Mona Bromely was in her early twenties when she first moved to Eltham, after marrying a pioneer to the area, Jack Bromley, who worked as an engineer building the Railway Trestle Bridge at Panther Place, Eltham. Mona is profiled in Celebrating Nillumbik Women 2010. Age 97, she is a resident of Eltham of more than 70 years.
The old timbers of the Trestle railway bridge stand out against the back drop of the natural bush behind it, just as it would have done when the bridge was built in 1902. It was built as part of the extension of the railway line from Heidelberg. The Railway Station, a few metres away became the focal point for the new town centre of Eltham, attracting business further north from “Little Eltham”.
The bridge is adjacent to Alistair Knox Park and Eltham Library and Community Gallery and the local football ground.
It remains only one of its kind still regularly used in Melbourne’s metropolitan rail network.
It remains a local icon of Eltham and has been classified by the National Trust as historically, scientifically and aesthetically and social significant at state level. It is recorded on the Victorian Heritage Database.
It has been under threat several times but community rallying has helped to save it.
Photo: A Tait (Red Rattler) train bound for Princes Bridge crosses the Railway Trestle bridge, Eltham, 1981. Photographer: George Coop. Eltham District Historical Society in partnership with Yarra Plenty Regional Library
References: Nillumbik Now and Then, 2008 by Marguerite Marshall
Celebrating Nillumbik Women 2010 (Shire of Nillumbik)
L. Pidgeon, Local History Librarian, Yarra Plenty Regional Library. Updated October 2021
