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 and Exhibition Centre.[15][16][17][18][19]

  • The parallel glass and steel footbridge
  • Yarra River & Spencer Street Bridge
  • Spencer Street Bridge 1930 Plaque

References
  1. "SPENCER-STREET BRIDGE". The Examiner. Launceston, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 29 June 1928. p. 11 Edition: DAILY. 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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