Queens Bridge (Melbourne)

The Queen's Bridge is a historic road bridge over the Yarra River in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The bridge was built in 1889 and has five wrought iron plate girder spans, and is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.[1][4][5] The bridge was built by contractor David Munro, and replaced a timber footbridge built in 1860.[6][7]

For other uses, see Queen's Bridge (disambiguation).

Queen's Bridge
Coordinates37.820461°S 144.961384°E / -37.820461; 144.961384
CarriesRoad, trams, pedestrians
CrossesYarra River
LocaleMelbourne, Australia
Heritage status[1]
Characteristics
Total length314 ft (96 m)
Width99 ft (30 m)
History
Constructed byDavid Munro
Opened1889
ReplacesFalls Bridge[2][3]
Location

The bridge is a very flat arch, and has five spans constructed of wrought iron plate girders. The bridge rests on iron cylinders filled with concrete, in groups of eight, with arched bracing between.[8] It connects Market Street and William Street on the north bank to Queensbridge Street to the south. Trams on route 58 also cross the bridge.

In 1910, Houdini leapt from the bridge while shackled and escaped in less than one minute.[9]

Yarra Falls
Further information: Yarra Falls

Queens Bridge marks the location of the Yarra Falls, a waterfall that had existed on the Yarra River. The Aboriginal clans of Woiwurrung and Boon wurrung called the falls Yarra Yarra and used it as a crossing point between their lands. [10]

In June 1835 John Batman arrived at Yarra Falls and recognised the surrounding land as a good site to build a village.[11] The site became the landing spot for ships in Melbourne, because the falls had prevented ships from travelling further upstream, which influenced the overall design of Melbourne.

In 1839 a dam was built upon the falls using convict labour in order to secure the fresh water supply for the growing city, but did not last long, nor did its replacement. In 1845 a bridge was built at the site by a private company, but this was replaced by a government funded Prince's Bridge in 1850, which was to stand until the demolition of the Falls. [12]


References
  1. "Queens Bridge, Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) Number H1448, Heritage Overlay HO791". Victorian Heritage Database. Heritage Victoria. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  2. "TODAY IS THE JUBILEE of the opening of Queen's Bridge". The Age. No. 29632. Victoria, Australia. 18 April 1950. p. 3. Retrieved 16 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "THE FALLS-BRIDGE.: THE OLD AND THE NEW". The Age. No. 10963. Victoria, Australia. 15 April 1890. p. 6. Retrieved 16 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. City of Melbourne. "Bridges of Melbourne: Bridge Management Plan" (PDF). www.melbourne.vic.gov.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  5. "OPENING OF THE QUEENS-BRIDGE". Illustrated Australian News and Musical Times. No. 420. Victoria, Australia. 1 May 1890. p. 19 (NEW ZEALAND EDITION.). Retrieved 16 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "THE NEW QUEEN'S BRIDGE". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 13, 670. Victoria, Australia. 17 April 1890. p. 9. Retrieved 16 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "VHD". vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  8. "Queens Bridge (listing VICH1448)". Australia Heritage Places Inventory. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  9. "Houdini's death-defying 1910 escape from the Yarra". pickle.nine.com.au. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  10. Maunder, Patricia (11 January 2008). "Melbourne dreamtime a reality". The Age. The Age. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  11. "This will be the Place for a Village . . ". POI Australia. POI Australia. 8 June 1835. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  12. "THE FALLS-BRIDGE - THE OLD AND THE NEW". The Age. 15 April 1890. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
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