 Flooding of the South Esk River and the need for a river crossing have constrained transport in the town for much of its history . The South Esk , now crossed by a bridge on the Meander Valley Highway , separates the town from settlements further west and unusually high floods can cut the highway on the town 's east , when it is submerged at Beams Hollow . The river was first crossed by a ford known as " Reibey 's Ford " near Entally House . Due to the variability in its flow this ford was frequently impassable requiring traffic to make significant detours . Thomas Haydock Reibey installed a punt at the crossing in 1828 . By a specially passed Government act he was allowed to charge a toll for its use . 
