Bunbury Bridge Explained

Bunbury Bridge was a single-track, timber railway bridge in East Perth in Western Australia. The bridge crossed the Swan River near Claise Brook and was built for passenger and freight traffic to Bunbury on the South Western Railway.

Originally called the Swan Bridge,[1] it was built in 1892 by Atkins and Law.[2] Construction was delayed due to troubles with sinking the jarrah piles into the soft riverbed: they were intended to be sunk 42feet below the water level, but reached this depth under their own weight as soon as they were put in position. Ultimately, they had to be driven to 85feetto96feetft (toft) before a solid footing was found.

The bridge was opened as part of the Perth to Bunbury Railway, which was officially opened on 8 September 1893 by Governor Robinson.[3] [4] [5] Following concerns for its safety, a so-called "temporary" replacement bridge was built between 1930[6] and 1932.[7] [8] [9]

After 63 years of use, the temporary structure was closed when a new concrete railway bridge opened in 1995.[10] [11] The old timber bridge was demolished in early 1996. The 1995 concrete dual-track Goongoongup Bridge was built as part of the electrification of Perth's suburban railways. Windan Bridge (opened April 2000) is immediately adjacent and carries road traffic from the Graham Farmer Freeway.

See also

References

-31.9479°N 115.8829°W

Notes and References

  1. News: The South-Western Railway: Mr Neil McNeil's Picnic . . Perth . 19 December 1892 . 2012-10-14 . 2.
  2. Book: Table Construction of the W.A Government Railways network, 1879-1931 . 208–210 . Adrian . Gunzburg . Geff . Austin . 2008 . Rails through the Bush: Timber and Firewood Tramways and Railway Contractors of Western Australia . Perth, Western Australia . Rail Heritage WA . 978-0-9803922-2-7 . 12330925W.
  3. News: City of Perth. . . NSW . 14 October 1893 . 7 April 2012 . 19 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: Perth-Bunbury Railway Bridge Over The Swan River. . Perth . 28 April 1893 . 7 April 2012 . 1 Supplement: The Inquirer and Commercial News . National Library of Australia.
  5. Chapter 21 . History of West Australia . History of West Australia . 1897 . 339.
  6. News: New Bunbury Bridge Commenced. . . Perth . 15 June 1930 . 7 April 2012 . 5 Section: Second Section . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: New Bunbury Bridge. . Perth . 22 January 1932 . 7 April 2012 . 20 . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: New Bunbury Bridge. . Perth . 19 June 1930 . 7 April 2012 . 23 . National Library of Australia.
  9. Bunbury Bridge, East Perth – history of the bridge built in 1932 and plans for its replacement Westrail News, April 1993, p.5
  10. Bunbury Bridge, East Perth – $10m contract awarded to Transfield Constructions for new bridge construction Westrail News, Feb. 1994, p.1,6
  11. Web site: Official opening of Goongoonup Bridge (sic) . 24 July 1995 . Govt. of Western Australia . 23 December 2018 . 17 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180517153338/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Court/1995/07/Official-opening-of-Goongoonup-Bridge.aspx . dead .

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