City of bridges ..... and growing

Still on our quest to see and cross the many bridges that cross-cross the Yarra around Melbourne. 

While we’re on the subject of bridges, I found that when European settlers first arrived in Melbourne in 1835, there were no crossing points over the Yarra other than at The Falls or by boat. (The Falls separated the salty water of Port Phillip Bay from the fresh water upstream around where Williams and Queen Streets are today). Within a few years enterprising people had set up a punt at where Punt Road Bridge is today - the name!! Hot on their heels was the construction of the first bridge at where Princes Bridge is today the big push was by Swanston Street traders; it was a wooden toll bridge.  

But I ramble, here we were heading downstream to take in more of Melbourne’s staggering 15 bridges. 

Spencer Street Bridge built 1930s and nestled not far away the Polly Woodside is hunkered down. 

Seafarers Bridge a pedestrian bridge - 2009

Charles Grimes Bridge in the distance 1970s, reconstructed 2001. It was named after Charles Grimes, a NSW surveyor general who was the first European to see the Yarra River it seems.

This is an extension of the Jim Stynes Bridge, a pedestrian bridge - 2014 which links Docklands with the CBD and winds along the river’s edge 

Webb Bridge also pedestrian - 2003

Away off sending pylons high into the sky is Bolte Bridge (a part of the tollway) - 1999. It is the newest vehicle bridge (Melbourne’s  oldest bridge was also a toll bridge)

Further downstream, much further than we’ve walked to date is the almost infamous Westgate Bridge which after much tragedy opened 1978.