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RIVER CITY: Bridges of Brisbane

Much of life in Brisbane — Queensland’s ‘River City’ — takes place on the water’s edge. Below, works from the Collection document the construction (or, following flood, reconstruction) of Brisbane’s many signature bridges.
 

A black-and-white photograph of a bridge mid-construction
Geoffrey Powell / Australia NSW 1918–1989 / (Construction of Story Bridge, Brisbane) 1939, printed 2005 / Gelatin silver photograph on paper / 50.5 x 39.5cm / Purchased 2005 / Collection: QAGOMA / © Estate of the artist


 

Artwork Victoria Bridge, from William Street (from 'Brisbane illustrated' portfolio) this artwork made of Albumen photograph on paper mounted on card, created in 1874-01-01

Victoria Bridge, from William Street (from 'Brisbane illustrated' portfolio) c.1874-79
Artwork Old Indooroopilly Bridge - prior to Great Flood this artwork made of Albumen photograph on paper, created in 1880-01-01

Old Indooroopilly Bridge - prior to Great Flood c.1890
Artwork Victoria Bridge this artwork made of Albumen photograph on paper mounted on card, created in 1880-01-01

Victoria Bridge c.1890s
Artwork Victoria Bridge looking south (showing portion remaining after floods) this artwork made of Albumen photograph on paper, created in 1893-01-01

Victoria Bridge looking south (showing portion remaining after floods) 1893 (inscr. 1894)
Artwork Construction of new Indooroopilly Bridge after floods this artwork made of Albumen photograph on paper, created in 1893-01-01

Construction of new Indooroopilly Bridge after floods c.1893-95
Artwork Construction of new Indooroopilly Bridge after floods this artwork made of Albumen photograph on paper, created in 1893-01-01

Construction of new Indooroopilly Bridge after floods c.1893-95
Artwork Construction of new Indooroopilly Bridge after floods this artwork made of Albumen photograph on paper, created in 1893-01-01

Construction of new Indooroopilly Bridge after floods c.1893-95
Artwork Construction of new Indooroopilly Bridge after floods this artwork made of Albumen photograph on paper, created in 1893-01-01

Construction of new Indooroopilly Bridge after floods c.1893-95
Artwork Construction of new Indooroopilly Bridge after floods this artwork made of Albumen photograph on paper, created in 1893-01-01

Construction of new Indooroopilly Bridge after floods c.1893-95
Artwork Construction of new Indooroopilly Bridge after floods this artwork made of Albumen photograph on paper, created in 1893-01-01

Construction of new Indooroopilly Bridge after floods c.1893-95
Artwork Construction of new Indooroopilly Bridge after floods this artwork made of Albumen photograph on paper, created in 1893-01-01

Construction of new Indooroopilly Bridge after floods c.1893-95
Artwork Construction of new Indooroopilly Bridge after floods this artwork made of Albumen photograph on paper, created in 1893-01-01

Construction of new Indooroopilly Bridge after floods c.1893-95
Artwork New Victoria Bridge - up-stream section under construction this artwork made of Albumen photograph on paper, created in 1895-01-01

New Victoria Bridge - up-stream section under construction c.1895-97 (inscr. 1895-96)
Artwork Airlock - weighted with steel rails. Pier construction on north bank of River Brisbane (sic) this artwork made of Albumen photograph on paper, created in 1895-01-01

Airlock - weighted with steel rails. Pier construction on north bank of River Brisbane (sic) c.1895-97
Artwork Victoria Bridge, Brisbane this artwork made of Postcard: Tinted print on paper, created in 1895-01-01

Victoria Bridge, Brisbane c.1900
Artwork Victoria Bridge, Brisbane (from 'White Series') this artwork made of Postcard: Coloured lithograph on paper, created in 1900-01-01

Victoria Bridge, Brisbane (from 'White Series') c.1905
Artwork North Quay and Milton Reach, Brisbane (from 'White Series') this artwork made of Postcard: Colour lithograph on paper, created in 1900-01-01

North Quay and Milton Reach, Brisbane (from 'White Series') c.1905
Artwork Brisbane River, South Brisbane Reach, showing coal wharves (from 'Coloured Shell Series: Brisbane Views (series 8)') this artwork made of Postcard: Colour lithograph on paper, created in 1905-01-01

