Spencer Street Bridge

The Spencer Street Bridge is a road and tram bridge over the Yarra River in Melbourne, Australia. It connects Spencer Street on the north bank with Clarendon Street on the south. The idea of a bridge at this point was first put forward in the mid-1800s.[10]

Spencer Street Bridge
Coordinates37.822942°S 144.955893°E / -37.822942; 144.955893
CarriesRoad, trams, pedestrians
CrossesYarra River
LocaleMelbourne, Australia
Characteristics
MaterialAll steel superstructure[1]
Total length405 ft (123 m)[2]
Width80.6 ft (24.6 m) Roadway
12 ft (3.7 m) footways[2]
Height28.5 ft (8.7 m)[3]
Longest span130 ft (40 m)[4][5]
No. of spans3[2]
Piers in waterConcrete on cylindrical caissons faced with bluestone down to rock[2]
History
ArchitectRoyal Victorian Institute of Architects
Mr Oakley
Mr Kermode
Mr Perrin[6]
Engineering design byMr W. D. Chapman[7]
Constructed byRailways Construction Branch
Construction start28 October 1927[8]
Construction end1930
Construction cost£168,700[7][9]
Location

The design of the bridge was a public competition won by Messrs. Edward Saunders and Alan Wilson, engineers, in conjunction with Messrs. Alfred R. La Gerche and W. E. Gower, architects.,[11] the competition result being announced in November 1925[12] The first pile was driven in October 1927.[10]

During construction engineers knew deep foundations would be required to find bedrock, but at 20 metres below sea level they struck a red gum stump that took three weeks work to remove. It was dated at about 8,000 years old and appears to have lived for well over 400 years.[13] The cantilever girder type, with steel girder suspended span bridge was completed in 1930,[2][14] with an adjacent glass and steel covered footbridge built alongside in 1998, as part of the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.[15][16][17][18][19]

References

  1. "SPENCER-STREET BRIDGE". The Examiner. Launceston, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 29 June 1928. p. 11. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  2. "BRIDGES THAT SPAN AUSTRALIAN RIVERS". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 19 March 1932. p. 4 Supplement: Sydney Harbour Bridge Supplement. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  3. "BROADCASTING PICTURES". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 12 April 1930. p. 23. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  4. "Spencer Street Bridge". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 22 September 1928. p. 16. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  5. "FINAL DESIGN FOR THE SPENCER STREET BRIDGE". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 22 September 1928. p. 15. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  6. "SPENCER STREET BRIDGE". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 4 April 1930. p. 15. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  7. "NEW CITY BRIDGE". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 13 February 1930. p. 9. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  8. "SPENCER STREET BRIDGE BEGUN". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 29 October 1927. p. 31. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  9. "Spencer Street Bridge". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 29 January 1930. p. 7. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  10. "SPENCER STREET BRIDGE. – FIRST PILE DRIVEN. CEREMONY AT SOUTH MELBOURNE Other New Bridges Needed. – The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957) – 29 Oct 1927". Trove. 29 October 1927. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  11. "DESIGNS FOR SPENCER STREET BRIDGE". Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957). 24 November 1925. p. 9. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  12. "WINNING DESIGN FOR SPENCER STREET BRIDGE, MELBOURNE". Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 – 1946). 28 November 1925. p. 41. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  13. "7 Bridges of Melbourne". whitehat.com.au. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  14. "Road and Bridge Works". Engineering Heritage Victoria. home.vicnet.net.au. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  15. Arup. "Spencer Street Footbridge". arup.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  16. "SPENCER STREET BRIDGE". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 29 July 1927. p. 15. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  17. "SPENCER STREET BRIDGE GROWS". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 31 January 1929. p. 5. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  18. "SPENCER STREET BRIDGE PROGRESSES". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 2 December 1927. p. 13. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  19. "BUILDING SPENCER STREET BRIDGE". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 17 February 1928. p. 13. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
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