Hindmarsh Bridge, Port Road Crossing
Hindmarsh was the first township to be established outside the City of Adelaide. Followed by Thebarton and Bowden. All on the southern side of the River Torrens. With these townships and industry attracted to the river created a need for a reliable crossing of the river.
An important river crossing connecting the city to its port in the early days of the Colony, the first bridge here was often the only one standing after floods damaged other bridges in the city Successive structures show a developing construction capacity and use of engineering materials – timber, iron, then concrete and steel.
Three previous bridges at this site (the first two being built of wood) have connected the city and its port from 1844; from 1880, the third bridge (an iron girder bridge) also carried the horse tram service to Hindmarsh.
The present bridge was commenced in 1995 and completed in 1996 whilst the tramway was added in 2010.
The present bridge consists of two identical sections were built with the central gap spanned by precast concrete slabs forming the median divider Reinforced concrete road deck on ten haunched steel girders resting on reinforced concrete abutments supported by driven concrete piles (Franki piles) To carry the dual tramway tracks, an additional girder was installed between the sections and the decks were connected by an infill section.
Engineering Heritage Recognition Program
| Marker Type | Engineering Heritage Marker (EHM) |
| Award Date | December 2015 |
| Heritage Significance | An important river crossing connecting the city to its port.
In the early days of the Colony, the first bridge here was often the only one standing after floods damaged other bridges in the city. Successive structures show a developing construction capacity and use of engineering materials – timber, iron, then concrete and steel. |
| Nomination Document | Available here. |
| Ceremony Booklet Ceremony Report |
Not Available. |
| Plaque/Interpretation Panel | Not Available. |
