Kennedy Bridge, Bundaberg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kennedy Bridge |
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Kennedy Bridge, from Bundaberg Central side, 2009
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| Location | Bourbong Street between Bundaberg Central & Bundaberg East, Bundaberg, Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1899 |
| Architect | Alfred Barton Brady |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Kennedy Bridge, Saltwater Creek Road Bridge | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600367 |
| Significant period | 1890s (fabric) |
| Significant components | furniture/fittings, pylon/s |
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The Kennedy Bridge is a special road bridge in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia. It crosses Bundaberg Creek, connecting the areas of Bundaberg Central and Bundaberg East. This historic bridge was designed by a famous engineer named Alfred Barton Brady and was built in 1899. It's also known as the Saltwater Creek Road Bridge. The Kennedy Bridge is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important part of Queensland's history and should be protected.
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History of Kennedy Bridge
The Kennedy Bridge is a metal bridge that crosses Bundaberg Creek, which flows into the Burnett River. It was built in 1899. This bridge was one of two important bridges designed by A.B. Brady for Bundaberg. They looked similar and used similar building techniques.
Early Bundaberg Settlement
European settlers first came to the Burnett area in the 1840s and 1850s. They set up large farms for raising animals. In the late 1860s, good farming land became harder to find near Maryborough. So, farmers and loggers started looking at land along the Burnett River to the north.
The first settlers of Bundaberg chose their land around 1867-1868. They did this under special rules that encouraged farming and more people to settle in one place. The town of Bundaberg was officially mapped out in 1869. As more people arrived, boat traffic grew. Copper mining also started nearby in Mount Perry in 1871. This helped Bundaberg grow into an important port and supply center.
First Bridges in Bundaberg
The main town of Bundaberg was on the south side of the Burnett River. But both sides of the river grew, and at first, people could only cross by ferry. Before 1872, Bundaberg Creek made it hard for vehicles to travel between Bundaberg town and the area to the east.
People asked the government for help to build a bridge in 1872. Money was set aside, but all the building offers were too expensive. A local landowner named Walter Adams helped solve the problem. He offered to build it for less money than anyone else. A timber (wooden) bridge was built, and it was called Adam's Bridge. This was the very first bridge in the area.
Adam's Bridge was later replaced by another wooden bridge in 1878. This new bridge was officially opened on March 26, 1878. It was opened by the Queensland Governor, Arthur Kennedy. The bridge was then named Kennedy Bridge in his honor.
Building the Modern Kennedy Bridge
In the 1880s, Bundaberg grew very quickly because of the sugar industry. Many grand and strong stone buildings were built, showing how important and rich the city was becoming. The old wooden bridges were getting weak from all the heavy traffic. So, plans were made to replace them with stronger, more impressive bridges. These new bridges would match the city's new, grander buildings.
Two new bridges were planned at the same time, both designed by A.B. Brady. One was the Burnett Bridge, which connected Quay Street to Bundaberg North. The other was the smaller Kennedy Bridge across Bundaberg Creek. The Kennedy Bridge opened in December 1899. Its construction was paid for by a special loan and by the Bundaberg Town Council and the Woongarra Divisional Board. This showed how local groups could work together to help their whole district grow.
Design by A.B. Brady
The Kennedy Bridge is like a smaller version of the Burnett Bridge, which opened in August 1900. Both bridges look similar in design to the Victoria Bridge in Brisbane, which was built in 1897 but later taken down. All these bridges were designed by a talented engineer and Government Architect, Alfred Barton Brady.
A.B. Brady was born in 1856 and trained in England. He became one of Queensland's most important early engineers. He worked for the state government for 37 years. He started with railways in 1885, then moved to the Public Works Department in 1889. From 1892, he became the Government Architect and engineer for bridges. Brady designed many important public buildings, but he was especially good at designing bridges. The Kennedy Bridge is a great example of his work that is still used today and looks much like it did when it was first built.
What the Bridge Looks Like
The Kennedy Bridge connects Bourbong Street and Bourbong Street East over Saltwater Creek. It has one main metal section, called a span, which is about 48.8 meters long. This span is made of metal trusses, which are like strong metal frameworks, with a curved top part. The bridge has a road that is about 7.3 meters wide and a footpath for people to walk on. The metal floor of the bridge sits between the lower parts of the metal trusses.
Bridge Features
At each end of the bridge, there are "L" shaped concrete pylons. Pylons are like tall, strong towers that mark the entrance to the bridge. From the road, they look square. These pylons are designed in a neo-classical style, which means they look like ancient Greek or Roman buildings. They have a Doric style top part, called an entablature, sitting on a rough-looking base. There are also lights on fancy metal brackets that face the roads leading to the bridge.
The bridge had some repair work done in 1991 and has been repainted. It still looks very much like it did when it was first built.
Why Kennedy Bridge is Important
The Kennedy Bridge was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it's recognized for several important reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history developed. The Kennedy Bridge, opened in 1899, helps us understand how Bundaberg grew. Bundaberg became a very important center for growing sugar in Queensland in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
- It's a great example of its kind. This bridge is a good example of how bridges were designed and built during that time. It's also very similar to the Burnett River Bridge, which opened in 1900.
- It's connected to an important person. The bridge is important because it was designed by Alfred Barton Brady. He worked for the Queensland government for 37 years and helped build many important buildings and bridges across the state.
