Ballinyoo Bridge | Adventures

Ballinyoo Bridge is 80 kilometres south of the Murchison Settlement on the Carnarvon Mullewa Road. Construction started in 1929 and the bridge was completed in 1930. It was the second concrete bridge to be built in Western Australia and, until replaced, it was the oldest concrete bridge in WA^. (Bridge No. 837).

A free camping area extends along both banks of the Murchison River just off the Carnarvon Mullewa Road. Bush camp are available on both sides of the road and on both banks, although the north side is probably preferred. Please take all your rubbish with you when you leave.

: Old Ballinyoo Bridge with the Murchison River in flood.

The opening of a new, longer, higher, parallel, $5.5M bridge built by BG&E Engineering of Perth was celebrated by a long table lunch on 10 September 2016. A span of the original cement bridge was retained to commemorate its place in the history of the community.

Early drovers crossed the Murchison at Ballinue, however, when surveyor Harry F. Johnston (1853-1915) was operating in the area in 1876 he recorded the name as Ballinyoo. The importance of this crossing continued after construction of the concrete bridge and this was an important factor in consideration of its replacement.

The bridge was a focal point on a number of pioneering boating expeditions along the Murchison River in the 1990s.

Early drovers crossed the Murchison at Ballinue², however, when surveyor Harry F. Johnston was operating in the area in 1876 he recorded the name as Ballinyoo³.

References
1. Main Roads Department (Bridge No. 837).
2. Broad, Nan with Bridge, Peter (eds), The Journal of the Brockman Droving Expedition of 1874−75 to the North West of Western Australia, Hesperian Press, Carlisle, Western Australia, 2006.
3. H.F. Johnston, Fieldbook 3, page 37.

The reports of the various trips, tours and travels on the Adventures website have a lot of information about place names – their naming and features – toponymy. More information.

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