Crossings of the Yarra River


The Yarra River is a river in southern Victoria, Australia that flows through the city of Melbourne. Over the river's length there are many structures that bridge the river.

Crossings

The following is a partial list of structures have spanned the Yarra River in order of closest to the mouth of the river in Hobsons Bay.
NameImageTypeHeightYear builtLocationDetails
-Transmission LineSpotswood/Port MelbourneTransmits from Newport Power Station.
Spotswood sewer tunnelSewer1895Spotswood/Port MelbourneFlooded in 1895 during construction, six deaths
West Gate BridgeFreeway1978Spotswood/Port MelbourneSecond longest bridge in Australia.
-Transmission Line-Docklands/Port MelbourneConnects to Fishermans Bend Terminal
Bolte BridgeTollway1999Docklands/Port MelbourneTower height
Webb BridgePedestrian-1986DocklandsOriginally built as part of the Webb Dock rail link, had rails removed in the late 1990s, and reconstructed at the south end in 2004 as a pedestrian bridge as part of Docklands precinct.
Charles Grimes BridgePrimary Arterial Road1975DocklandsFirst bridge built in 1975, reconstructed in 2001.
Seafarers BridgeShared - pedestrians and cyclists-2009World Trade Centre/Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
Spencer Street BridgePrimary Arterial Road/Tram/Pedestrian1930Melbourne/Southbank
King Street BridgePrimary Arterial Road/Pedestrian1961Melbourne/SouthbankSouthern end offramps altered 1997 for the development of Crown Casino.
Queens BridgeMajor Road/Tram1889Melbourne/SouthbankOriginally the site of a timber footbridge built in 1860.
Sandridge BridgeRailway -1888Melbourne/SouthbankFirst bridge built 1853, second bridge built 1858, current bridge built 1888. Former rail bridge for the Port Melbourne and St Kilda railway lines, first rail crossing of the Yarra, converted to pedestrian use in 2006.
Evan Walker BridgePedestrian-1992Melbourne/SouthbankRenamed in 2015 in honour of Evan Walker
Princes BridgeMajor Road/Tram-1888Melbourne/SouthbankFirst bridge built 1844, second bridge built 1850, current bridge built 1888.
Swan Street BridgePrimary Arterial Road-1952Melbourne
Burnley TunnelTollwayN/A1997MelbourneEastbound CityLink tunnel from Southbank to Burnley
Domain TunnelTollwayN/A1997MelbourneWestbound CityLink tunnel from Southbank to Richmond
Morell BridgePedestrian-1899MelbourneFormer roadway closed when CityLink built, now pedestrian bridge
Hoddle BridgePrimary Arterial Road-1938CremorneFormer punt river crossing site, now carries Hoddle Highway.
Cremorne Railway BridgeRailway-1946Cremorne/South YarraCarries Sandringham, Frankston, Pakenham and Cranbourne railway lines. First bridge built in 1860, current bridge built 1946
Church Street BridgeRoad/Tram-1923Richmond/South YarraFirst bridge built in 1857, current bridge built 1923
-Transmission Line--Richmond/South Yarra1st of 5 crossings of the same line
-Transmission Line--Burnley/Toorak2nd of 5 crossings of the same line
-Transmission Line--Burnley/Toorak3rd of 5 crossings of the same line
MacRobertson BridgePrimary Arterial Road-1934Burnley/ToorakFirst crossing was a punt opened in 1880, current bridge built 1934
-Transmission Line--Burnley/Toorak4th of 5 crossings of the same line
Heyington BridgeRailway/Pedestrian--Burnley/ToorakGlen Waverley railway line
-Transmission Line--Burnley/Toorak5th of 5 crossings of the same line
Gardiners Creek BridgePedestrian--Burnley/Toorak
Monash FreewayRoad-1960sBurnley/ToorakForced relocation of the Yarra River
Swan StreetRoad, trams--Burnley/Hawthorn
Hawthorn Railway BridgeRail-1861Burnley/HawthornAlamein, Belgrave & Lilydale lines
Hawthorn BridgeRoad, trams-1861Richmond/HawthornOriginally built in 1861, widened in 1890, renovated in 1931
Victoria BridgeRoad, trams-1884Richmond/KewOriginally built in 1884, widened in 1890, strengthened and widened in 1915, reconditioned and further widened in 1933
Walmer Street FootbridgeFootbridge-1892Abbotsford/KewFirst bridge built in 1891; was washed away one month after construction. Current bridge: Whipple truss design.
Collins BridgeFootbridge--Abbotsford/Kew
Johnston Street BridgeRoad-1858Burnley/Hawthorn
