Hoddle Bridge

{{Infobox Bridge |

|image=Punt road bridge.jpg

|image_size = 280

|bridge_name=Hoddle Bridge

|official_name=

|locale=Melbourne, Australia

|carries=Punt Road

|crosses=Yarra River

|owner = VicRoads

|open={{Start date|1938|12|22|df=y}}

|below=

|design=Continuous reinforced concrete T-beam

|mainspan=

|length=

|width=

|coordinates = {{coord|37|49|49|S|144|59|16|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

}}

The Hoddle Bridge is a 1938 arch bridge that carries Punt Road over the Yarra River, connecting Richmond and South Yarra in Melbourne, Australia.{{cite VHD|103859|Hoddle Bridge, Yarra River|ho=281}}

History

A punt was first established at this point in the river in 1842, the name soon being attached to the new road through South Yarra to the south, which did not align with what is now Hoddle Street in Richmond.{{Cite news |date=1842-12-31 |title=Advertising |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225008022 |access-date=2025-07-06 |work=Port Phillip Gazette}} In 1895, in connection with a new sewer line that was to cross the river, a footbridge was constructed, utilising steel Pratt trusses.{{Cite news |date=1895-05-07 |title=NEW BRIDGE OVER THE YARRA. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article241089700 |access-date=2025-07-06 |work=Herald}} The trusses were later reused for a stock bridge over the Maribyrnong River.{{Cite web |title=VHD |url=https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/28350 |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=Victorian Heritage Database}}

A road bridge was first urged by the Melbourne City Council in 1934, and an agreement reached with the State Government in 1936.{{Cite news |date=1936-11-19 |title=NEW BRIDGE AT PUNT ROAD |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11938267 |access-date=2025-07-06 |work=Argus}} The Country Roads Board began construction of the bridge in late 1937,{{cite news |url=https://vgls.sdp.sirsidynix.net.au/client/search/asset/1286154 |title=Country Roads Board Victoria. Twenty-Fifth Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1938 |newspaper=Country Roads Board |location=Melbourne |date=24 November 1938 |pages=34–35, 89 |publisher=Victorian Government Library Service}} with tenders for sub-contracted work (involving driving 240 concrete piles and the construction of four river piers) released. During 1937, the contractor drove all the piles and completed one pier, but owing to the slow rate of progress the contract was concluded and the work completed by direct labour under the Board's engineers. As no satisfactory tender was received for the construction of the abutments and super-structure, the work put in hand by the Board by direct labour. Total cost was A£77,009.{{cite news |url=https://vgls.sdp.sirsidynix.net.au/client/search/asset/1286155 |title=Country Roads Board Victoria. Twenty-Sixth Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1939 |newspaper=Country Roads Board|location=Melbourne |date=10 November 1939 |page=5 |publisher=Victorian Government Library Service}}

Before construction of the bridge began, the nearest crossing for traffic was at the Morell Bridge, a half-mile downstream. Traffic conditions at this narrow bridge were very congested, as a considerable proportion of traffic which came down from the north along Punt Road was compelled to swing to the west to cross the river and thence again to the east for an extra mile. Comparisons of traffic measurements taken in the vicinity before and after the bridge had opened had shown not only a decrease in total distance in crossing the river, but an increase of traffic of 17.38%.

The bridge was originally referred to as Punt Road Bridge, but was named after the surveyor Robert Hoddle upon opening by the Premier of Victoria Albert Dunstan on 22 December 1938.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22996317 |title=Advertising |newspaper=Camperdown Chronicle |volume=XLII |issue=7132 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=24 December 1938 |accessdate=26 September 2016 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}, ...The Premier paid a tribute to the co-operation of the Melbourne City Council with the Government in the provision of Hoddle-bridge when he opened the bridge on Thursday...{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225435800 |title=AUSTRALASIAN NEWS IN BRIEF |newspaper=Weekly Times |issue=3718 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=31 December 1938 |accessdate=26 September 2016 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}, ..Hoddle Bridge, Melbourne's latest traffic link between the southern and northern municipalities at Punt Road, was officially opened last week by the Premier...{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22231574 |title=I'M TELLING THE WORLD |newspaper=The Argus (Melbourne) |issue=31,046 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=2 March 1946 |accessdate=26 September 2016 |page=16 (The Argus Week-end Magazine) |via=National Library of Australia}}, ...Hoddle Bridge, which now spans the Yarra at Punt rd, was opened to traffic on December 22, 1938, and named after Mr R. Hoddle the first surveyor of the City of Melbourne...

Description

It is a five-lane road bridge with footpaths on either side. It is constructed of reinforced concrete, supported on transverse piers aligned with the river but at an angle to the road, with five segmental arched spans of continuous T-beam construction, supported on, topped by concrete cross-beams supporting the roadway.

Decorative features are in the Art Deco style, namely wrought iron balustrade, and the pylons above each pier end, topped by more traditionally styled lamps.

References

Category:Bridges in Melbourne

Category:Bridges over the Yarra River

Category:1938 establishments in Australia

Category:Bridges completed in 1938

Category:Concrete bridges in Australia

Category:Buildings and structures in the City of Melbourne (LGA)

Category:Transport in the City of Melbourne (LGA)

Category:Transport in the City of Yarra

Category:Buildings and structures in the City of Yarra

Category:Transport in the City of Stonnington

Category:Buildings and structures in the City of Stonnington

Category:Art Deco architecture in Melbourne