Australia So Much to See
South Western Queensland - the Angellala Creek Bridge Explosion
The most powerful explosion in Australian transport history took place at the Angellala Creek Bridge, twenty seven kilometres
south of Charleville on the Mitchell Highway during the evening of 5th September 2014. Two explosions occurred two minutes apart,
with the second one being the larger.
Post blast analysis estimated the size of the explosion equivalent to 10 – 15 tonnes of TNT. The explosions shook Charleville like an earthquake.
Temperatures in the truck cab are estimated as having reached 1,000°c. The truck’s axle was buried vertically, with only 6’ showing above the ground. Debris was found up to two kilometres away.
Amongst all the devastation, a small fragment of the driver's bible was found. The fragment is from Psalm 31 and shows the first
nine stanzas.
1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4
Keep me free from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hands I commit my spirit;
deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.
6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols;
as for me, I trust in the Lord.
7
I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
for you saw my affliction
and knew the anguish of my
soul.
8 You have not given me into the hands of the enemy
but have set my feet in a spacious place.
9 Be merciful
to me, Lord, for I am in distress;
my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
my soul and body with grief.
Geosciences Australia detected a seismic event at the site measuring 2.1 on the Richter scale at
10:12 pm as a result of the second
explosion. The size of the explosion was estimated to be
equivalent to 10 – 15 tonnes of TNT. The blast was reported from as
far as eighty kilometres away.
When the Angellala Creek bridge was rebuilt, the Department of Transport and Main Roads
sought community input to name the new bridge. The name ‘Heroes Bridge’ was nominated by Mr Frank Lockrey, who saw parallels
between the ANZAC spirit and the response to the Angellala Creek explosion on 5 September 2014.
“Much like the ANZACs these people
put their lives on the line to rescue others. The first responders to the Angellala Bridge explosion have received various bravery
awards for their efforts and this bridge will also stand as a memorial to their bravery.”
The bridge was completed just over
a year after the explosion. The railway remains closed.
A monument was designed in a hexagonal shape from the six
remaining pylons of the demolished railway bridge and erected in 2016.
There is a large sealed parking area at the south east side of the new bridge. Tread with caution as the ground in the area
is covered with what we know as doublegees (three cornered jacks).
A truck carrying 53 tonnes of ammonium nitrate crashed and caught fire then exploded. The blast radius was more than one kilometre,
and the effect of the blast was felt over thirty kilometres away. A police car travelling to the scene was damaged when it was
200 metres away from the blast. The two fire trucks attending were destroyed. The explosion completely demolished the
road bridge, and destroyed spans of the adjacent 1897 heritage listed railway bridge. One piece of concrete, weighing about
250 kilogrammes, had flown through the air to land on the road 350 metres away, gouging open a large section of bitumen.
Seventy kilometres south of the Angellala Creek Bridge, and 124 kilometres south of Charleville is the tiny town of Wyandra. This is the half way point between Charleville and Cunnamulla. Now bypassed by the highway, with wide streets and attractive parklands the town is worth turning into a staying a while.
Once a watering point for trains on the Western Railway Line,
rail freight on the line was diminishing in recent years, and following the 2010 – 2011 floods freight had ceased. Following
the Angellala Creek Bridge explosion, the railway bridge was not replaced, effectively permanently closing the line.
Where to camp?
1. The general store also has a small caravan park, advertising powered sites at $20 per night or three
nights for $50. Signs at the from of the store include
With a population around 100 people, there remains a general store, café and post office agency, one hotel, and a primary school.
The former Powerhouse, which commenced producing power for the town in 1955 and ceased in 1970 when the town was connected to
the state grid, is now a Powerhouse Museum.
Former goods shed at right. The railway station building has been relocated to the Wyandra Racecourse as a clubhouse.
Placed in the centre of an intersection of these wide streets, a shining white war memorial stands out (above left). Close by
is the now deserted former Commercial Hotel (above right).
2. There is a donation camping area on the disused sports grounds beyond the school in Moody Street, with toilets and dump point,
solar heated hot showers, potable water, camp kitchen and picnic area. Once offering three power outlets, there is now only
power at the camp kitchen due to lack of donations to cover cost of powered sites.
Or we won’t last
Get fed before we both starve