Kane's Bridge, Studley ParkFootbridge-1928Fairfield/KewThe original bridge opened in 1928 to link Kew with the public golf course in Fairfield. It was destroyed by the 1934 flood. The current single-span suspension bridge was built in 1935. The suspension towers on either side are timber trestles, constructed of undressed log posts. The deck is suspended from steel tensioned cables hung from the towers, and has timber cross-patterned balustrading.
Zig Zag Bridge, KewFormer Tramway / Footbridge -1864 - 1929Fairfield/KewOriginally built by John Young to transport stone for the building of Kew Asylum. Later a pedestrian connection between Yarra Bend Asylum and Kew Asylum. Repaired in 1877. Rebuilt in 1891. Alterations in 1910 and 1926. Demolished in 1929. Earmarked for rebuilding but so far never replaced. Located in the vicinity of Bellbird Picnic Area.
Eastern FreewayRoad-1977Fairfield/KewEffectively two concrete road bridges - one for each direction of traffic. Each bridge contains 4 - 5 lanes of traffic. The construction of the Eastern Freeway forced the relocation of the Yarra River.
Fairfield Pipe BridgePipeline/Footbridge-1878Fairfield/KewThe original bridge was built in 1878 to carry water from the Yan Yean Reservoir to Kew. Washed away in the floods of 1934. A new pipe bridge was built close to the site. The pylons of the original bridge were later demolished and no signs remain of the first pipe bridge.
Chandler BridgePedestrian -1890, 2019Alphington/KewThe six lane bridge carrying the Chandler Highway was opened in 2019; the original 1890 bridge carried the Outer Circle railway and now carries pedestrians and cyclists.
FootbridgeMain Yarra Trail--Ivanhoe/Kew East
Burke RoadRoad--Ivanhoe/Kew East
-Transmission Line--Bulleen1st of 8 crossings in Bulleen of the same line
Banksia StreetRoad--Heidelberg/Bulleen
-Transmission Line--Lower Plenty/Templestowe Lower7th of 8 crossings of the same line
Odyssey House / Finns ReserveFootbridge--Lower Plenty/Templestowe Lower
-Transmission Line--Lower Plenty/Templestowe Lower8th of 8 crossings of the same line
Westerfolds ParkFootbridge, Main Yarra Trail--Lower Plenty/Templestowe Lower
Fitzsimons LaneRoad--Eltham/Templestowe
-Transmission Line--Eltham/TemplestoweSeparate line joining the above-mentioned line
-Footbridge--Eltham/Templestowe
-Transmission Line--Eltham/Templestowe
Warrandyte BridgeRoad-1952Warrandyte/North WarrandyteFirst bridge built 1861, current bridge built in 1952.
The Heritage Golf ClubRoad--Christmas Hills/Chirnside Park
-Transmission Line--Christmas Hills/Chirnside Park
-Private road--Christmas Hills/Chirnside Park
Healesville railwayRail--Yering
Melba HighwayRoad--Yering
Road--Yering
Maxwells RoadRoad--Coldstream/Healesville
Maroondah HighwayRoad--Coldstream/Healesville
Healesville - Koo Wee Rup RoadRoad--Launching Place
Former Healesville - Koo Wee Rup RoadRoad--Launching Place
Don RoadRoad--Launching Place
-Private road--Launching Place
Station RoadRoad--Wesburn
Dee RoadRoad--Millgrove
McKenzie-King DriveRoad--Millgrove
Mayer BridgeRoad-1993WarburtonConnects Warburton Highway to Dammans Road. Officially re-opened 30 May 1993 by Councillor Pat Hunter, Shire President.
Swing BridgeFootbridge--Connects Story Reserve to Dammans Road.-
Brisbane BridgeRoad--Connects Warburton Highway to Dammans Road-
Bramich FootbridgeFootbridge-1993Officially re-opened 30 May 1993 by Councillor Pat Hunter, Shire President.-
Redwood BridgeFootbridge-2000Completed March 2000. Constructed by 22 Construction Regiment, 4 Combat Engineer Regiment and members of the Warburton Advancement League-
Signs BridgeRoad--Where the Warburton Highway crosses the Yarra River in Warburton-
Woods Point RoadRoad--East Warburton
Hazelwood RoadRoad--East Warburton
Cement Creek RoadRoad--East Warburton
O'Shannassy ReservoirAccess road--East Warburton
Peninsula RoadRoad--McMahons CreekCulvert crossing dry river bed drained by Big Peninsula Tunnel
Big Peninsula Tunnel walking trackwalking track--McMahons CreekConcrete stepping stones
Woods Point RoadRoad--Reefton
Upper Yarra DamDam-1957Reefton

  • There are also a number of ferries that cross the Yarra at various points such as the West Gate Ferry and Herring Island Punt.