Richmond Bridge (Tasmania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Richmond Bridge |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Carries | Motor vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles |
| Crosses | Coal River |
| Locale | Richmond, Tasmania |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 41m (135ft) |
| Width | 7.2m (25ft) |
| Longest span | Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources |
| History | |
| Opened | 1825 |
The Richmond Bridge is a very old and important bridge located in Richmond, Tasmania, Australia. Richmond is about 25 kilometers (15 miles) north of Hobart, the capital city of Tasmania. This bridge is special because it is the oldest bridge in Australia that is still used today. It carries cars, people walking, and bicycles across the Coal River.
History of the Bridge
The building of the Richmond Bridge began a long time ago. The first stone was laid on December 11, 1823. The bridge was built by convicts, who were prisoners sent to Australia from Britain. They worked hard to construct this important structure. The bridge was finished in 1825.
Originally, the bridge was called Bigge's Bridge. It was named after a man named John Thomas Bigge. He was a Royal Commissioner who visited the area in 1820 and realized that a bridge was really needed there.
In 2005, the Richmond Bridge was recognized as a very important historical place. It was added to the Australian National Heritage List. This list includes places that are special to Australia's history and culture.
An Incident at the Bridge
In 1832, a guard from the nearby Richmond Gaol named George Grover died in an incident at the Richmond Bridge. He was known for being very strict with the prisoners. He was pushed off the bridge, but the details of what happened were never fully solved.
How the Bridge Was Built
The Richmond Bridge is made from sandstone. This stone was dug up from a place called Butchers Hill. Convicts carried the heavy stones to the building site using hand carts.
The bridge has six main arches. These arches are like curved openings that allow the river to flow underneath. The sizes of these arches are: 4.3 meters (14 feet), 8.1 meters (27 feet), 8.3 meters (27 feet), 8.5 meters (28 feet), 8.3 meters (27 feet), and 4.1 meters (13 feet). The arches rise from parts that are shaped to help the bridge stand strong against the river's flow.
Images for kids
-
A view through an arch of the bridge
