21/06/2026
The creek running under the Watson’s Gap Railway Bridge is often a closed system, not running out to sea because of low incoming flows, sand blockage at the mouth or both. This last week’s heavy rains have seen the creek level rise and then rise some more so it was way above sea level. For a few days the level has been moving higher up the sandbank blocking it, and yesterday was just teetering at the lip - apparently half an hour after taking my pic, the dam burst and some 2m of backed up creek water flooded out. This morning all is calm, the creek now still slowly draining. And now the old wooden piers of the original timber railway bridge are more clearly visible than I’ve ever seen them. Picture of the original bridge at the end - from the State Library collection.
Edited to add - apparently the name of this creek is Urimbirra Creek - like the wildlife park of the same name at corner of Welch and Adelaide Roads the other side of the wetlands.
