Walter Jordan and the Boambee Creek Railway Bridge

Walter Jordan was a pioneer of the Coffs Harbour region. Born in 1877 at Newton Boyd, he recorded daily life in his journal from a young age - almost right up until he died in 1944.
In this video, I’ll read one of Walter’s journal entries about the Boambee Creek railway bridge on the North Coast Line. A series of government follies meant the bridge wasn’t built properly and a catastrophe would have occurred had Walter not been so forceful in demanding it be inspected.
Please enjoy this small window into life around 1915.
Images courtesy of and thanks to:
Denise Hunter
coffs.recollect.net.au/
whatsthatpicture from Hanwell, London, UK, CC BY 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons

[@mysteriousshinkachu6149]

The creek railway 🛤 bridge 🌉 bet a cool place ✨️ Nice story telling

[@Notmeitismykids]

That’s my great-grandfather. His journals are an amazing read. I feel lucky to be here as he dodged death so many times. Thanks for covering the story.

[@Outdoorstype]

Walter is also my great-great grandfather! Small world. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@savagegfry]

Brought back great nemories of our many family days, at the beach, on the North side of the Boambee Creek rail bridge.

[@Outdoorstype]

A beautiful place!

[@aussiewombat59]

thanks so much for the historical piece. I spent the early 70s going to camps on the patch of dirt behind... walking across the bridge several times and swimming underneath!!

[@Outdoorstype]

Boambee Beach is beautiful. It would have felt much wilder back then. Sunrise there is just gorgeous.

[@slepper98]

Most interesting, thanks for sharing.

[@kristiehunter3617]

Great video. My name is Kristie, my mum is Denise Hunter. I helped her put the book together. The stories of Walter are just mind blowing. I seriously dont know how they survived in such hard times back then. You have a fantastic voice to bring the book and stories to life. Well done 🙌 Would love to see more videos of his journal entries.

[@Outdoorstype]

Thank you, Kristie. Next time I'm back in Coffs, I will be making more of these. Thanks for helping to make the book a reality. It provides an amazing opportunity to refresh his unique historical record for a new generation.

[@casnick1]

Walter's response from the railway authority sounds very similar to the one Eric Sambell reportedly received from them, when he warned them against laying the new standard gauge Peterborough to Broken Hill line through Hutton Lagoon, near Ucolta, in the 70's. As the story goes, Eric, a farmer from Ucolta, warned them the line would be washed away when the lagoon flooded, and after the first big rain that is exactly what happened.

[@Outdoorstype]

I'm going to have to look that up! Thanks casnick!

[@jennyhodge5711]

Walter was my grandfather. My father [his son] also kept a journal most of his life but not in the detail found in Walter's stories.

[@Outdoorstype]

Thank you so much for watching and commenting! Walter was my great great grandfather. Especially since being collated in the book, his journal entries are an authentic and rare window into history.

[@markaylott1780]

Nothing has changed!

[@Outdoorstype]

Yup 😊

[@villiersman951]

haha this sort of thing is still going on today