The bridge was designed by John Grainger (architect/engineer), who also designed the Princess Bridge in Melbourne. The castings and wrought iron trusses were made in Melbourne by the Tyne foundry. [A departure from the 'norm' of importing pre-fabricated components from Britain.]
"History
" The government through the Public Works Department (PWD) held a competition for the design of a new bridge at this site in 1879. The 50 Pound first prize was awarded to architect and Engineer John Grainger who was at that time living in Adelaide and working in the architectural practice of Grainger & Nash. Working drawings for the bridge were prepared in Sale in February 1880. The bridge took 3 years to build and opened "without fanfare" on 22nd September 1883. Construction of the bridge was predicated on the building of the Sale Canal which connected the Thomson River to the Port of Sale. Built by the Public Works Department over a 4 year period (1886 -90) the 2km long Sale Canal was designed by the internationally acclaimed Harbour Engineer Sir John Coode. The canal is believed to be the only artificial waterway of its type built in Victoria in the 19th Century. The canal including the section of the Thomson River connecting it to the Latrobe River was the hub of social and aquatic activities in Sale at this time which included swimming, rowing and related water sports."
" The bridge was built by an Australian Peter Platt a resident of Sale and later Melbourne."
" The slewing mechanism is still intact and in its original condition. This mechanism will remain operational as part of the bridge restoration. When restored the slewing mechanism will still be capable of manual operation using the crank handles." (
visit link) [Australian Heritage Database}
[When I was there - 9 May, 2016 - the mechanism had been 'interfered with' by vandals, so was not operational, but the "Port Of Sale" website indicates that it has been repaired and functional. (
visit link) ]
"At its peak, the bridge was opened up to 20 times a day, allowing the movement of steamers between Sale and Melbourne." [Wiki] But 'today' it only opens on Saturdays and Sundays between 3pm and 4pm, and on the 2nd Wednesday of every month between 10am & 11am.
** Requests for special openings can be made (T & C; one week prior application needed), for a $469 fee! **
" The bridge design included screw jacks at each corner of the moving span, an innovative idea designed to reduce wear on the connector rails and wheels. The jacks also provide a solid mechanical lock between the central swinging span and fixed end spans which produces a running deck of equivalent stability to fixed span bridges.
" The bridge is located immediately downstream of the confluence of the Thomson and Latrobe Rivers.
" The bridge played a key role in the early development of North Gippsland by connecting this area by road to Port Albert, the first sea port to service Gippsland." [AHD]
The bridge is chained off on the southern side to stop motorised vehicles, tho as it is padlocked, I assume that when the bridge is operating on weekends at the set times, that the chain is removed for display purposes.
Visited: 1120, Monday, 9 May, 2016