Sunday History Photo, Tas

Thanks Doug--I've enjoyed these posts. Scary stuff, imagine being on the bridge at the time. The Monaro still exists, the owner at the time hardly drove it again and it is now(or was a couple of years ago) in the possession of an enthusiast. It was on display at a Holden function(I think) here in the ACT.

regards

All I can say is holy cr@p!!!!

Cheers Doug for a very interesting Sunday read.
Trevor.

Brings to mind the not long before Westgate Bridge ollapse in Mrlbourne.

Ah yes! I remember this well. I was 11 at the time and staying at my grandparent's farm in northern Tas. Mum and Dad had dropped me off in the afternoon and returned home that evening. In those days there was no sealed road down the eastern side of the Derwent River so they had to drive over the bridge that night to get home.They went over it at about 7.30PM.

I can still remember nan coming into my bedroom early in the morning to tell me that the bridge had fallen down and that grandad had gone to the township to use the phonebox to check mum and dad made it home ok....no phone at the farmhouse in those days!
I wanted to get home to see it before they put it back up again!!!

Several years later and many ferry trips to get to school,I remember the view and the cheer going up through the ferry travellers when the first span to rejoin the bridge connected both broken ends again.

There was a choice to go from Hobart to Bellerive wharf or to the Lindisfarne bay wharf (where I lived). Dad usually caught the Lindisfarne ferry 'cause it had a bar and the trip was a longer one. He could squeeze an extra couple of 8oz beers into the trip. :)

Whilst it was very inconvenient, most of the ferry travellers of these years have fond memories of the boats and the time spent floating our way to work/school.

I was on the bridge a couple of years ago late at night when all its lights went out. Very creepy!!!! Should have seen everyone slow to a crawl 'till we were off it!!!

Hi Doug

My Cook and I drove over the Bridge after it was repaired,
we could'nt help thinking & saying what a horrific experience it must
have been for the people who were involved with the accident.

Thanks for the photos Doug.


Cheers
Daza

Read a story in something (maybe the RACV's Royal Auto) in the last few years about the Monaro. From memory, the original owner still has it.

Here's a couple of interesting comments from the guy and his wife.

http://www.abc.net.au/dimensions/dimensions_in_time/Transcripts/s476959.htm

http://australianetwork.com/nexus/stories/s1744515.htm

Wen Oi wus a lad....
Back when they started the bridge, the main eastern abutment was the first of the major concrete pours. I believe it was of some significance in engineering circles at the time.
For days it was draped in Hessian cloth and cooled with water as it was setting.
At last it was unveiled and stood resplendent in the setting sun as the eastern shore commuter traffic passed by on the old Hobart floating bridge that night.
Next morning - WTF
A large crack appeared to split the new massif from top to bottom.
Panic stations.
Engineers, TV, Works 'n Jerks, all were summonsed to gaze upon this disaster and explain what went wrong.
A man on a ladder was sent forth to examine the calamity and to the surprise of all and the relief on many, pronounced it a fake.
It would be surmised that the University Mountaineering Club and a can of black paint were the main suspects, but I don't remember any thing being proved.
But isn't it nice when official faces are red, and no real harm has been done.
cheers