Description:
Hawthorn Bridge's tall bluestone piers and abutments were completed in February 1858. When the ship carrying the wrought iron trusses from England caught fire and sank in Port Phillip Bay, another set had to be ordered, made and delivered, delaying completion of the bridge until 1861.

The bridge was widened in 1890 by extending the piers and abutments and adding additional trusses.

Because the bridge joins two municipalities and services a tramway, there have always been problems with management, on-going maintenance and finance. In 1928, when funds to repair or replace the bridge were not available, the Richmond City Engineer declared it unsafe and closed it.
The State Government was forced to act and, after much debate, the bridge was repaired, strengthened and widened by the Railways Construction Branch, using in-situ electric arc welding and the timber deck was replaced with reinforced concrete. Today the deck of the bridge retains its 1931 appearance but, underneath, the trusses, piers and abutments appear as they were in 1861.

So visit the bridge and see if you can detect the changes evidenced in its fabric. Enjoy a short talk about the bridge and join like-minded engineering heritage colleagues in an end-of-year picnic/BBQ on the banks of the Yarra River.

Speaker:
Ken McInnes will give a short talk on the history and significance of the bridge. Ken is a civil engineer with extensive experience in engineering heritage. He is a Committee Member and past Chairman of IEAust Victoria Division's Heritage Branch and was Chairman and a member of IEAust's National Engineering Heritage Committee for many years.

Venue:	Yarra Bank Reserve, Creswick Street, Hawthorn. (Melway Map 2H Ref J6) Limited car parking in the Reserve. Ample parking in Creswick Street or Denham Street.
Cost:	No charge. Bring your own food and drinks if you wish to stay for the picnic/barbecue.
Contact:	R. B. Sandie	Tel/Fax:	(03) 9898 4823
		Email:	ehv@engineersaustralia.org.au
RSVP:	Not necessary