Brisbane River, South Brisbane Reach, showing coal wharves (from 'Coloured Shell Series: Brisbane Views (series 8)') c.1905-15
Artwork Pedestrian entrance to Victoria Bridge this artwork made of Pencil on paper, created in 1914-01-01

Pedestrian entrance to Victoria Bridge 1914
Artwork The pedestrian entrance to Victoria Bridge [twice]; Two building studies this artwork made of Pencil on paper, created in 1914-01-01

The pedestrian entrance to Victoria Bridge [twice]; Two building studies 1914
Artwork Central pier, Albert Bridge, Indooroopilly this artwork made of Pencil on paper, created in 1910-01-01

Central pier, Albert Bridge, Indooroopilly c.1915
Artwork Central stone pier of the Albert Bridge, Indooroopilly this artwork made of Pencil on paper, created in 1910-01-01

Central stone pier of the Albert Bridge, Indooroopilly c.1915
Artwork Victoria Bridge, looking south, Brisbane (from 'Real Photo Series H. 190') this artwork made of Postcard: Black and white photograph on paper, created in 1925-01-01

Victoria Bridge, looking south, Brisbane (from 'Real Photo Series H. 190') c.1930
Artwork Building the bridge this artwork made of Watercolour and gouache over pencil on wove paper on cardboard, created in 1931-01-01

Building the bridge 1931
Artwork The new bridge this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1931-01-01

The new bridge 1931
Artwork Building the Story Bridge this artwork made of Drypoint on cream, handmade, wove paper, created in 1935-01-01

Building the Story Bridge 1935
Artwork (Construction of Story Bridge, Brisbane) this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1939-01-01

(Construction of Story Bridge, Brisbane) 1939, printed 2005
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Grey Street Bridge, Brisbane 1953
Artwork (Grey Street Bridge, Brisbane) this artwork made of Bromoil transfer photograph on paper, created in 1932-01-01

(Grey Street Bridge, Brisbane) c.1933
Artwork Under the bridge (Grey Street Bridge, Brisbane) this artwork made of Bromoil photograph on paper, created in 1928-01-01

Under the bridge (Grey Street Bridge, Brisbane) c.1933
Artwork The bridge approach (Grey Street Bridge, Brisbane) this artwork made of Bromoil photograph on paper, created in 1930-01-01

The bridge approach (Grey Street Bridge, Brisbane) c.1935
Artwork Victoria Bridges 5 & 4 this artwork made of Black-and-white digital print on paper, created in 1970-01-01

Victoria Bridges 5 & 4 1970, printed 2013
Artwork Australia Day flood this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1974-01-01

Australia Day flood 1974, printed 1987
Artwork Opening of the Performing Arts Centre this artwork made of Black-and-white digital print on paper, created in 1985-01-01

Opening of the Performing Arts Centre 1985, printed 2013
Artwork Bridge night (from 'Bridge prints' series) this artwork made of Etching and aquatint on paper, created in 1988-01-01

Bridge night (from 'Bridge prints' series) 1988

Explore ‘Brisbane in pictures’
 
An oil painting of a landscape with a winding river
BRISBANE IN PICTURES

Brisbane: THEN

Read digital story
Detail view of a textile work with plants and the Brisbane river embroidered onto it
BRISBANE IN PICTURES

Brisbane: NOW

Read digital story
A black-and-white photo of a timber house, in front of which a person hangs washing on a Hill's Hoist-style washing line
BRISBANE IN PICTURES

SUBURBIA: A reorganised forest

Read digital story
BRISBANE IN PICTURES

Explore the story

An oil painting of a landscape with a winding river
BRISBANE IN PICTURES

Brisbane: THEN

Read digital story
Detail view of a textile work with plants and the Brisbane river embroidered onto it
BRISBANE IN PICTURES

Brisbane: NOW

Read digital story
A black-and-white photograph of a bridge mid-construction
BRISBANE IN PICTURES

RIVER CITY: Bridges of Brisbane

Read digital story
A black-and-white photo of a timber house, in front of which a person hangs washing on a Hill's Hoist-style washing line
BRISBANE IN PICTURES

SUBURBIA: A reorganised forest

Read digital story
A detail view of an oil painting depicting Brisbane city in the 1930s.
BRISBANE IN PICTURES

STORIES: Streets of your town

Read digital story