Category: Queensland State Archives’ Photostream About Fortitude Valley

View of Hornibrook Highway Bridge portals and toll house as erected at each end of bridge, c 1934

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

From the Queensland Heritage Register.

The Hornibrook Highway Bridge was constructed in the years 1932-35, by the firm of M.R. Hornibrook. Conceived as a response to high unemployment, and economic recession, it also represented an opportunity to end the isolation of the residents of the Redcliffe Peninsula.

Prior to the construction of the Hornibrook viaduct, the Redcliffe Peninsula was accessed via two main methods of transport: ferry and road. Road transportation in particular was of great concern to the residents of the Redcliffe area. During times of wet weather, the Redcliffe road running via Petrie regularly became impassable to vehicles.

Several schemes had been drafted to improve the accessibility of the Redcliffe area to vehicle owners and also to the growing day-tripper market, having seaside holidays at Redcliffe.

These schemes favoured the construction of a new road link across Hayes Inlet and the mouth of the South Pine River.

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Nash's Gully Bridge – Mary River Flood, January 1927

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Daily Mercury
25 January 1927

FLOOD IN MARY RIVER.

The Mary River at 6 p.m. had reached 44ft 6in. on the gauge and is rising at the rate of 7in an hour. The water has yet to come from the head of the Mary and its. tributaries which include Kenilworth, where 126 points were recorded up to 9 o’clock this
morning.

Reports from Kenilworth state that all the bridges over the river which include the railway bridge on the Mary Valley line and the creeks, are all submerged.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 6408

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Opening of the bridge over Maroochy River, October 1965

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Nambour Chronicle
30 October 1953

MAROOCHY RIVER BRIDGE SITE SELECTED

Structure Estimated at £52,800

Three sites for Maroochy River bridge have been selected, estimated costs being from £52,800 to £55,700. Report on the sites were presented by Mr. D. A. Crawford (ex-Main Roads Commissioner) to the Maroochy Council on Monday last. The Council approved of the Bli Bli wharf site at an estimated cost of £52,800, and authorised the sinking of test piles and the preparation of preliminary plans. It was pointed out that Government subsidy on this project would 20 p.c.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 22117

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HRH The Duke of Edinburgh officially opening The Gateway Bridge, 14 May 1986

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The Gateway Bridge was opened to the public on 11 January 1986 when around 200,000 people walked over it. The bridge was open to cars the following day.

It was officially opened by the Duke of Edinburgh on 14 May 1986, and since it had been carrying cars for four months he declared it “more open than usual”.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 9882

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Bridge and Bribie Island at the Bribie Bridge opening, October 1963

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Bribie Island is the only Moreton Bay Island to be connected to the mainland by road. The 831m bridge to Bribie Island opened in 1963 after two years of construction. It was considered an engineering marvel at the time, being the longest pre-stressed, pre-cast concrete bridge in Australia.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 16963

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The Hon F Nicklin Premier of Queensland paying the toll at the Bribie Bridge opening, October 1963

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Bribie Island is the only Moreton Bay Island to be connected to the mainland by road. The 831m bridge to Bribie Island opened in 1963 after two years of construction. It was considered an engineering marvel at the time, being the longest pre-stressed, pre-cast concrete bridge in Australia.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 16948

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