Maley's Bridge
The oldest existing bridge in Western Australia is Maley's Bridge (also called Greenough River Bridge or McCartney Street Bridge) situated over the Greenough River in the historic Greenough Flats. The bridge was constructed during 1864-1866 by ticket of leave convicts. It provided access to the North West until the construction of the Brand Highway Bridge in 1953.
The bridge is called Maley's Bridge because it was designed by engineer John Stephen Maley (1839-1910), a Mechanical and Civil Engineer who worked with Solomon Cook on installing steam engines in boats prior to moving to Greenough.
The bridge has been added to the State Heritage Register, SHO Place Number 01166. A copy of the Register Entry is available here.
During January 2006 the bridge sustained damage with the collapse of the timber deck spans and piers. Following State Government funded restoration and reconstruction to pre flood conditions, the bridge remains an iconic historical landmark. The City of Greater Geraldton nominated 'Maley's (Convict) Bridge in the 2011 Engineering Excellence awards (refer Item f).
When visited by EHWA Committee member Ian Maitland in April 2018, his comment was ‘In good shape except for the deck’.
The Bicentennial Australia 1788-1988 plaque reads:
Greenough/Walkaway Heritage Trail Maley's Bridge and Stone Barn This bridge was built in 1864 to a design by local settler John S. Maley and features limestone supports and timber deckings. The stone barn, built in the late 1860s, had the first galvanised iron roof in Western Australia. Both the barn and the bridge were constructed by ticket of leave convict labour. An Australian Bicentennial project with financial assistance from the State & Commonwealth governments.
Author: Mike Taylor, 7 September 2020.
