Inland Defence Road Bridges

The Inland Defence Road between Ipswich and Charters Towers, via Blackbutt, Nanango, Gayndah, Eidsvold, Banana and Clermont, was built by civilian labour during 1942–1943. Some of the work was also done by Queensland Italian and Albanian internees who had been rounded up as “enemy aliens".

The internees worked on a section of the Inland Defence Road between Eidsvold and Banana. This 68km section branches off from the Eidsvold-Theodore Road, about 15km east of Cracow, and heads north and then northwest before joining the Leichardt Highway northeast of Theodore.

Twelve bridges (four still in use) were constructed on this section. The bridges are timber or composite girder bridges, most with stone abutments (loose or set in cement), some with piers of stone set in cement. There is also a 50m causeway (concrete and stone set in cement) and culvert 4.5 km north of the Eidsvold-Theodore Road.

The bridge at Grants Gully, (10.4km north of the Eidsvold-Theodore Road), has cemented stone abutments and a cemented stone central pier with concrete capping. The timber components are recent, and the bridge is still used.

The Cracow Creek Bridge, (11.5km north), is approximately 30m long with two piers of stone set in cement with concrete capping. There are cemented stone abutments at both ends. On the western side the timber decking has been reduced in width. The bridge is no longer used. However, a bridge over Delusion Creek, (28km north), with cemented stone abutments, three piers of cemented stone and one pier of timber, is still in use.