Taradale Viaduct

The Taradale Viaduct is a historical landmark in Taradale, Victoria, Australia.

It is a large wrought-iron box girder bridge that spans over the Back Creek. Constructed between 1858 and 1861, it was considered one of the largest rail bridges in Australia at the time.

The construction of the Bendigo line, which the viaduct is a part of, began in 1858 under the Melbourne, Mount Alexander, and Murray River Railway Company. Captain Andrew Clarke, R. E., Surveyor-General of Victoria, oversaw the design work, with Bryson and O'Hara completing the bridge designs and Rowland Brotherhood manufacturing the ironwork. The foundation stone was laid in September 1861.

The contract for the first stage of the line was awarded to Cornish and Bruce for £3,356,937.2s.2d ($6.714 million). William O'Hara was responsible for designing the bridges and viaducts, while William Edward Bryson claimed to have designed most of the large bridges on the line.

Clarke's influence on the design of the railway set high standards but proved to be costly, straining the colonial finances. This approach was later abandoned for a more economical approach in future Australian railways. Bryson, a civil engineer and member of various professional societies, played a significant role in the design as well.

In the 20th century, the viaduct underwent renovations to strengthen it for heavier locomotives. Steel trestles were added between the original masonry piers in 1933-1934