Andrew O'Keefe (engineer)
Encyclopedia
Andrew O'Keefe was a construction engineer in Gippsland
, in southeastern Australia
. He built several railways and a weir. The O'Keefe Rail Trail
is named after him.
O'Keefe's parents immigrated from Ireland in 1854 due to famine, bringing him and his sister Mary. He worked on several construction projects, before tendering for and building the 28-mile Heathcote to Sandhurst railway line, which was completed in July 1888. The line was part of the Wandong to Bendigo line, and arose as part of Railway Construction Act No 821, since dubbed the "Octopus Act". It ran until 1958, when lack of passenger or freight demand saw it taken out of service.
O'Keefe's other projects included the Eaglehawk to Bendigo tram line
, Laanecoorie Weir
and part of the Great Southern Railway
from Korumburra
to Toora.
He died in 1904, leaving ten children.
Gippsland
Gippsland is a large rural region in Victoria, Australia. It begins immediately east of the suburbs of Melbourne and stretches to the New South Wales border, lying between the Great Dividing Range to the north and Bass Strait to the south...
, in southeastern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He built several railways and a weir. The O'Keefe Rail Trail
O'Keefe Rail Trail
The O'Keefe Rail Trail is a 19 kilometre rail trail connecting Bendigo with Axedale. The sandy gravel trail runs along a former branch line on the Melbourne-Sydney rail line. As of August 2007, work was underway to extend it to Heathcote. This work received $3.1m in state and local funding in June...
is named after him.
O'Keefe's parents immigrated from Ireland in 1854 due to famine, bringing him and his sister Mary. He worked on several construction projects, before tendering for and building the 28-mile Heathcote to Sandhurst railway line, which was completed in July 1888. The line was part of the Wandong to Bendigo line, and arose as part of Railway Construction Act No 821, since dubbed the "Octopus Act". It ran until 1958, when lack of passenger or freight demand saw it taken out of service.
O'Keefe's other projects included the Eaglehawk to Bendigo tram line
Trams in Bendigo
Trams have operated in the city of Bendigo, Victoria, Australia since 1890, and continue to operate today as a tourist attraction. Limited trials have also been made in 2009 with operating commuter service, but with minimal usage by the public....
, Laanecoorie Weir
Laanecoorie Weir
Laanecoorie Weir or Laanecoorie Reservoir, is a water storage for irrigation and domestic purposes on the Loddon River, near the towns of Eddington, Victoria and Laanecoorie, Victoria. It was designed by construction engineer Andrew O'Keefe in conjunction with Joshua Thomas Noble Anderson. This...
and part of the Great Southern Railway
Great Southern Railway
Great Southern Railway can refer to:* Great Southern Railway - tourism and rail operator* Great Southern Railway - Former railway serving the South Gippsland region in Victoria, Australia...
from Korumburra
Korumburra, Victoria
Korumburra is a town in the Australian state of Victoria. It is located on the South Gippsland Highway, kilometres south-east of Melbourne, in the South Gippsland Shire local government area....
to Toora.
He died in 1904, leaving ten children.
Sources
- O'Keefe Rail Trail, City of Greater Bendigo, 2000.