View source for Sandridge Bridge

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}}
{{Infobox Bridge |
|image=Sandridge Bridge (Built in 1888).jpg
|bridge_name   = Sandridge Bridge
|locale=[[Melbourne]], [[Australia]]
|carries=Pedestrians, cyclists
|crosses=[[Yarra River]]
|open=1888
|below=
|design= Steel girder
|mainspan= 36.9 m (121.1 ft)
|length= 178.4 m (585 ft)
|width= 17 m (55.8 ft)
}}

The '''Sandridge Bridge''' is a historic bridge, which originally carried railway lines over the [[Yarra River]] in [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Australia]]. It runs diagonally to the river and is {{convert|178.4|m|ft}} long. In 2006, it was redeveloped as a pedestrian and cycle path, featuring public art. It is the third bridge on the site and is listed on the [[Victorian Heritage Register]].<ref name=her>{{cite web |title=Sandridge Railway Line Bridge |url=https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/1301/download-report |website=Victorian Heritage Database |publisher=Heritage Council of Victoria |access-date=2023-12-01}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Yarra River railway bridge 1928.jpg|thumb|Sandbridge Bridge c.1927 - it is the middle bridge]]
[[File:Sandridge Bridge over the Yarra River, Melbourne, 1959.jpg|thumb|Train crossing the bridge, 1959]]

The first bridge was built in 1853 for the [[Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company]] [[Port Melbourne railway line]], which ran from [[Flinders Street railway station|Flinders Street]] to what was then known as Sandridge, now [[Port Melbourne railway station|Port Melbourne]], on Hobsons Bay, [[Port Phillip]].<ref name=her/> It was the first railway in Australia to operate with [[steam locomotive]]s.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Centenary of the Melbourne-Sandridge Railway |last=Harrigan |first=L.J. |date=September 1954 |magazine=[[Australian Railway History|Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]]|volume=5 (new series)|issue=203 |location=Redfern, NSW |publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society, New South Wales Division |issn=1449-6291 |page=101}}</ref> In 1857, the [[St Kilda railway line]] was opened, which ran parallel with the Sandridge line across the bridge.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=infrastructure&line=St%20Kilda
|title=Line data: St Kilda line
|work=VICSIG - Infrastructure
|publisher=vicsig.net
|access-date=2008-07-05
}}</ref> The original bridge was replaced in 1858 by a timber trestle bridge carrying two tracks<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.nattrust.com.au/trust_register/search_the_register/sandridge_rail_bridge
|title=Sandridge rail bridge
|publisher=National Trust of Australia
|access-date=2008-07-05
}}</ref> with the tight curve of the original railway removed by rebuilding the bridge on a more oblique angle, as seen today.<ref name=aus>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.aussieheritage.com.au/listings/vic/South%20Melbourne/PortMelbourneFlindersStreetRailwayReservation/17807
 |title       = Port Melbourne Flinders Street Railway Reservation, South Melbourne, VIC Profile
 |publisher   = Aussie Heritage
 |access-date  = 2008-07-05
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080810024656/http://www.aussieheritage.com.au/listings/vic/South%20Melbourne/PortMelbourneFlindersStreetRailwayReservation/17807
 |archive-date = 10 August 2008
}}</ref>

The current bridge was designed by the [[Victorian Railways]] and the construction contract was let to [[David Munro (engineer)|David Munro & Co]] in 1886, the four-track bridge opening for traffic in 1888.<ref name=her/> The actual junction of the Port Melbourne and St Kilda lines was at Flinders Street, with the two pairs of tracks running parallel until Clarendon Street, where the St Kilda line diverged south.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.victorianrailways.net/signaling/completedia/ptmelb1971.html
|title=Port Melbourne line 1971
|work=Victorian Railways signal diagram
|publisher=victorianrailways.net
|access-date=2008-07-05
}}</ref> Constructed at a 33-degree angle to the river bank, it was one of the first railway structures in Melbourne to use [[steel]] girders rather than [[iron]], and the workforce included a young engineering student, [[John Monash]]. On either side of the river, the steel girders were supported by [[Bluestone#Victoria|bluestone]] and brick buttresses and, on the south side, the structure continued as a brick viaduct. In the 1920s, overhead electrical stanchions were added as part of the [[railway electrification system|electrification]] of the line, and the original timber deck was replaced with rail and concrete slabs.<ref name=her/>

The use of the bridge by the Port Melbourne and St Kilda railway lines ceased in 1987, when both lines were converted to [[light rail]]. There were proposals for the light rail lines to continue over the Sandridge Bridge into Flinders Street station,<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://philam.github.io/archive/docs/southernptlinkfeasibilitystudy1991.pdf |title=Southern Public Transport Link Feasibility Study |year=1991 |pages=2-3}}</ref> but they were diverted from the railway reserve at Clarendon Street and run into the city via [[Spencer Street]]. The light rail lines operate today as the [[Melbourne tram route 96|route 96]] tram to [[St Kilda, Victoria|St Kilda]], and [[Melbourne tram route 109|route 109]] tram to [[Port Melbourne, Victoria|Port Melbourne]].

The viaduct over Queensbridge Street and the embankment across the South Bank were listed by the National Trust and were noted as being historically significant, but were removed. Only the bridge over the river itself was retained,<ref name=aus/> with a number of different redevelopment plans proposed during the 1990s.

