Lots of memories of Orbost in the 1970s will come flooding back when David Jellie comes to Orbost to give a talk on Tuesday, March 4, beginning at 3.30pm at the Orbost Library meeting room in the Council Business Centre, Ruskin Street.
David supervised the construction of the road and three large pre-stressed concrete bridges over the Snowy River and floodplain at Newmerella. All were designed to withstand floods similar to or bigger than those which had caused such huge damage in 1971. David will speak of the many challenges of the job, things like poor foundations and floods. He will also reflect on his own personal memories of Orbost at that time.
Before taking this job, David had been to Orbost a couple of times, once as a young engineering student visiting the Snowy Mountains Scheme and the second time when passing through on his honeymoon.
Work on the huge Orbost by-pass project started in early 1974, with the new road route and bridges taking two-and-a-half years to build.
A significant percentage of the workforce were locally employed – many of them farmers. As a result of their work in managing farms and driving heavy equipment, farmers were multi-skilled and industrious. Working on the bridge gave local men a steady stream of income and new cars seemed to fill the parking spaces around the town. An average work force of around 50 men was employed rising to about 90 during peak construction periods.
“From a personal perspective my family loved living in Orbost,” David said.
“We lived in a run-down house on the river flats at Bete Bolong. We pumped water from the river for our personal use. This was a bit of a problem because every time there was a flood alert I had to wade out into the river to retrieve the foot valve – otherwise it would be buried in sand.
“I remember that our house was surrounded by vegetable growing and our generous neighbours allowed us to pick beans, lettuce, sweet corn and all the other vegetables they were growing for the markets in Melbourne.”
All interested people are welcome to attend and hear David’s presentation which starts at 3.30pm and is being held in the meeting room at the back of the library in Ruskin Street, Orbost.
