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Se aprecia un detalle de la sede del Departamento Vasco de Sanidad en Bilbao, un flamante bloque de vidrio y acero diseñado por el arquitecto oscense Juan Coll- Barreu. Destaca del mismo su fachada poliédrica y acristalada que permite que la luz entre en el interior, convirtiéndolo en un espacio diáfano y luminoso. A pesar de su corta existencia, ya se ha convertido en uno de los edificios emblemáticos de la capital vizcaína. El periódico británico “The Guardian” lo ha llegado a comparar con el Museo Guggenheim Bilbao. 18-12-2024,
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We left Bairndale early in the morning to ensure our journey through to Delegate in NSW via Bruthen, Buchan then on Gelantipy Road followed by McKillops Road got us into Delegate in time for lunch.
Once we entered McKillops Road we were in very isolated country, much of the 80 kilometre journey being through the Snowy Mountains National Park.
McKillops Road is regarded by many as Australia's most dangerous road, although I'd put a few other roads I've travelled in recent years right up there with it.
The surface of McKillops Road (officially C611) is generally speaking good and quite suitable for two wheel drive cars in fine weather conditions. The main reasons for the roads reputation is the precipitous drop offs along much of the road down the appropriately named Mount Turnback, at least as far as McKellar’s Crossing and the now famous McKillops Bridge. Passing opportunities are extremely limited with the road being narrow and mostly single lane. Meeting an oncoming car or worse a truck or caravan can mean backing up a considerable distance on certain sections of the road.
"Before traveling on this road, check current road conditions, carry a chainsaw or sharp axe as roads may be blocked by fallen trees, carry recovery gear including a winch, tree protector and shovel, and leave details of your trip intentions with a responsible person. Bring your own drinking water." Reference
Nevertheless driven in good weather with care, staying well clear of the road edges, and by maintaining consistent concentration you should make it safely through into NSW.
The road is unsuitable for caravans, trucks over 20 tonnes, and certainly semi-trailers, however if you're unlucky you may strike vehicles that by rights should not be travelling this road, as we did when we encountered 2 caravans as we headed down the mountain toward McKillops Bridge.
While the views down over the Snowy River are stunning, and indeed distracting, the most interesting feature of the road is undoubtedly the impressive McKillops Bridge, regarded by many as one of Australia's most impressive bridges.
At the time of its construction by the Victorian Country Roads Board in 1931-32 it was considered a highly significant feat of engineering.
With the wooden plank deck spanning 251 metres the bridge stands 22.5 metres above the Snowy River. Reference
Unfortunately the just over one year old welded-steel truss bridge seated on tall one-piece reinforced-concrete piers was washed away in a flood on the 8th January 1934 when the weight of accumulating debris became too great for the bridges central pylon which gave way. The calamity occurred just 11 days before the bridge was due to be officially opened on January 19th 1934.
Remnants of the original bridge can be still seen downstream with some wreckage found as far as 80km downstream near Orbost.
A new bridge was completed in December 1935 and officially opened on the 20th December 1935.
The elaborate timber decking superstructure is today showing considerable signs of wear and tear and probably not far off needing replacing.
Like a lot of the south east region of Southern NSW and Eastern Victoria in January 2020 McKillops Bridge was seriously threatened by bushfire.
Although the bridge, since its rebuilding in 1934, has stood strong for many years its archilles heal is undoubtedly its central pylon which is vulnerable to build up of debris during floods.
Heading North over the bridge one arrives at the Snowy River National Park Campground from where its possible to access the river. Just upstream is the confluence of the Deddick River and a few kilometres further on are the localities of Tubbut and Bonang before the road heads through to Delegate in NSW.
At Bonang the sealed Princes Highway heads south to Orbost.
Note - McKillops Bridge crossing was originally known as 'Turnback' but after agitation from graziers wanting a safer way to move stock south across the Snowy river a punt or ferry was installed. After a number of the appointed ferrymen quit Duncan McKellar took on the role, hence the name McKellar's Crossing replaced the name 'Turnback'. READ MORE
At some point the name McKillops Bridge replaced McKellar's Crossing Bridge the name deriving from the early explorer surveyor George McKillop who opened up Eastern Gippsland to settlement by squatters migrating down out of the NSW Monaro into East Gippsland.