Redesdale, Victoria

Redesdale
Bendigo, Victoria
Catholic Church at Redesdale
Redesdale is located in City of Bendigo
Redesdale
Redesdale
Map
Coordinates37°01′0″S 144°31′0″E / 37.01667°S 144.51667°E / -37.01667; 144.51667
Population240 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)3444
Elevation290 m (951 ft)
Location
LGA(s)City of Greater Bendigo
State electorate(s)
Federal division(s)Bendigo
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
20.0 °C
68 °F		 7.2 °C
45 °F		 570.2 mm
22.4 in

Redesdale /ˈriːdsdeɪl/ is a town in central Victoria, Australia. It is located partly in the City of Greater Bendigo local government area and partly in the Shire of Mount Alexander. At the 2016 census, Redesdale and the surrounding area had a population of 240.[1]

History

The Post Office opened on 22 March 1865.[2] There are conflicting accounts about the origin of Redesdale's name. According to Thomas O'Callaghan's 1918 book "Names of Victorian Railways Stations", Redesdale is named after Lord Redesdale while according to Victorian places, Redesdale is named after Robert William Rede.[3][4]

Redesdale bridge

Main article: Redesdale Bridge
The unique Redesdale bridge

Redesdale is on the opposite bank of the Campaspe River from the town of Mia Mia. The towns are connected by the heritage listed Redesdale bridge,[5] one of the oldest iron lattice-truss bridges in Victoria. The trusses for the bridge were originally imported for a river crossing in suburban Hawthorn in 1859. The ship Herald of the Morning bringing the trusses to Melbourne caught fire and sank in Hobsons Bay. As a result, the Hawthorn Bridge, connecting Richmond and Hawthorn, was delayed for a couple of years while new trusses were made and shipped out to Australia.

Ten years later the original trusses were salvaged from the Herald of the Morning and used for the Redesdale Bridge. The bridge was constructed on site in 1868 with a divided-lane through-truss design created specifically for the difficult river crossing and unique in Victoria.[6]

Railway

Redesdale was once the terminus for a branch line railway which connected with the Melbourne - Murray River Railway at Redesdale Junction, between Kyneton and Malmsbury. Other stopping points on the line, going towards Redesdale, included Edgecombe, Green Hill, East Metcalfe, Emberton and Barfold.[7][8] The Redesdale line was opened on 15 January 1891 and closed on 29 June 1954.[7] The tracks and stations have since been removed.

Other

Redesdale is currently home to a primary school, a petrol station/general store, a historic bluestone pub/tavern and the Rural café.

Australia's worst aircraft disaster, the 1945 Australian National Airways Stinson crash, occurred two miles east of town.

References

  1. ^ a b "2016 Census QuickStats Redesdale". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  2. ^ Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  3. ^ O'Callaghan, Thomas (1918). Names of Victorian railway stations. Melbourne: H.J. Green, Acting Government Printer. p. 81. ISBN 0958071608.
  4. ^ "Redesdale | Victorian Places". www.victorianplaces.com.au. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  5. ^ "Redesdale Bridge, Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) Number H1419, Heritage Overlay HO230". Victorian Heritage Database. Heritage Victoria. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  6. ^ "Mia Mia Bridge". Heritage Council of Victoria. Retrieved 18 July 2007.[permanent dead link‍]
  7. ^ a b Rowe, Bill (1989). Redesdale: Yesterday and Today. Redesdale, Victoria: self published. p. 33.
  8. ^ Railway Map of Victoria, Australia, 1946 map reproduced courtesy V/Line, Railway Museum, North Williamstown, Victoria, 1988
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