Victoria Bridge is a heritage-listed
swing bridge
A swing bridge (or swing span bridge) is a movable bridge that has as its primary structural support a vertical locating pin and support ring, usually at or near to its center of gravity, about which the swing span (turning span) can then pi ...
over the
Ross Creek at Stokes Street,
Townsville CBD
Townsville City is a coastal suburb at the centre of the City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. In the , the suburb of Townsville City had a population of 2,910 people.
It is the city's central business district and a major hub for busine ...
,
City of Townsville
The City of Townsville is a local government area (LGA) located in North Queensland, Australia. It encompasses the city of Townsville, together with the surrounding rural areas, to the south are the communities of Alligator Creek, Woodstock an ...
,
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, establishe ...
,
Australia. The central-pivoting swing bridge was constructed by G. H. Royce & Co. in 1888 to 1889. It is one of only two of its type constructed in Australia.
By 1924 the swing section had ceased to function, but the bridge continued to serve as a road bridge until 1975. Following a 1988 redevelopment, it was converted to
pedestrian traffic, with a row of modern shops built along its length.
It was added to the
Queensland Heritage Register
The Queensland Heritage Register is a heritage register, a statutory list of places in Queensland, Australia that are protected by Queensland legislation, the Queensland Heritage Act 1992. It is maintained by the Queensland Heritage Council. A ...
on 21 October 1992.
History
Apart from Victoria Bridge, built in 1888-1889, the only other metal girder swing bridge constructed in Australia was the smaller one over the
Forth River at
Leith
Leith (; gd, Lìte) is a port area in the north of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, founded at the mouth of the Water of Leith. In 2021, it was ranked by ''Time Out'' as one of the top five neighbourhoods to live in the world.
The earliest ...
in
Tasmania
)
, nickname =
, image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdi ...
, built in 1884. Tenders were called by the
Department of Works, Bridges Branch, on 25 September 1885 for the Townsville structure. A tender submitted by G.H. Royce & Co. of Sydney was accepted at a cost of £18,868. The approaches were constructed by Robertson & Stein and cost £1,780.
[
It was opened to traffic on 2 July 1889 and saw active service until 1975. The innovative design of a swing bridge pivoting on a central drum was an unusual method of allowing river traffic to pass up shallow Ross Creek. The central swing allowed large ships to pass through in the deeper, left hand channel, while smaller craft could take the shallower right lane. During the years after the bridge was opened the commercial centre of Townsville expanded and the warehouse district was gradually confined closer to the mouth of Ross Creek. Ships were no longer required to move up the creek to unload. By 1924 the swing section had ceased to function because of movement of the central drum.][
However, vehicular traffic continued to cross for another fifty years. The bridge had seriously deteriorated by the 1980s and was threatened with demolition, until 1988 when it was leased by the ]Townsville City Council
The City of Townsville is a local government area (LGA) located in North Queensland, Australia. It encompasses the city of Townsville, together with the surrounding rural areas, to the south are the communities of Alligator Creek, Woodstock an ...
to a developer. Conservation work was undertaken as part of the re-development. A new superstructure of shops was built onto and around the existing fabric and the approaches to the bridge and the banks were landscaped. The kiosks installed along the northern bank are now a favourite meeting place for the community.[
]
Description
Victoria Bridge was originally one of only two metal girder, swing bridges in Australia. It was an all steel structure except for wooden decking. A central drum, from which the central span
Span may refer to:
Science, technology and engineering
* Span (unit), the width of a human hand
* Span (engineering), a section between two intermediate supports
* Wingspan, the distance between the wingtips of a bird or aircraft
* Sorbitan ester ...
swung open, housed the gas, free piston Otto engine
The Otto engine was a large stationary single-cylinder internal combustion four-stroke engine designed by the German Nicolaus Otto. It was a low-RPM machine, and only fired every other stroke due to the Otto cycle, also designed by Otto.
Typ ...
. A row of modern shops has been built along its length, with a restaurant under the eastern end of the structure. An office is located beneath the western end.[
Although the swing span no longer moves, the bridge is structurally sound. The gas engine was removed and in 1991 was mounted at the city end. The addition of a modern superstructure of shops and the removal of the approaches has substantially altered the visual aspect.][
]
Heritage listing
Victoria Bridge was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register
The Queensland Heritage Register is a heritage register, a statutory list of places in Queensland, Australia that are protected by Queensland legislation, the Queensland Heritage Act 1992. It is maintained by the Queensland Heritage Council. A ...
on 21 October 1992 having satisfied the following criteria.[
The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history.
The design of this central pivoting, swing bridge was an innovative solution to the problem of a bridge over a shallow waterway.][
Only one other bridge of a similar design was constructed in Australia.][
Victoria Bridge is also held in high regard because it has been a feature of the townscape and played a major part in the development of the city for over one hundred years.][
The place demonstrates rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of Queensland's cultural heritage.
Only one other bridge of a similar design was constructed in Australia.][
The place is important in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period.
The design of this central pivoting, swing bridge was an innovative solution to the problem of a bridge over a shallow waterway.][
The place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.
Victoria Bridge is also held in high regard because it has been a feature of the townscape and played a major part in the development of the city for over one hundred years.][
File:StateLibQld 1 231273 Castle Hill viewed above the Townsville township, ca. 1955.jpg, Looking across the Victoria Bridge to Townsville CBD with ]Castle Hill, Townsville
Castle Hill is a heritage-listed isolated pink granite monolith in the suburb of Castle Hill, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Its Indigenous name is Cootharinga, sometimes written as Cooderinga.
It rises to a height of some above ...
in the background, circa 1955
File:Victoria Bridge, Townsville below the swinging span.jpg, View of the underside of the bridge with the central drum that allowed the bridge to pivot, 2016
File:Victoria Bridge, Townsville deck the swinging span.jpg, The swinging span of the bridge deck, 2016
File:Victoria Bridge, Townsville swinging span.jpg, Boat approaching the swinging span, 2016
Engineering heritage award
The bridge received a Historic Engineering Marker from Engineers Australia
Engineers Australia (EA) is an Australian professional body and not-for-profit organisation whose purpose is to advance the science and practice of engineering for the benefit of the community. Engineers Australia is Australia's recognized org ...
as part of its Engineering Heritage Recognition Program.
References
Attribution
External links
{{Commons category-inline, Victoria Bridge, Townsville
Bridges in Queensland
Bridges completed in 1889
Swing bridges in Australia
Pedestrian bridges in Australia
Steel bridges in Australia
Queensland Heritage Register
Buildings and structures in Townsville
Townsville CBD
Articles incorporating text from the Queensland Heritage Register
Recipients of Engineers Australia engineering heritage markers
Queensland Heritage Register sites located in Townsville