Dee Slip Bridge is an elegant timber trestle on the O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail, set in the misty foothills of Mt Donna Buang above Warburton. First built in 1947, the bridge reopened to walkers and cyclists in 2026 after an extensive restoration by Parks Victoria.
The restoration kept as much of the original 1947 timber as possible. Where some of the old piles had become structurally redundant, they were left in place alongside the new structural piles rather than removed — preserving the look and the layered history of the crossing. Horizontal steel beams have been carefully inserted for strength, but tucked in so that the bridge still reads as predominantly timber.
“One of the unique aspects about the Dee Slip Bridge is the way timber supports have been continuously added over time,” said Dr Kim Wilson, Parks Victoria’s Senior Advisor for Non-Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Programs. The strengthening work also means the deck can now carry fire-fighting vehicles of up to six tonnes in an emergency.
The bridge sits roughly halfway along the 30 km O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail, which threads through dense fern gullies and across creeks with long views down the valley. It’s an easy walk or ride in either direction from the nearest trailhead — and a good place to stop, lean on the rail, and look at a piece of working heritage that the valley decided was worth keeping.
More on the restoration: Parks Victoria — Reconstructed Dee Slip Bridge open for visitors once again.