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331:. Standard gauge at the time was 4 feet 8.5 inches (1.435 m) and was in itself considered narrow when compared with other broad rail gauges then in use throughout the world. By using narrow gauge, savings on construction costs could be achieved. The disadvantages of such a decision meant sharper curves on ascending ranges, lower speeds, lighter bridges and as a consequence, smaller locomotives and rolling-stock. The use of narrow gauge was largely untried anywhere else in the world, except for small-scale narrow gauge operations in New Zealand and Wales.
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demonstrated the viability of the use of narrow gauge, thereby influencing other countries including Japan, Africa and New
Zealand to also adopt the technology. The construction of the Ipswich to Bigges Camp railway, of which the Sandstone Railway Culvert at Wulkuraka is a part, set the precedent for
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meant serious economic and geographic challenges had to be overcome. Earlier railway construction in the southern
Australian colonies was modelled on the railways of Great Britain and featured broad gauge, double track, easy grades, wide radius curves and substantial station buildings. It was quickly
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A small brick-lined drain is located along the railway line embankment to the southwest of the culvert. This drain is made from the same red bricks as found in the larger culvert. It is difficult to determine the overall condition of the drain as it is heavily silted up, though what is visible is in
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The base and lower half of the culvert is constructed of poor quality grayish sandstone to a height of approximately 1 metre (3 ft 3 in). These sandstone blocks are heavily weathered as a result of water erosion. The curved roof is made of fired red bricks built in two overlapping layers.
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The separate colony of
Queensland was established in 1859. The few inhabitants of the new colony looked to intensify economic exploitation of the land and increase the size of the population. The building of railways was seen to facilitate both of these aims and as such was given a high priority by
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The place has a special association with Abram
Fitzgibbon, who made an important contribution as Queensland's first Commissioner for Railways and initiator of narrow gauge rail in Queensland. Fitzgibbon's use of narrow gauge revolutionized railway design in Queensland, Australia and throughout the
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The
Sandstone Railway Culvert and Remains at Wulkuraka are important in demonstrating the pattern of Queensland's history as a product of the first main line railway constructed in Queensland. It illustrates the unique development of the Queensland railway network and provides tangible evidence of
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to receive consignments of materials and move them to a workshops site on level ground above. Public pressure for a bridge across the river resulted in a change of plan and the terminus was moved to South
Ipswich in the business centre. A bridge was constructed to carry both road and rail and was
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Substantial cost savings were also to be made through the use of standard designs for bridges, buildings, houses and yards. At this time, the quality of
Queensland timber was largely unknown and little was to be used on the first railway, except for sleepers. Bridges were to be built of iron with
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The southeastern end of the culvert remains intact. Inside the culvert, the middle section is largely intact though a small amount of graffiti is present on the upper brick walls. The northwestern end has disintegrated badly. At a point 10–12 metres (33–39 ft) from the
Southeastern end, the
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The sandstone culvert is situated in the northeastern corner of the reserve close to the property boundary. The area immediately adjacent to the culvert contains a number of trees of varying ages, and is thickly covered in tall grass and other scrub. The culvert measures approximately 2 metres
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The first trial run along the line with a train was on 13 April 1865. The first section of line between
Ipswich and Bigges Camp (a distance of twenty-one miles) was officially opened to traffic to great public fanfare on 31 July 1865. The line ran from the Bremer Bridge and passed the original
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The sandstone culvert, a small brick-lined drain and the remains of railway line embankments are all found on the bushland reserve. The remains of the embankments begin in the northeastern corner of the property and end just short of the southern property boundary.
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As physical evidence of
Queensland's first railway, the place is an uncommon and endangered part of Queensland's cultural heritage. The sandstone culvert was constructed in 1864–65 and is contemporary to the abutments of the Heiner Road railway overbridge
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and deviation, which opened in 1875, made the old line via Mihi Creek redundant and it fell out of use except for a short section to the Ipswich workshops and to service a coalmine. The line was officially closed on 26 April 1875.
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world. Fitzgibbon also brought with him a number of well-qualified railway engineers, providing valuable expertise in railway construction and design, thereby shaping the development of the modern Queensland rail network.
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lower sandstone and upper brick sections have collapsed and been washed away. Some of the scattered sandstone blocks have been pecked, suggesting that this side of the culvert was dressed for aesthetic purposes.
