Glebe Island Bridge collapse, August 1899
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that at 3am Saturday 5 August 1899, the Glebe Island Bridge, which served the road between Glebe Island and Pyrmont in Sydney since 1860, collapsed. Spectators gathered and traffic access to Balmain was halted. The Australian Town and Country Journal reported that the collapse was caused by unsecured ballast, seen in the image, that was put in place for the new swing bridge already under construction. The Glebe swing bridge eventually opened in 1903 and still exists today.
The Hall collection provides an important pictorial record of recreational boating in Sydney Harbour, from the 1890s to the 1930s – from large racing and cruising yachts, to the many and varied skiffs jostling on the harbour, to the new phenomenon of motor boating in the early twentieth century. The collection also includes images of the many spectators and crowds who followed the sailing races.
The ANMM undertakes research and accepts public comments that enhance the information we hold about images in our collection. This record has been updated accordingly.
Object no. 00002330
Glebe Island Bridge collapse, August 1899
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that at 3am Saturday 5 August 1899, the Glebe Island Bridge, which served the road between Glebe Island and Pyrmont in Sydney since 1860, collapsed. Spectators gathered and traffic access to Balmain was halted. The Australian Town and Country Journal reported that the collapse was caused by unsecured ballast, seen in the image, that was put in place for the new swing bridge already under construction. The Glebe swing bridge eventually opened in 1903 and still exists today.
The Hall collection provides an important pictorial record of recreational boating in Sydney Harbour, from the 1890s to the 1930s – from large racing and cruising yachts, to the many and varied skiffs jostling on the harbour, to the new phenomenon of motor boating in the early twentieth century. The collection also includes images of the many spectators and crowds who followed the sailing races.
The ANMM undertakes research and accepts public comments that enhance the information we hold about images in our collection. This record has been updated accordingly.
Object no. 00002330