Abbotsford Road Bridge

Two schemes were submitted at the City of Brisbane Works Committee meeting in 1926 and although it was initially recommended that the second of the schemes be adopted, the Works Committee opted for the more expensive first scheme which offered advantages such as minimum obstruction to river traffic and flood waters. Tenders were called in 1926, with the successful tenderer being Walter Taylor for £33,881/0/0. Tenders ranged in estimated cost from that of Taylor’s to Hornibrook’s estimate of £48,675/19/0, while a Departmental estimate for the work was given as £36,493.

The project involved a number of eminent people of the era. Water Taylor, for example, was later responsible for constructing a number of prominent landmarks including the Walter Taylor Bridge (1936) and the Graceville Uniting Church (1929-1930) which still stand in Brisbane today. Designing Engineer C.B. Mott is also considered to have had a major influence on the development of municipal engineering within Brisbane, and is recorded as the first Designing Engineer of the new Greater Brisbane City Council in 1925.

Although the initial completion date for the bridge was stipulated as 9 November 1927, progress fell behind schedule and an extension was requested due to ‘wet weather and industrial trouble.’ The Works Committee responded by denying an extension, as they were unsatisfied with the rate of progress and unless satisfactory progress was made, would ‘enforce the conditions of the contract and complete the work at the contractor’s expense.’ Once completed, however, the new bridge had an immediate impact on the area and northern suburbs. 

During the 1980s a major refurbishment of the bridge was undertaken. This included repairs and painting to the bridge’s balustrading and the widening of the roadway on the bridge through the removal of the pedestrian walkway. The objective of this work was not only to provide much needed maintenance, but also to upgrade the bridge to cope with ever increasing traffic congestion both within the now commercial area of Mayne and Albion, and to assist in traffic movement both into and out of the Fortitude Valley and city areas.

1. Certificates of Title, Department of Natural Resources and Water

2. Brisbane City Council Minutes 1926-1928

3. Brisbane City Council Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Detail Plans

4. City of Brisbane Plans of Proposed Concrete Bridge over Breakfast Creek (On Microform)

5. Evan Richards’ Collection of notes on Engineers