Welcome sign on Holyman Av, Cambridge, exiting Hobart Airport. Image © Hobart Airport.

General Information:

Back in the early colonial days, as roads started stretching across the colony, a lot of well-known bridges were actually built by convicts. Tasmania's first recorded brick bridge went up in 1816, spanning the Hobart Rivulet on Elizabeth Street. ¹

Kings Bridge (Launceston, TAS):

Carrying Trevallyn Road over the confluence of South Esk River and River Tamar in Launceston, the fabrication of Kings Bridge commenced in Manchester, England, when completed, the span was shipped to Australia. The designer of the first span was William Thomas Doyne, (1823-1877), a civil engineer born in Ireland. At the request of the West Tamar Road Trust, Doyne designed the elegant bridge to cross the South Esk River at Launceston. It was described as a wrought-iron arch spanning 190 feet. ²

In 1864, Kings Bridge arrived in Launceston and was assembled on a pontoon, floated into position and then lowered on to its abutments on the receding tide. Kings Bridge was originally a single lane metal arch that connected Launceston with the West Tamar region. ² On the 4th of February 1864, Kings Bridge was officially opened at a cost of £12 000. ²

A duplicate adjacent span of Kings Bridge was fabricated by Salisbury's foundry in Launceston in 1904, and was similarly erected and floated into position like the original span.

By the late 1960s, the traffic volumes over Kings Bridge had reached levels that required a wider crossing to be built. On the 2nd of November 1973, Paterson Bridge over South Esk River opened to traffic, adjacent to and bypassing Kings Bridge. The Paterson Bridge was named in honour of the first Governor of the colony of Tasmania. ³ Kings Bridge remained in use for local traffic for some years after, before it was refurbished, and then re-opened to traffic on the 22nd of June 1988.

Kings Bridge:

View of Kings Bridge over the confluence of South Esk River and River Tamar in Launceston, looking towards Cataract Gorge, July 2018.

Image © Paul Rands

Kings Bridge:

View of Kings Bridge over the confluence of South Esk River and River Tamar in Launceston, looking towards Cataract Gorge, July 2018.

Image © Paul Rands

Plaque:

Foundry plaque on the duplicate span of Kings Bridge, Launceston, July 2018.

Image © Paul Rands

Plaque:

History plaque on Kings Bridge at Launceston, July 2018.

Image © Paul Rands

Plaque:

Refurbishment plaque, Kings Bridge, Launceston, July 2018.

Image © Paul Rands

Spiky Bridge (Swansea, TAS):

A sign at the location reports the bridge was built by convicts as part of the coach road that connected Swansea with Little Swanport and the east coast road to Hobart. Work commenced on its construction, along with Rocky Hills Convict Station in 1841.

Spiky Bridge:

Spiky Bridge at Swansea, July 2018.

Image © Paul Rands

Spiky Bridge:

Spiky Bridge at Swansea, July 2018.

Image © Paul Rands