Jack Rae at the opening celebrations of Stockmans Bridge. 53994 GOODBYE George Street Bridge. Hello Stockmans Bridge.
The new name for the iconic bridge was announced yesterday (Wednesday) at a grand opening of a western entrance to central Dandenong.
The entrance features the $29.5 million bridge spanning the railway line and linking Cheltenham Road with the city centre.
Dandenong MP John Pandazopoulos joined City of Greater Dandenong Mayor Cr Jim Memeti to announce the new name, which was chosen by the council from a list of more than 100 community suggestions, and community feedback on a shortlist of names.
“Stockmans Bridge and the improved nearby road network will breathe new life into Dandenong’s western Central Activities District, creating an environment where new businesses and homes can flourish,” Mr Pandazopoulos said.
“The bridge, combined with significant improvements to George and Walker Streets, represents a major infrastructure project and the first to be delivered under the Victorian Government’s $290 million Revitalising Central Dandenong initiative.”
Mayor Memeti thanked community members for their input in naming the iconic bridge, which will be owned and maintained by the City of Greater Dandenong.
“This vital transport connection is situated on the site of the old Dandenong saleyards. It is therefore little wonder that many of the community’s suggestions reflected a stockyard theme and the final name will preserve this heritage in our minds for many years to come,” Cr Memeti said.
Jack Rae, 82, rode a horse over the bridge as part of the opening celebrations.
He said the new name was a great gesture to retain the history.
“I think the new name was a great thought,” he said.
“There used to be thousands of animals that went through the area.”
The Narre Warren North residents said he remembered being about 10 years old and his parents would ride their horses into Dandenong to the market.
“We would also take cattle to the market on foot – it took them about two and a half hours to go from Narre Warren North to Cleeland Street,” he said.
Stockmans Bridge features artwork depicting a scene from the site’s saleyard history.
The bridgeworks, managed by VicRoads, began in July 2009 and were completed on time and on budget by contractor Cut and Fill.
VicUrban’s General Manager Urban Revitalisation Dominic Arcaro said the new western entrance would play an important role in attracting new businesses to Dandenong.
“For many years the area between Dandenong Railway Station and Lonsdale Street has suffered from poor connectivity and amenity; it really hasn’t been an inviting place. This new entrance will make it easier for people to access and travel through this part of town, thereby increasing the business opportunities on nearby land earmarked for redevelopment,” Mr Arcaro said.
Stockmans Bridge caters for buses, cyclists, pedestrians and cars, and links to a newly aligned George Street and improved Walker Street delivered by VicUrban.
The upgraded George and Walker streets are expected to be completed by Christmas and will feature a bicycle path, priority bus lanes during peak hours, granite foot paths signalised intersections at the new street opposite Cadle Street, Mason and Thomas streets, significantly improved lighting and 55 new Jeffersred Autumn Blaze trees.
