William Edward Bryson (1823 – 24 June 1903) was a British civil engineer, surveyor and architect who was involved in major railway projects in Ireland, Scotland, the United States, and Australia.
He was responsible for designing most of the large structures on the line including bridges and viaducts under the supervision of George Christian Darbyshire.
[4] Bryson stated to the Select Committee of the Legislative Assembly on Railway Contracts that he had designed most of the large bridges on the line.
However, this was also a very costly undertaking, which stretched the colonial finances and this approach was later abandoned for more economic light lines in later Australian Railways.
[7] Bryson was surveyor and engineer for the shires of Boroondara, Goulburn, Nunawading and Oakleigh, and took an interest in defence matters, writing to the papers advising of possible protection measures and holding the position of Acting Lieutenant of the Collingwood Company of Volunteer Rifles.