Princes Bridge

Princes Bridge
Coordinates	37°49′09″S 144°58′06″E
Carries	Trams, road vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists
Crosses	Yarra River
Locale	Melbourne, Australia
Official name	Princes Bridge
Characteristics
Design	Arch bridge
History
Opened	4 October, 1888
Location

Princes Bridge is a historic bridge that crosses the Yarra River in Central Melbourne, Australia. It is one of the oldest river crossings in Australia, being the third bridge on the same location, the first built in 1844, the current bridge was built in 1888, making it 120 years old. The bridge connects Swanston Street on the Yarra River's northern bank to St Kilda Road on the southern bank, and carries, road, tram and pedestrian traffic. The bridge is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.

Because of its position, Princes Bridge is often a focal point for celebratory events in Melbourne such as the Moomba Festival, New Years Eve and many celebrations taking place on the Yarra River where it flows through the city.

History

This bridge is the third to have existed on this site, the first being a wooden trestle bridge which opened in 1844, later replaced by a single span sandstone bridge designed by David Lennox which opened in 1851. The sandstone bridge was at the time the longest single span bridge in the world, and lasted for a 35 years until an increase in traffic across the bridge and the need to widen the river, required that a longer bridge was built.

When the first European settlers settled the Central Melbourne area in 1835 there was no permanent crossing point of the Yarra River. Over time various punt and ferry operators set up business in the absense of a bridge. The government in Sydney was unreliable in providing funds for the construction of a bridge, thus most of Melbourne’s early infrastructure was provided by private enterprise. On 22nd April 1840 a private company was set up with the intention of constructing a bridge across the Yarra. Traders in Elizabeth Street vied with those in Swanston Street to have the through traffic that would be generated by a bridge.

The present bridge is named after Edward, Prince of Wales, and was built between 1886 and 1888 by David Munro. It was designed by John Grainger (1855-1917), the father of the Australian composer Percy Grainger, and was opened on 4 October 1888.

Railway Station

Princes Bridge was also the name of a railway station located on the northern side of the river, to the east of the bridge, on the current site of Federation Square. It was linked to Flinders Street Station by the railway tracks that run underneath the northern approach to the bridge.

Transport

Pedestrians account for the majority of traffic volumes, as most people crossing the bridge do so on foot or bicycle.

Statistics

Princes Bridge is 30 metres (99 ft) wide and 120 metres (400 ft) long, with bluestone squat half columns resting on piers supporting the three iron girder arches. The coat of arms on the bridge belong to the municipal councils who contributed towards the cost of construction. Other design features include an elaborate balustrade along the top of the bridge, and lamp standards crowning each pier. The bridge underwent a restoration before the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Gallery

• 
  Princes Bridge and Melbourne CBD from the Yarra river
• 
  Underside of the iron girder arches
• 
  A lamp on the bridge
• 
  Melbourne Southbank with Princes Bridge in the foregound

See Also

• Crossings of the Yarra River

External links

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• Federation Square web site History of the Federation Square site, including a PDF file documenting some of the history of Princes Bridge.
• Panoramic virtual tour from Princes Bridge