Chinchilla Overhead Railway Bridge

The Chinchilla Overhead Railway Bridge, connecting the two sides of the town, was opened to the public on Saturday 5 August 1916.

Chinchilla residents had been agitating for some time for a speedy means of communication between the two sides of the line at the main railway crossing, as the gates were more often than not locked.

The bridge was constructed nearly half-way between two existing railway crossings, with the approach commencing at the first crossing with a run up of "some three or four chains" to the bridge, and the same distance down on the opposite side. The bridge was costructed at the expense of the Railways Department.

In November 1915, a newspaper report stated that the work on the bridge was being ridiculed by residents as they felt it would be speedier and easier to go around to the second crossing. The report went on to state that the only justification for building the bridge at that site would be if the department intended to close both of the existing crossings, a move which would be strongly opposed by residents.

The bridge served the town of Chinchilla for over seventy years. By the mid 1970s, the old bridge was beginning to show the effects of time and a replacement bridge was being considered.

In December 1986, the design of the new bridge was completed. It would run from the junction of Heeney & Railway Streets, and incorporate three sweeping curves to the junction of Chinchilla & Colamba Streets. In March 1987, the old bridge was officially decommissioned.

On 10 October 1987, the "Eric Stewart Overbridge" was opened, named in honour of former Chinchilla Shire Chairman Eric Stewart. The bridge was officially opened by the Hon. R. J. Hinze, minister for local government, main roads & racing. The final cost of the new bridge was $1.065 million.