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Construction of the railway was contracted to Peto, Brassey & Betts, a firm with considerable railway construction experience worldwide. A fixed sum contract was negotiated for the construction of the
414:(6 ft 7 in) in width and 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) in height. The length of the culvert from the southeastern entrance to the remains of the northwestern end is 16 metres (52 ft).
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brick and stone culverts. It was only later that Queensland became a leader in wooden bridge design, with the emergence of elaborate timber designs and later more economical timber structures.
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before crossing Mihi Creek and turning southwest towards today's Wulkuraka. The original line beyond Wulkuraka is still in use, although it has been duplicated, realigned and re-graded.
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the new Queensland government. Consequently, the Southern and Western Railway Bill was introduced to parliament in August 1863 and the government appointed
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The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history.
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the construction and design of the many lightly constructed and sinuous narrow gauge railways that have since been built around the world.
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The sandstone used in the culvert, which is contemporary and probably from the same source as that used in the abutments found in the
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The first consignment of construction materials arrived in Ipswich by steamer on 15 August 1864. An initial line was laid down to the
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The complex created by the presence of the culvert, the remaining railway line embankments and the small brick-lined drain
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Both the sandstone and upper brick structures feature lime mortar, which is in poor condition and is crumbling.
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also precluded an easy grade, with any railway requiring a steep ascent of the eastern escarpment of the
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Fitzgibbon proposed a radical engineering solution to these challenges through the adoption of a narrow
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the geographic, demographic and economic development of the fledgling Queensland colony in the 1860s.
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discovered that the construction costs for such a rail system were beyond the budget of the fledgling
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347:), with a follow on contract for four other sections of line between Bigges Camp and Toowoomba. Lady
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The original line to Bigges Camp ran via North Ipswich roughly following the north bank of the
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The place demonstrates rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of Queensland's cultural heritage.
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The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history.
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just completed in time for the opening of the first section of rail to Grandchester.
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on 8 October 2014). The geo-coordinates were originally computed from the
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Location of Sandstone Railway Culvert, Wulkuraka in Queensland
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drain - storm water, culvert - railway, embankment - railway
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on 24 June 2005 having satisfied the following criteria.
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Sandstone Railway Culvert and Remains was listed on the
542:"Sandstone Railway Culvert and Remains (entry 602524)"
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Significant physical elements of the place include:
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324:and the crossing of several creeks and streams.
238:Sandstone Railway Culvert, Wulkuraka (Australia)
576:This Knowledge article was originally based on
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597:"Queensland heritage register boundaries"
343:between Ipswich and Bigges Camp (today's
608:licence (accessed on 5 September 2014,
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24:Sandstone Railway Culvert, Wulkuraka
316:. The natural geography around the
590:licence (accessed on 7 July 2014,
579:"The Queensland heritage register"
168:1865–1875 (historical use of line)
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384:Sadliers Crossing Railway Bridge
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100:1840s - 1860s (mid-19th century)
369:North Ipswich Railway Workshops
35:Sandstone Railway Culvert, 2009
314:Queensland colonial government
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550:. Queensland Heritage Council
367:workshops and running sheds (
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642:Queensland Heritage Register
547:Queensland Heritage Register
472:Heiner Road Railway Overpass
450:Queensland Heritage Register
438:Heiner Road Railway Overpass
281:Queensland Heritage Register
124:Queensland Heritage Register
652:Railway lines in Queensland
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272:, Australia. It was built
254:Sandstone Railway Culvert
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426:an average condition.
353:Governor of Queensland
279:. It was added to the
213:Show map of Queensland
173:Significant components
142:state heritage (built)
647:Wulkuraka, Queensland
629:at Wikimedia Commons
612:on 15 October 2014).
256:is a heritage-listed
241:Show map of Australia
382:The building of the
351:, wife of the first
322:Great Dividing Range
81:27.6054°S 152.7306°E
602:State of Queensland
584:State of Queensland
391:Queensland Railways
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163:Significant period
155:Reference no.
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150:24 June 2005
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567:Attribution
398:Description
375:(1868) and
309:new railway
277: 1865
260:culvert at
112: 1865
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72:152°43′50″E
60:Coordinates
55:, Australia
636:Categories
487:References
341:first line
270:Queensland
147:Designated
69:27°36′19″S
53:Queensland
302:Toowoomba
262:Wulkuraka
45:Wulkuraka
610:archived
592:archived
554:1 August
379:(1871).
41:Location
377:Warwick
298:Ipswich
287:History
258:railway
604:under
586:under
158:602524
373:Dalby
105:Built
556:2014
300:and
252:The
139:Type
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