MacRobertson Bridge

MacRobertson Bridge
Coordinates37°49′50″S 145°00′45″E / 37.830446°S 145.012638°E / -37.830446; 145.012638
Carries
  • Grange Road
  • (Vehicles, pedestrians)
Crosses
LocaleMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
BeginsToorak (south)
EndsBurnley (north)
Named forSir Macpherson Robertson
(MacRobertson's)
Preceded by
Heyington Rail Bridge
Followed by
Church Street Bridge
Characteristics
DesignTruss bridge
MaterialSteel
Pier construction
Concrete
No. of spans2
No. of lanes4; (2 in each direction)
History
Opened31 October 1934 (1934-10-31)
Rebuilt1969; 1997
Location
Interactive map of MacRobertson Bridge

The MacRobertson Bridge is a truss bridge across the Yarra River and the Monash Freeway that carries Grange Road from Toorak on the south bank into Burnley, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

History

The first river crossing at the site was Twickenham Ferry, which conveyed passengers and was founded by waterman, Jesse Barrow, in 1880. It was named for the Twickenham Ferry in London.[1][2] The ferry survived until 1934, when it was replaced by the MacRobertson Bridge, financed by philanthropist and confectioner, Sir Macpherson Robertson,[3] as part of a A£100,000 gift to the celebrate the centenary of European settlement in Victoria.[4][5]

The bridge was opened on 31 October 1934,[6] although a plaque on the bridge places this date as 5 November in the same year. When built the bridge was one of two bridges in the world to be the first to use welded steel trusses.[7]

When built, the bridge spanned the Yarra River. However, in 1967 the South Eastern Arterial was built, running under the northernmost span.[8] In 1997, minor upgrades were made to the bridge when the freeway was widened as part of the CityLink project.

Description

The MacRobertson Bridge is a steel truss bridge that crosses the Yarra River. It features two spans supported by concrete piers, each with two arched openings. The Monash Freeway passes beneath the northern span. At each end of the bridge, rendered pillars and low walls mark the entrances from Richmond and South Yarra. Four additional pillars, two on each side, are positioned along the bridge. These square pillars taper upwards and sit on stepped Art Deco bases, topped with decorative cast-iron and glass lanterns.[4]

The Main Yarra Trail and the Capital City Trail pass underneath the northern and southern abutments.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Twickenham Ferry in Australia". janus.lib.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 9 July 2008 – via Cambridge University.
  2. ↑ "Twickenham Ferry". Twickenham Museum. n.d. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "Private and Public Transportation" (PDF). Heritage Review: Thematic History. City of Yarra. p. 60. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  4. 1 2 "MacRobertson Bridge, Yarra River, Heritage Overlay HO262". Victorian Heritage Database. Heritage Victoria.
  5. ↑ Lack, John. Robertson, Sir Macpherson (1845-1959). Vol. 11. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. pp. 418–419.
  6. ↑ "LOAN COUNCIL". The Argus. No. 27, 499. 6 October 1934. p. 24. Retrieved 26 September 2016 – via Trove. National Library of Australia. ..The Premier (Sir Stanley Argyle)...that the date selected for the Loan Council meeting at Canberra was not convenient for him...He had very pressing engagements In Melbourne, including the opening of the Macpherson Robertson bridge over the Yarra on Wednesday, October 31…
  7. ↑ "McKillop Bridge". Register of the National Estate. www.aussieheritage.com.au. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  8. ↑ "Richmond Conservation Study" (PDF). City of Yarra. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
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