Hornibrook Bridge
Encyclopedia
Hornibrook Bridge was one of three bridges that crossed Bramble Bay
, Queensland
, Australia
. The second is the Houghton Highway
, which was built to accommodate rising traffic levels on the two-lane Hornibrook Bridge in the 1970s to increase capacity and cope with future demand. The third is the Ted Smout Memorial Bridge
, which opened to traffic in July 2010 and led to the Hornibrook Bridge being closed shortly after.
Arthur Edward Moore
on 14 October 1935, connecting the Redcliffe
district at Clontarf
and Brisbane City
at Brighton
. It is one of the oldest timber and girder bridges in Australia, and, at 2.684 kilometres (1.7 mi), is the longest in the country. When built, it was the longest bridge in the southern hemisphere, and the second longest in the world after the Maestri Bridge
in the United States
. Today, it is the second longest bridge in the southern hemisphere, shorter than only the Makinac Bridge. This bridge originally had two traffic lanes and a pedestrian footpath. It was named after Sir Manuel Hornibrook
, the chief engineer of the project.
Timber for the construction of the bridge was brought down the North Pine
and Pine River
s on barges. The hardwood used in piles and girders mostly came from timber mills around Maleny
.
Handsome art-deco concrete abutment arches frame the entry and exit approaches. Construction of the bridge was important for the growth of the Redcliffe City
peninsula and made the commute to Brisbane
shorter and quicker, increasing population growth and the number of visitors to the seaside location.
The bridge was operated and maintained by a private company and a toll applied for much of its life as a traffic bridge, with toll booths set up on the Clontarf side. The bridge closed to traffic in 1979 with the opening of the Houghton Highway
.
The bridge was closed to foot traffic on 14 July 2010. Before its closing, the Hornibrook Bridge was the longest footbridge in the world. Currently, this title is held by the Poughkeepsie Bridge
, located in Poughkeepsie, New York, USA.
.
The structure has received a heritage listing from the Queensland State Government, however concern over State and Council co-operation regarding ongoing maintenance has led to the creation of an e petition for the Legislative Assembly of Queensland to legislate to protect and preserve the bridge.
Bramble Bay
Bramble Bay is an embayment of Moreton Bay in South East Queensland, Australia. The Brisway map reference is 12 H5, or see page 91 G19 in Refidex.The Houghton Highway and the Hornibrook Bridge span Bramble Bay, connecting Redcliffe with Brisbane...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The second is the Houghton Highway
Houghton Highway
The Houghton Highway is a reinforced concrete viaduct, shortening the road distance between the cities of Redcliffe and Brisbane in Queensland, Australia...
, which was built to accommodate rising traffic levels on the two-lane Hornibrook Bridge in the 1970s to increase capacity and cope with future demand. The third is the Ted Smout Memorial Bridge
Ted Smout Memorial Bridge
The Ted Smout Memorial Bridge is a new bridge in Brisbane, Australia. It is located 30 metres to the east, and forming the duplication of, the Houghton Highway. It crosses Bramble Bay, linking the Redcliffe suburb of Clontarf with the Brisbane suburb of Brighton...
, which opened to traffic in July 2010 and led to the Hornibrook Bridge being closed shortly after.
History
The Hornibrook Bridge was opened by Queensland PremierPremiers of Queensland
Before the 1890s, there was no developed party system in Queensland. Political affiliation labels before that time indicate a general tendency only. Before the end of the first decade of the twentieth century, political parties were more akin to parliamentary factions, and were fluid, informal and...
Arthur Edward Moore
Arthur Edward Moore
Arthur Edward Moore, CMG was an Australian politician. He was the Country and Progressive National Party Premier of Queensland, from 1929 to 1932. He was the only Queensland Premier not to come from the ranks of the Labor Party between 1915 and 1957...
on 14 October 1935, connecting the Redcliffe
Redcliffe, Queensland
Redcliffe is a residential suburb of the Moreton Bay Region in the north-east of the Redcliffe peninsula, approximately north-northeast of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia...
district at Clontarf
Clontarf, Queensland
Clontarf is a residential and light industrial suburb of the Moreton Bay Region in the south-west of the Redcliffe peninsula, approximately north-northeast of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia.-Attractions and features:...
and Brisbane City
City of Brisbane
The City of Brisbane is the Local Government Area that has jurisdiction over the inner portion of the metropolitan area of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia...
at Brighton
Brighton, Queensland
Brighton is the northernmost suburb of Brisbane City, Australia, located 19 km north of the Brisbane CBD. The Nashville locality makes up much of the southwest of the suburb.Brighton features mostly suburban housing...
