More Info →Kiwitea River bridge

Although thought to be 1897 it is more likely that this photograph relates to the flood of 1894, when the Kiwitea Bridge was destroyed. The newspaper report of 1894 reads 'The damage at the Kiwitea bridge has been most disastrous, and the aspect there is anything but a pleasant one. What remains of the structure is at present in mid-stream, and there is a gap of about 200 feet between it and the banks on the Feilding side, with a straight drop of ten feet from the banks into the river bed! A large area of land has been scoured out on both sides of the bridge, and the willow protective works have been completely carried away.' The Kiwitea Bridge was rebuilt in 1896 and damaged again in the flood of 1897 but not as severely.