Victoria Bridge, Brisbane

So, I'm standing here on the Victoria Bridge in Brisbane, and it's pretty cool to think about all the history under my feet! This isn't just any bridge; it's actually the third permanent one that's been built right here. This current one opened in 1969, and since early 2021, it's exclusively for buses, pedestrians, and cyclists. They even call the cycling path "CityLink."

It's wild to imagine that this spot has been a river crossing since 1865. The very first attempt, called the Brisbane Bridge, started construction in 1864. The contractor even built a temporary timber bridge while they worked on the main one, and he charged a toll for it! But that whole project ran into financial trouble when the Bank of Queensland went under in 1866. To make matters worse, that timber bridge was quickly eaten by marine worms and pretty much fell apart within two years. People had to go back to ferries after it collapsed in 1867.

Then came the first Victoria Bridge in 1874. It was an iron structure and also a toll bridge, but the tolls were so unpopular and didn't bring in enough money, so the government eventually took it over and got rid of them. This one even had a turning span for tall ships, though it wasn't used much later on. That bridge had a tough time too, getting partially washed away in the 1893 Brisbane flood. That flood actually led to a terrible ferry disaster a few years later, where over 40 people died.

They built another replacement, the second Victoria Bridge, which lasted from 1897 until 1969. You can still see a piece of its southern abutment, which is now heritage-listed, right next to where I am. There's even a pedestrian arch and a bit of old tram track there, plus a memorial for a boy who tragically died waving to soldiers. This bridge started showing signs of buckling from traffic by 1943!

The current bridge, which is pretty sleek and elegant, opened in 1969. For a short time, both the old and new bridges were open, each handling traffic in one direction. It’s amazing how much this river crossing has changed over the years!