University Footbridge, SA
In 1928 the engineering department of South Australian Railways prepared plans for the crossing of the River Torrens opposite the Victoria Drive entrance to The University of Adelaide’s campus.
The design was undertaken by John Fargher and Reginald Bridgland with the plans signed by the chief engineer, Robert Hall Chapman.
The bridge consists of two balanced cantilevers, one from each bank of the river. The two cantilevers are steel truss arches. To balance the cantilever load from the bridge’s self-weight and pedestrians at each end of the bridge is a large concrete block. A pin bearing and the concrete block provide the “couple” that resists the cantilever moment. The two cantilever arches are identical. Two lateral shear locks at the junction of the two cantilevers join the bridges. The internal span of the arch is 46 metres (152 feet).
Construction was delayed by the Great Depression. In 1936 the construction of the bridge was reviewed. The construction of the bridge was funded by Waite family and the City of Adelaide through its contribution to South Australia’s Centenary.
The bridge was fabricated by L Grove and Son from Highgate with steel supplied by Perry Engineering.
The bridge opened on 9 August 1937 and is reported as the first welded steel bridge in South Australia.
In 1971 as part of The University of Adelaide’s Prosh Day, an FJ Holden car was suspended from the underside of the bridge.
