The Sale Swing Bridge is located on Swing Bridge Drive near the South Gippsland Highway, Longford, 5 km south of the city of Sale, Victoria, Australia and spans the Latrobe River at its junction with the Thomson River.
Designed by John Grainger and built by local contractor Peter Platt for the Victorian Government Board of Land and Works it was the first movable bridge built in Victoria. Its wrought-iron structure, 45 metres long, pivots on a set of nine cylindrical cast iron columns filled with concrete. Before opening, it was test loaded with 240 cattle. At its peak, the bridge was opened up to 20 times a day, allowing the movement of steamers between Sale and Melbourne. As of 2023, the bridge opens each Saturday and Sunday between 3pm and 4pm, and on the second Wednesday of every month between 11am and 12 noon.
The bridge underwent major restoration works towards the end of 2003, which were completed by the start of 2006. Since the restoration about 2,500 tourists have visited the bridge each year.
The Sale Swing Bridge was used as a set in 2007 for the filming of the 2008 film The Tender Hook, starring Hugo Weaving and Rose Byrne.
In April 2017 vandals lodged a block of wood in the gear mechanism, causing an axle to bend and the bottom roller beam to crack. The bridge was re-opened in July 2017 after a $160,000 repair.
Engineering heritage award
The bridge is listed as an Engineering Heritage National Landmark by Engineers Australia as part of its Engineering Heritage Recognition Program.
References
External links
Video of the bridge in action
Walkabout – Sale
Exhibitions: A Golden Heritage On-line
Swing bridges in Australia
Bridges completed in 1883
Road bridges in Victoria (state) Steel bridges in Australia 1883 establishments in Australia Sale, Victoria Recipients of Engineers Australia engineering heritage markers Victorian Heritage Register Shire of Wellington