill is still there. Boyer just sold it
About rail on the new bridge - the explanation from the government is:
- The new bridge needed to match the clearance of the Bowen Bridge
- Rail cannot handle the steep inclination required to get to that height, unless the line is to be rebuilt for multiple kilometres in each direction
- The old causeway will remain, and (if rail ever comes back - I agree it probably won't) a rail bridge can be rebuilt where the current bridge is (rail and ship traffic is scheduled, so a lift or swing span can be installed, whereas the highway has continuous traffic)
Whether people agree with these statements is up to them of course but it doesn't sound out of place.
Amazing content as always Angus Thank you again!
As a young Cub Scout late 1960s we travelled to Mt Field on a train for a weekend jamboree am 65 now fond memories
Nice one, thanks Angus. And is this part three in a series of places with bridges?
New Norfolk next.
👍 Angus.. cool drone footage , .. great video
Thanks, mate.
I had myself a walk heading towards bridgewater, and when I had to stumble upon what was going to become the new bridge, I was at a loss for words...
Its soo much larger in every single way! like, it TOWERS over it an all!
I honestly cant wait!!!
A lot things I not know about the area thank you
another great video Angus. I especially liked the way you referenced the speedway after the information you got back. Look forward to your next video
Thanks again Angus
Awesome
Interesting - I have to admit, I never thought I'd see the Bridge built! And since we moved up North, I hadn't heard that it was being built. Let's hope for Bridgewater's sake, it does help, as the place seems to have been very poorly treated.
I would never have guessed how Bagdad & the Jordan River were named, that is a great story. Hopefully you'll be able to do an update in a few years time reporting the place is booming - course, I think they should have bought light rail to the Derwent Valley, well, Tassie as a whole, would have been great fun! Thanks for making this - sweet pooch.
My nan lived straight across from McDonald’s and there was a pub there before that. I would go and watch the trains at the old yard when we would go and visit her it brings back so many old memories 😢
I’m not sure anything will change for Bridgewater as far as being more integrated with Hobart… it’s just a new bridge…
Ken Hooper that had the car museum at Ranelagh years ago had an old race car that was powered by a ford flathead V8 engine. That engine used to power the winch that lifted the span on the Bridgewater bridge many moons ago.
Thanks for sharing
Well done
Hey keep up the great work 😊
I remember the mount field steam run, can't exactly remember if I was on it or not. Can also remember late 90's(99 or 00) the girl guides took the steam train to and from Ross.
I think I've read (probably in "Rail Tickets of Tasmania" by H. K.. Atkinson) that the surveyor laying out the Tasmanian Main Line Railway (from Launceston-ish to Hobart) travelled with only two books: The Bible, and one of tales of the Arabian Nights.
it's weird how distant and cut-off Bridgewater feels. It's now my nearest town, and it's noticeably rougher. The people look weirder. I don't mean that to be judgmental, it's just an observation. It's sort of nice along Gunn St. where it overlooks the river, and if it weren't for the waste treatment plant and the general locale, you could imagine it being quite an upmarket area in a different reality (or maybe the future). It's a shame they are going to tear down the old bridge, but I guess it's not the first bridge to be there, nor is it the first they've torn down. I wonder what it will look like in another 200 years.
Bridgewater used to have a stock sale yard, not much else. I would be surprised if that section of the eastern shore ever develops. The government of the day made a real mess of the development, Drovers Cove if I remember. Old Beach is also a relic of what it used to be. Is it part of Brighton municipality? Interested to see what happens to the river flow when the causeway is removed. Another great vlog Angus. 🐸
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Cheers, and Bridgewater is less than 25 klms by road from Hobart.
They did exactly the same thing to Batemans bay...
I was on that train with my family
I would like to see a couple of videos of ouse and bothwell and osterly and wadamana 😉
Budgets are only there to be over-sailed.
Very interesting, as usual. It's strange, because Bridgewater looks really nice in this. I am sure there'd be people all around the world who would view the video and wonder why it has a bad reputation.
Your work is always evocative, making me think deeply about my home state; where it has been, what it is today, and where it may be going. It amuses me to read reports from people holding onto the past and being critical about there being no facility for a train line on the new bridge. It seems hard for them to accept that trains are gone and will not be back. Things change, as you delectably describe. Thank you again.
Such great bridges in Tasmania, such a shame concrete looks so contrasting to the natural beauty, such a shame stone bridges are not practical. It makes me wonder about the builders of infrastructure.
😊
I was wondering if this video would take a Spanian type Lord of the Flies turn.
Id love to move to hobart. The bridge is looking great
They should rename it Black Swan Gully
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Why demolish the old bridge make it a pedestrian bridge????
The old bridge needs to be removed so that river traffic can travel freely. It's expensive to maintain any bridge also, this one especially given it's size and now age.
Done the (steam) train to Mt Field in about ‘94 so still running then. Operated by the steam museum/association in Glenorchy, so struggling to recall whether departure was from western side or from Bridgewater itself. Must have been close to the last train run.
I heard that the plan was not to dismantle the existing bridge. They were hoping to raise the lift span and (safely) pin that at fully open. Then remove (or possibly also pin) the large concrete counterweights which are the safety concern (cause 100’s of tonnes of weight suspended on old cables and stuff). Of course, the risk averse pen pushers have probably moved the goalposts to dismantling, so we lose all the heritage, but It’s white european colonialist heritage so who cares?
My stepfather and I were stopped by police from driving over the Hobart bridge that had just been hit by a ship. We had to drive all the way to bridgewater to get home. Don't like Tas and will never go there again, evil place.
Minor quibble: Tasman Bridge. The Hobart Bridge was the floating bridge, removed soon after the Tasman opened in the mid 60s.
FYI the new bridge at Bridgewater is NOT over budget and is on track to be completed by mid 2025, which was the original due date.
That’s incorrect.
@angusthornett no it is correct, unless google and the government reports are incorrect. Please post your evidence stating otherwise.
@@TasmanianAdvnetures nah, dude, original completion date was set for 2024, but it has been pushed back, and the budget has reportedly increased from the initial estimates. it's been in the media. and there's no way it'll be finished five months from now either.
Everyone knows it's running over budget. The final figures won't be made public until after it's finished. And it's totally behind schedule. When Gutwein was Premier he made fun of people saying it wouldn't have traffic on it by 2024. He was really dismissive of people asking good faith questions. Then he quit. Look at the bridge, no way it'll be finished on time. Honestly, wouldn't be surprised at all if it's not finished by next year. Which will make it two years behind schedule.
@therighttoremain no it was meant to be particularly completed by 2024 to allow one lane of traffic through and fully completed both ways by mid 2025, they scaped the one lane plan very early on but kept the completion date the same.