Queens Bridge (Melbourne)

Queens Bridge
Coordinates37°49′14″S 144°57′41″E / 37.820461°S 144.961384°E / -37.820461; 144.961384
CarriesVehicles; trams; pedestrians; cyclists
CrossesYarra River
LocaleMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
Official nameQueen's Bridge
Named forQueen Victoria
Preceded by
Sandridge Bridge
Followed by
King Street Bridge
Characteristics
DesignArch bridge
MaterialWrought iron plate girders
Total length96 m (314 ft)
Width30 m (99 ft)
No. of spans5
Piers in water
4
History
DesignerFrederick M. Hynes
Constructed byDavid Munro
Built1887–1889
Opened18 April 1890 (1890-04-18)
ReplacesFalls Bridge[1][2]
Official name
Queens Bridge
TypeRegistered place
Designated20 August 1982
Reference no.H1448
HO791
Category
Transport - Road
Official name
Queen's Bridge
TypeDefunct register
Designated21 March 1978
Reference no.5195
Location
Interactive map of Queens Bridge
References
[3]

The Queens Bridge (officially the Queen's Bridge) is a flat arch road bridge across the Yarra River, located in the city centre of Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia. The bridge was opened in 1889, and consists of five wrought iron plate girder spans.

The bridge was added to the Victorian Heritage Register on 20 August 1982 in recognition of its architectural, aesthetic and historical importance;[3] and on 21 March 1978, the bridge was added to the now defunct Register of the National Estate.[4]

History

The bridge was constructed by contractor David Munro and replaced a timber bridge built in 1860.[5][6][7]

The bridge is a very flat arch, and has five spans constructed of wrought iron plate girders. The bridge rests on iron cylinders in groups of eight, filled with concrete, with arched bracing between.[4] It connects Market Street and William Street on the north bank to Queensbridge Street to the south. Trams on route 58 also cross the bridge.

In 1910, Houdini leapt from the bridge while shackled, and escaped in less than a minute.[8]

Yarra Falls

Queens Bridge is situated at the location of the Yarra Falls, a waterfall that had existed on the Yarra River. The Aboriginal clans of Woiwurrung and Boon wurrung called the falls "Yarro Yarro," which means "it flows" or "ever-flowing"[9] and used it as a crossing point between their lands.[10]

In June 1835, John Batman arrived at Yarra Falls and recognised the surrounding land as a good site to build a village.[11] The site became the landing spot for ships in Melbourne, because the falls had prevented ships from travelling further upstream, which influenced the overall design of Melbourne.

In 1839, a dam was built on the falls, using convict labour, in order to secure the fresh water supply for the growing city. However, it did not last long, nor did its replacement. In 1845, a bridge was built at the site by a private company, but that was replaced by a government-funded Princes Bridge in 1850, which stood until the removal of the Falls.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "[untitled]". The Age. No. 29632. 18 April 1950. p. 3. Retrieved 16 August 2017 – via Trove. National Library of Australia.
  2. 1 2 "The Falls-Bridge: the Old and the New". The Age. No. 10963. 15 April 1890. p. 6. Retrieved 16 August 2017 – via Trove. National Library of Australia.
  3. 1 2 "Queens Bridge, Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) Number H1448, Heritage Overlay HO791". Victorian Heritage Database. Heritage Victoria. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Queen's Bridge, Queensbridge St, Melbourne (Place ID 5195)". Australian Heritage Database. Australian Government. 28 March 1978. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "The New Queen's Bridge". The Argus. No. 13, 670. 17 April 1890. p. 9. Retrieved 16 August 2017 – via Trove. National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "Bridges of Melbourne: Bridge Management Plan" (PDF). City of Melbourne. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  7. ↑ "Opening of the Queens Bridge". Illustrated Australian News and Musical Times. No. 420 (New Zealand ed.). 1 May 1890. p. 19. Retrieved 16 August 2017 – via Trove. National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ "Houdini's death-defying 1910 escape from the Yarra". pickle.nine.com.au. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  9. ↑ "The Yarra Waterfall". The Museum of Lost Things. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  10. ↑ Maunder, Patricia (11 January 2008). "Melbourne dreamtime a reality". The Age. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  11. ↑ "This will be the Place for a Village…". POI Australia. 8 June 1835. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
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