General News
4 March, 2026
Historic bridge restored
THE walkover bridge at Cobden Miniature Railway has been completely refurbished, looking brand new again for visitors to enjoy while riding the miniature trains at the park.
The bridge has been repaired, sandblasted, painted and had new decking timber installed, which was made possible thanks to donations from Timboon Opportunity Shop (TOPS) and the Cobden and Camperdown Community Bank Bendigo Bank.
“Timboon Opportunity Shop and Bendigo Bank each gave us $5000 towards getting it all sandblasted and painted which we’re greatly appreciative of,” South Western Model Engineers secretary Sharron Howard said.
“If we didn’t get that money it wouldn’t have been able to be done.
“The guys who painted it were Tex and Gail from Warrnambool, really good fellas who did a great job and gave it to us at a discounted price.”
South Western Model Engineers competent person Mick Hose said the bridge was due for refurbishment after over 30 years of weathering.
“The bridge has been there three decades and it got a bit weathered – some of the boards on it and the decking was getting worn,” he said.
“We talked about it for a while and then the Bendigo Bank came on board with some money and the Timboon Opportunity Shop also contributed to the refurbishment of it.
“We put all new wooden decking on it.
“Originally a man built it probably 32 years ago – it was built out on his farm and he brought it in on his neighbour’s truck and he lifted it up all with his tractor.”
Mr Hose said it was great to see the bridge looking brand new again.
“The bridge is back to its former glory, as they say,” he said.
“Unfortunately when they were sandblasting it they found a few spots which were weak – it might last another 30 years, we don’t know, then the metal will be corroded away.
“We found some corrosion and fixed it and we welded up some patches, but unfortunately it’s rusting from the inside out.
“We just take that as it is.
“An engineer inspects it every 10 years, all our bridges and infrastructure, to make sure they’re all safe.
“If we have any worries or concerns we can contact them and they’ll come out to check it.”
Run by South Western Model Engineers volunteers, the Cobden Miniature Railway has six to eight model trains in operation, most of which are privately owned by members who allow the club to use them for the park.
In total there are about a dozen trains in varying states of repair or disrepair.
Mr Hose said there was always work and maintenance to be done on them.
“It all stems from a hobby – model engineering,” he said.
“Over the years past members have bequeathed their trains to the club.
“It all stems from England in the earlier days and they set down what the wheels run on called a gauge.
“A lot of English people migrated to Australia and they brought the hobby with them.
“There’s all sorts of motive power – most run on diesel, but many of them run on petrol and in the last few years we have some electric trains which are coming in.”
Mr Hose said the biggest cost to the club was their public liability insurance, which has gone up in recent years.
“We’re all volunteers and we run under the Australian Association of Live Steamers,” he said.
“They supply us our public liability insurance and all our guidelines for running.
“Our biggest single cost to keep it going is the public liability insurance.
“It’s $16,000 per annum – in 2023 it jumped $10,000.
“I was concerned about how much this year was, I considered if running my train for the club was worth it if it got too much dearer.”
TOPS secretary Evelyn Thompson said the op shop volunteers were happy to support volunteer-led organisations like Cobden Miniature Railway.
“TOPS volunteers are very proud to be able to support the Cobden Miniature Railway Park and that support comes through our work which our wonderful volunteers do to fundraise for our community,” she said.
“Particularly for community groups run by volunteers the capacity to fundraise is very limiting today.
“To run a cake stall or two for the year is not going to cover any costs at all so it’s almost impossible.
“We’re very proud to be able to support the group and wish them all well for the next 30 years.
“They’ve done extremely well – it’s a beautiful piece of the town, it’s good for the town and tourism.”
Cobden and Camperdown Community Bank Bendigo Bank board member Joan Scott said the bank would always be there to support organisations like the Cobden Miniature Railway.
“The Bendigo Bank has had a long history of helping the Cobden Miniature Railway Park and keeping it going,” she said.
“We’re starting to get the hierarchy on the board more interested which is really good and they are impressed with the way we utilise the funds which have been given to them.
“It’s like anything else here in Cobden – you go up the road to the dairy park and history park, which are run by volunteers, and if they don’t survive, the day of getting volunteers is extremely difficult.
“The young ones aren’t around and it’s the old ones who are holding it all up and keeping it going – hopefully we can get some more younger people involved.
“With the help of the bank and TOPS and stuff like that, it keeps the businesses going and keeps us in the forefront of the public.”
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