Princes Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Princes Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 37°49′09″S 144°58′06″E / 37.8192°S 144.9682°E |
| Carries | Trams, road vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists |
| Crosses | Yarra River |
| Locale | Melbourne, Australia |
| Official name | Princes Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Arch bridge |
| Total length | 120 metres (400 ft) |
| Width | 30 metres (99 ft) |
| History | |
| Designer | John Grainger |
| Construction begin | 1886 |
| Opened | 4 October 1888 |
Princes Bridge is a famous bridge in central Melbourne, Australia. It crosses the Yarra River and is a main entrance to the city from the south. The bridge connects Swanston Street on the north side to St Kilda Road on the south. It carries cars, trams, bikes, and people walking. The bridge you see today was built in 1888. It is an important historical site listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.
Because of its great location, Princes Bridge is often a central spot for big events in Melbourne. These include the Moomba Festival and New Year's Eve celebrations. Many events on the Yarra River also happen near the bridge.
Contents
Building the Bridge: A Look Back
First River Crossings
When the first European settlers arrived in Melbourne in 1835, there was no easy way to cross the Yarra River. People used small boats called punts or ferries to get across. The government in Sydney was slow to provide money for a bridge. So, private companies often built early structures in Melbourne.
In 1840, a private company decided to build a bridge. Traders wanted the bridge to bring traffic to their streets. They chose to build it at Swanston Street, which was becoming the town's main street. In 1844, they opened a wooden bridge. People had to pay a fee, called a toll, to cross it.
The Second Bridge
A new bridge was started in 1846. It opened on November 15, 1850. This opening was part of big celebrations. These celebrated Victoria becoming a separate colony from New South Wales. This bridge was a single arch made of bluestone and granite. It was 46 meters (150 feet) long. At the time, it was one of the longest stone arch bridges in the world.
The government paid for this bridge. David Lennox designed it, and James Linacre built it. When it opened, there were no tolls. The bridge was named "Prince's Bridge" to honor Albert, Prince of Wales.
The Current Bridge (Third One)
Soon after the second bridge opened, gold was found in Victoria. Melbourne's population grew very quickly. More people and goods needed to cross the bridge. The Yarra River also needed to handle more ships. So, the river was made wider.
By the late 1870s, the 1850 bridge needed to be replaced. A design competition was held in 1879. John Grainger, an architect and engineer, won the competition. He had just arrived in Adelaide. Grainger later moved to Melbourne and had a long career. He is also known as the father of the famous composer Percy Grainger.
Building the new bridge took time due to money issues. In 1884, the old bridge was taken apart. A temporary bridge was put in its place. The stones from the old bridge were saved to be reused.
David Munro & Co. won the contract to build the new bridge. They used some materials from the old bridge. Ironwork was made by Langlands foundry in Melbourne. The foundation stone for the new bridge was laid on September 7, 1886. The new Princes Bridge officially opened on October 4, 1888. This was just in time for a big International Exhibition in Melbourne. Like many old Melbourne buildings, the bridge is built on strong bluestone and concrete.
In 1924, the bridge was made stronger. This was to support the heavier electric trams. These trams replaced the older cable trams. Today, the bridge is called "Princes Bridge." This is because apostrophes are usually not used in place names.
For a while, there was also a railway station nearby. It was on the north side of the river, east of the bridge. It connected to Flinders Street station with tracks under the bridge's northern part.
Around 2013, changes were made to the bridge's traffic lanes. Bicycle lanes were added to the road. The number of car lanes was reduced to one in each direction.
Who Uses the Bridge?
Many people walk across Princes Bridge every day. It is also used by cars, trams, buses, and bicycles. Sometimes, you might even see a horse-drawn carriage for tourists. Many people who work in the CBD park on the south side. They then walk across the bridge to work. Visitors also use it to reach the Melbourne Arts Precinct on the Southbank side.
Bridge Design
Princes Bridge is 30 meters (99 feet) wide and 120 meters (400 feet) long. It has three arch spans made of iron girders. These are supported by bluestone piers. The bridge also features fancy balustrades and lamp posts on each pier. The coats of arms on the bridge belong to the local councils. These councils helped pay for the bridge's construction.
The design of Princes Bridge looks a lot like the Blackfriars Bridge in London. Both are great examples of arch bridge design from the late 1800s. Princes Bridge is wider than Blackfriars Bridge.
The bridge was cleaned and repaired before the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Images for kids
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Princes Bridge and the Melbourne CBD from the Yarra River
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Underside of the iron girder arches
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A lamp on the bridge
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Southbank with Princes Bridge in the foreground
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