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 that point was first proposed in the mid-19th century.[10]
Spencer Street Bridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 37°49′23″S 144°57′21″E / 37.822942°S 144.955893°E |
| Carries | Road, trams, pedestrians |
| Crosses | Yarra River |
| Locale | Melbourne, Australia |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | All steel superstructure[1] |
| Total length | 405 ft (123 m)[2] |
| Width | 80.6 ft (24.6 m) Roadway 12 ft (3.7 m) footways[2] |
| Height | 28.5 ft (8.7 m)[3] |
| Longest span | 130 ft (40 m)[4][5] |
| No. of spans | 3[2] |
| Piers in water | Concrete on cylindrical caissons faced with bluestone down to rock[2] |
| History | |
| Architect | Royal Victorian Institute of Architects Mr Oakley Mr Kermode Mr Perrin[6] |
| Engineering design by | Mr W. D. Chapman[7] |
| Constructed by | Railways Construction Branch |
| Construction start | 28 October 1927[8] |
| Construction end | 1930 |
| Construction cost | £168,700[7][9] |
| Location | |
 | |
The design of the bridge was the result of a public competition, announced in November 1925.[11] It was won by Messrs. Edward Saunders and Alan Wilson, engineers, in conjunction with Messrs. Alfred R. La Gerche and W. E. Gower, architects.[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 appeared 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]
Gallery
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The parallel glass and steel footbridge -
Yarra River & Spencer Street Bridge -
Spencer Street Bridge 1930 Plaque
References
edit- ^ "SPENCER-STREET BRIDGE". The Examiner. Launceston, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 29 June 1928. p. 11. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "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.
- ^ "BROADCASTING PICTURES". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 12 April 1930. p. 23. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
- ^ "Spencer Street Bridge". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 22 September 1928. p. 16. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
- ^ "FINAL DESIGN FOR THE SPENCER STREET BRIDGE". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 22 September 1928. p. 15. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
- ^ "SPENCER STREET BRIDGE". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 4 April 1930. p. 15. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
- ^ a b "NEW CITY BRIDGE". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 13 February 1930. p. 9. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
- ^ "SPENCER STREET BRIDGE BEGUN". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 29 October 1927. p. 31. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
- ^ "Spencer Street Bridge". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 29 January 1930. p. 7. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
- ^ a b "Spencer Street Bridge". The Argus. 29 October 1927. Retrieved 27 September 2018 – via Trove.
- ^ "Winning Design for Spencer Street Bridge, Melbourne". The Australasian. 28 November 1925. p. 41. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ "Designs for Spencer Street Bridge". The Argus. 24 November 1925. p. 9. Retrieved 19 February 2018 – via Trove.
- ^ "7 Bridges of Melbourne". whitehat.com.au. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
- ^ "Road and Bridge Works". Engineering Heritage Victoria. home.vicnet.net.au. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
- ^ Arup. "Spencer Street Footbridge". arup.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
- ^ "Spencer Street Bridge". The Argus. Melbourne. 29 July 1927. p. 15. Retrieved 27 November 2012 – via Trove.
- ^ "Spencer Street Bridge Grows". The Argus. Melbourne. 31 January 1929. p. 5. Retrieved 27 November 2012 – via Trove.
- ^ "Spencer Street Bridge Progresses". The Argus. 2 December 1927. p. 13. Retrieved 27 November 2012 – via Trove.
- ^ "Building Spencer Street Bridge". The Argus. Melbourne. 17 February 1928. p. 13. Retrieved 27 November 2012 – via Trove.
External links
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- Spencer Street Bridge, Victorian Heritage Database
- SPENCER STREET BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION, 0.75 CUBIC YARD GRAB IN ACTION IN DEEP CYLINDERS MAY 1928, Photograph, PROVWiki
- Arup: Spencer Street Footbridge, Melbourne, Australia