Alexandra Railway Bridge
| Alexandra Railway Bridge | |
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Alexandra Railway Bridge, 1996
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| Location | Adjacent to North Street, Rockhampton, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Coordinates | 23°22′07″S 150°30′30″E / 23.3685°S 150.5083°ECoordinates: 23°22′07″S 150°30′30″E / 23.3685°S 150.5083°E |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1898–1899 |
| Architect | Henry Charles Stanley |
| Official name: Alexandra Railway Bridge | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600799 |
| Significant period | 1890s (fabric) |
| Significant components | pier/s (bridge), abutments - railway bridge, plaque |
| Builders | George Charles Willcocks |
 Location of Alexandra Railway Bridge in Queensland
Location of Alexandra Railway Bridge in Queensland
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Alexandra Railway Bridge is a heritage-listed railway bridge adjacent to North Street, Rockhampton, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Henry Charles Stanley and built from 1898 to 1899 by George Charles Willcocks. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
The Alexandra Railway Bridge, constructed in 1898-99, crosses the Fitzroy River and is an integral part of the original design of the Rockhampton Junction railway line, and is an important element in the development of the railway network in Queensland.
The Archer brothers had made a private expedition to the Rockhampton district in 1853, and were the first Europeans to record and chart the Fitzroy River. The Archers were also the first European pastoralists to arrive in the area. Their establishment of Gracemere pastoral station lead to further pastoral expansion into the area.
After the short lived Canoona gold rush of 1858, Rockhampton was proclaimed as a town and declared a "port of entry" in 1858. Following the gold rush the town of Rockhampton developed as an entry and export town for Central Queensland. Rockhampton continued to eclipse its nearest rival Gladstone for nearly a century as the principal port for central Queensland.
In 1863 the Parliament of Queensland passed the controversial Railway Bill, which committed Queensland to the use of a narrow gauge for the development of its main line in Queensland. Other colonies in Australia at this time had adopted broader gauges for use on their rail networks. The reasoning behind this decision was that a narrow gauge would have lower construction costs.
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