. It is one of the oldest timber and girder bridges in Australia, and, at 2.684 kilometres (1.7 mi), is the longest in the country. When built, it was the longest bridge in the southern hemisphere, and the second longest in the world after the Maestri Bridge
Maestri Bridge
The Maestri Bridge carries U.S. Route 11 across Lake Pontchartrain between New Orleans and Slidell, Louisiana. The bridge opened on February 18, 1928 as the first permanent crossing of Lake Pontchartrain...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Today, it is the second longest bridge in the southern hemisphere, shorter than only the Makinac Bridge. This bridge originally had two traffic lanes and a pedestrian footpath. It was named after Sir Manuel Hornibrook
Manuel Hornibrook
Sir Manuel Richard Hornibrook OBE was an Australian civil engineer. He founded the firm M R Hornibrook Pty Ltd that after merger with Baulderstone became one of the largest Australian civil engineering firms....
, the chief engineer of the project.
Timber for the construction of the bridge was brought down the North Pine
North Pine River
North Pine River flows from the D'Aguilar Range in the Mount Mee State Forest, approximately 50 km north-west of Brisbane, to its convergence with South Pine River at Lawnton, Queensland, Australia.-History:...
and Pine River
Pine River
-Places:United States* Pine River, Michigan, an unincorporated community in Arenac County* Pine River Township, Michigan in Gratiot County* Pine River, Minnesota, a small city* Pine River Township, Cass County, Minnesota* Pine River, Wisconsin, a town...
s on barges. The hardwood used in piles and girders mostly came from timber mills around Maleny
Maleny, Queensland
Maleny is a small, scenic town north of Brisbane on the Blackall Range overlooking the Sunshine Coast hinterland in Queensland, Australia. Nearby towns include Landsborough, Montville and Peachester...
.
Handsome art-deco concrete abutment arches frame the entry and exit approaches. Construction of the bridge was important for the growth of the Redcliffe City
City of Redcliffe
City of Redcliffe is a defunct Local Government Area in South East Queensland, Australia. It is in the northern part of the County of Stanley. The council covers the suburbs of Clontarf, Kippa-Ring, Margate, Redcliffe, Rothwell, Scarborough and Woody Point – a total area of 38.1 km² with a...
peninsula and made the commute to Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
shorter and quicker, increasing population growth and the number of visitors to the seaside location.
The bridge was operated and maintained by a private company and a toll applied for much of its life as a traffic bridge, with toll booths set up on the Clontarf side. The bridge closed to traffic in 1979 with the opening of the Houghton Highway
Houghton Highway
The Houghton Highway is a reinforced concrete viaduct, shortening the road distance between the cities of Redcliffe and Brisbane in Queensland, Australia...
.
Poughkeepsie Bridge
The Poughkeepsie Bridge is a steel cantilever bridge spanning the Hudson River between Poughkeepsie, New York on the east bank and Highland, New York on the west bank...
, located in Poughkeepsie, New York, USA.
Current use
Since its closure to traffic in 1979, the bridge has become a popular site for recreation and fishing. The bridge also provides the only pedestrian and cycling link between the Northern Suburbs of Brisbane and the Redcliffe Peninsula. It remains a component of the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and ProgramSouth East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program
The South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program 2010–2031 is produced by the Queensland Department of Infrastructure and Planning and outlines estimated infrastructure investment across South East Queensland Australia to 2031. It represents a long-term commitment to infrastructure...
.
The structure has received a heritage listing from the Queensland State Government, however concern over State and Council co-operation regarding ongoing maintenance has led to the creation of an e petition for the Legislative Assembly of Queensland to legislate to protect and preserve the bridge.
Demolition
The Hornibrook Bridge will be demolished and only the iconic bridge entry portals shall be preserved. It is also planned that 100m of the bridge at the Clontarf (Northern end) will be reconstructed for fishing and recreation purposes. The bridge was closed on 14 July 2010, and its demolition is scheduled for completion in mid 2011.See also
- Houghton HighwayHoughton HighwayThe Houghton Highway is a reinforced concrete viaduct, shortening the road distance between the cities of Redcliffe and Brisbane in Queensland, Australia...
- Ted Smout Memorial BridgeTed Smout Memorial BridgeThe Ted Smout Memorial Bridge is a new bridge in Brisbane, Australia. It is located 30 metres to the east, and forming the duplication of, the Houghton Highway. It crosses Bramble Bay, linking the Redcliffe suburb of Clontarf with the Brisbane suburb of Brighton...
- Bridges over the Brisbane River