Sale Swing Bridge, Sale, Vic, Australia
S 38° 08.765 E 147° 05.229
55H E 507636 N 5777972
The Sale Swing Bridge was designed by John Grainger in 1880, and built by Peter Platt 1880-3. It was opened 22 September, 1883. It used 'new' technology, which is still working.
Waymark Code: WMWH6Z
Location: Victoria, Australia
Date Posted: 09/05/2017
Views: 4
The Engineering Plaque for the Sale Swing Bridge was placed on Sunday, 15 November, 2009, and was "unveiled by Philip Davis MP, Member for Eastern Victoria (Victorian Parliament) and Peter Godfrey, then National President for Engineers Australia." (
visit link) [p.27]
From the speech by Madeleine McManus, State President, Victorian Division, Engineers Australia: [p. 16]
"John Grainger demonstrated a great understanding of structural engineering when he applied a new design concept to this bridge and incorporated mechanisms to convert the moveable section of the bridge from a double cantilever structure into a simple end-supported beam structure by incorporating lifting jacks into the corners of the bridge deck.
"This was the first swing bridge in Australia to incorporate this feature and possibly the first in the world."
With the making of a canal into the new Port of Sale, it allowed river traffic to flourish, and the area to become settled.
Visited: 1125, Monday, 9 May, 2016