Bunbury Bridge facts for kids
The Bunbury Bridge was an important railway bridge in East Perth, Western Australia. It was made of timber and had a single track for trains. This bridge crossed the Swan River near a place called Claise Brook. It was built so trains could carry people and goods to Bunbury on the South Western Railway. It was also part of the Armadale railway line.
Contents
Building the First Bunbury Bridge
The first Bunbury Bridge, which was then called the Swan Bridge, was built in 1892. Two companies, Atkins and Law, worked together to build it. Building the bridge was quite tricky because of the soft riverbed.
Challenges with Bridge Foundations
The builders had to sink long wooden poles, called jarrah piles, deep into the riverbed to support the bridge. These piles were meant to go about 42 feet (13 m) (about 13 meters) below the water. However, the riverbed was so soft that the piles sank to this depth just by their own weight! The workers had to push them much deeper, between 85 to 96 feet (26 to 29 m) (about 26 to 29 meters), to find solid ground for the bridge to stand on.
Opening and Replacement of the Bridge
The Bunbury Bridge opened as part of the new railway line connecting Perth to Bunbury. This railway line was officially opened on 8 September 1893. The Governor at the time, Governor Robinson, was there for the special event.
The "Temporary" Replacement Bridge
After some time, people became worried about how safe the old timber bridge was. So, a new bridge was built to replace it. This new bridge was constructed between 1930 and 1932. Even though it was meant to be a "temporary" replacement, it ended up being used for a very long time – 63 years!
The End of the Old Bridge
The "temporary" timber bridge was finally closed in 1995. This happened because a brand new concrete railway bridge was opened. The old timber bridge was then taken down in early 1996.
Modern Bridges in the Area
The new concrete bridge that opened in 1995 is called the Goongoongup Bridge. It has two tracks for trains and was built as part of a project to make Perth's suburban railways electric. Another important bridge, the Windan Bridge, opened in April 2000. It is right next to the Goongoongup Bridge and carries road traffic from the Graham Farmer Freeway.
