Walter Taylor Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Walter Taylor |
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| Coordinates | 27°30′21″S 152°58′25″E / 27.505773°S 152.973606°E |
| Carries | Motor vehicles, pedestrians |
| Crosses | Brisbane River |
| Locale | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Official name | Walter Taylor Bridge |
| Other name(s) | Indooroopilly Toll Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Suspension bridge |
| Total length | 299.7 metres (983 ft) |
| Longest span | 182.9 metres (600 ft) |
| History | |
| Construction cost | £85,000 |
| Opened | 14 February 1936 |
The Walter Taylor Bridge is a special suspension bridge in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It crosses the Brisbane River connecting the areas of Indooroopilly and Chelmer. Cars and people can both use this bridge. It's also unique because it's the only bridge in the Southern Hemisphere where people used to live inside its towers!
Contents
What Makes the Walter Taylor Bridge Special?
Bridge Design and Structure
The Walter Taylor Bridge is a suspension bridge. This means it hangs from strong cables that are supported by tall towers. Its design is similar to the Hercilio Luz Bridge in Brazil.
On this bridge, the main support structure, called a truss, is above the road. The suspension cables connect to this truss at different heights. This special way of building makes the cables part of the truss itself.
Homes Inside the Towers
One of the most amazing things about the Walter Taylor Bridge is that its two towers used to be homes! Families lived inside these towers until 2010. The last people to move out were part of the family of the original toll collector.
Near the Chelmer side of the bridge, there is a park. The Walter Taylor Bridge is one of four bridges close to each other in this area. The others are the Albert Bridge, the Indooroopilly Railway Bridge, and the Jack Pesch Bridge.
History of the Walter Taylor Bridge
Who Built the Bridge?
The idea for the bridge came from a local person named Walter Taylor. He was a builder who lived nearby. He planned, designed, built, and even paid for the bridge himself!
Before this bridge, people living in the area found it hard to cross the river by car. There was a train bridge, but no way for cars. People could walk across earlier versions of the Albert Bridge from 1875. Construction on the Walter Taylor Bridge started in 1930.
Building with Recycled Materials
The strong support cables used for the Walter Taylor Bridge were actually extra cables. They were left over from building the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge! This bridge had the longest span of any suspension bridge in Australia when it first opened.
Opening and Tolls
The Walter Taylor Bridge officially opened on February 14, 1936. The Governor of Queensland, Sir Leslie Wilson, was there for the opening. The bridge cost about £85,000 to build.
For many years, the bridge was a "toll bridge." This meant drivers had to pay a small fee to cross it. There was a toll booth at the Indooroopilly end. Because of this, it was known as the "Indooroopilly Toll Bridge." Walter Taylor was a director of the company that ran the bridge. The tolls stopped being collected in the 1960s.
Renaming the Bridge
Walter Taylor passed away in 1955. The next year, in 1956, the bridge was renamed the Walter Taylor Bridge. This was done to honor him and his vision.
Heritage Status
The Walter Taylor Bridge is considered a very important historical site. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992. This means it is protected and recognized for its special history and design.
Images for kids
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The Walter Taylor Bridge (left) next to the Indooroopilly Railway Bridge.
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The official opening of the Indooroopilly Toll Bridge in Brisbane, 1936.