== Redevelopment ==
[[File:Sandridge Bridge Built in 1888 (Historical Site).jpg|thumb|The bridge after redevelopment]]

In 2001, the State Government held an expressions of interest process for refurbishment of the bridge, seeking commercial involvement, but the process was not successful and, in 2003, the [[Melbourne City Council]] and the Department of Sustainability and Environment took over.<ref name=press>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/b0222c68d27626e2ca256c8c001a3d2d/403f184fc292a2d0ca256ffc00061aec!OpenDocument
 |title       = Travellers tales to be writ large on Sandridge Bridge
 |work        = Media Release: Minister for Planning, Minister for Arts
 |date        = 8 May 2005
 |publisher   = legislation.vic.gov.au
 |access-date  = 2008-07-05
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120307155943/http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/b0222c68d27626e2ca256c8c001a3d2d/403f184fc292a2d0ca256ffc00061aec!OpenDocument
 |archive-date = 7 March 2012
 }}</ref><ref name=open>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/revamped-bridge-makes-the-journey-worthwhile/2006/03/12/1142098344947.html |title=Revamped bridge makes the journey worthwhile
|work=The Age |first=Chantal |last=Rumble|date=13 March 2006 |access-date=2008-07-05}}</ref> They committed $15.5 million to restore the bridge, create a plaza on the Southbank side, and make connections to walkways on the Yarra north bank. In 2005, it was announced that artist [[Nadim Karam]] had been commissioned to create ten abstract sculptures in a group titled ''The Travellers'', which represents the different types of immigrants who traditionally arrived by train over the bridge from [[Station Pier]], Port Melbourne. Nine of the sculptures move across the bridge in a 15-minute sequence, travelling on bogies running between the two bridge spans.<ref name=press/>

The refurbished bridge was unveiled three days before the [[2006 Commonwealth Games]] in [[Melbourne]], at a final cost of $18.5 million.<ref name=open/> It included a new pedestrian and cycle path, and public space, connecting a new Queensbridge Square at [[Southbank, Victoria|Southbank]] to Flinders Walk on the north bank. However, only the eastern half of the bridge was reopened, the western half being stabilised and fenced off from public access.

On 11 June 2007, the bridge was vandalised when persons unknown used a sledgehammer to smash 46 of the 128 glass panels of the ''Travellers'' exhibit. Each glass panel offers information about Australian indigenous peoples or the countries of immigrants to Australia, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. It was expected to cost between A$200,000 and A$300,000 to repair and city councillors were considering using more durable materials to replace the glass.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/disbelief-at-vandals-attack-on-migrant-tribute/2007/06/13/1181414376540.html
|title=Disbelief at vandal's attack on migrant tribute
|work=The Age
|first1=Daniella |last1=Miletic |first2=Lawrence |last2=Money
|date=14 June 2007
|access-date=2008-07-05
}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=April 2022}}

In 2007, the project was awarded the [[Melbourne Prize]] by the Victorian Chapter of the [[Australian Institute of Architects]], for its design and its contribution to the public life of Melbourne.

== Specifications ==
The bridge is 178.4 metres (585&nbsp;ft) long and is made up of five spans, measuring in length, from the south bank to the north bank: 36.9 metres (121.1&nbsp;ft), 36.6 metres (120.1&nbsp;ft), 36.3 metres (119.1&nbsp;ft), 36.9 metres (121.1&nbsp;ft) and 31.7 metres (104&nbsp;ft). The bridge is 17 metres (55.8&nbsp;ft) wide and the girders are 2.74 metres (8.98&nbsp;ft) high from the top to the bottom flange.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:SandridgeBridge-1.jpg|Sculptures on the Sandridge Bridge
File:SandridgeBridge-2-cropped.jpg|The glass panels contain information about each country from which immigrants came to Melbourne.
File:SandridgeBridge-below.jpg|The bridge as viewed from Southbank.
File:SandridgeBridge-night.jpg|Vandalised glass panels have been sectioned off behind temporary fencing.
File:Sandridge Bridge Towards Flinders Railway Station.jpg|Sandridge Bridge Towards [[Flinders Street railway station|Flinders Street station]]
File:Sandridge Bridge in South Bank End.jpg|Sandridge Bridge (Built 1888) Redeveloped in [[Southbank, Victoria|South Bank]] End
File:Melbourne South Bank & Sandridge Bridge.jpg|[[Melbourne]] [[Southbank, Victoria|South Bank]] & Sandridge Bridge
File:Sandridge Bridge with South & North Banks.jpg|Sandridge Bridge with South & North Banks
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Disused rail start}}
{{rail line|col={{rcr|Australian closed station}}
| route = [[Port Melbourne railway line|Port Melbourne line]]
|previous={{rws|Flinders Street}}| next = {{rws|Montague}}
}}
{{rail line|col={{rcr|Australian closed station}}
| route = [[St Kilda railway line|St Kilda]] line
|previous={{rws|Flinders Street}}| next = {{rws|South Melbourne}}
}}
{{s-note|text=[[List of closed railway stations in Melbourne]]}}
{{rail end}}
{{Yarra River Crossings}}
{{Australian railway bridges|state=autocollapse}}

{{coord|37.820218|S|144.962529|E|source:dewiki_region:AU-NSW_type:landmark|format=dms|display=title}}

[[Category:Pedestrian bridges in Melbourne]]
[[Category:Heritage sites in Melbourne]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1888]]
[[Category:Bridges over the Yarra River]]
[[Category:1888 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Former railway bridges in Australia]]
[[Category:Transport in the City of Melbourne (LGA)]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in the City of Melbourne (LGA)]]
[[Category:Southbank, Victoria]]