Hoddle Bridge

What is Significant?
Hoddle Bridge is a reinforced concrete road bridge that carries Punt Road across the Yarra River from South Yarra and Richmond. It was built in 1937-1938 by the Country Roads Board and designed in consultation with architects/engineers Hughes and Orme.

Elements that contribute to the significance of the place include (but are not limited to):

- The original form, materials and detailing of the bridge
- The bridges high level of intactness to its original form
- Unimpeded views to the bridge from street level and from the river and its banks
- Early metal signs and commemorative plaques.
- The general absence of modern signage on the bridge and its immediate environs.

Modern elements, including steel light posts, traffic lights, the road surface and regulatory traffic signs are not significant.

How is it significant?
Hoddle Bridge is of local historical and architectural significance to the City of Stonnington.

Why is it significant?
Hoddle Bridge is historically significant for its association with one of the earliest crossing points on the Yarra dating back to the punt service of the 1850s (Criterion A). The opening of the bridge in the 1938 enabled Punt Road/Hoddle Street to become Melbourne's most important north-south arterial road (TEH 4.2.2 Hoddle Bridge).

Architecturally, the bridge is significant as a well designed composition which contrasts the horizontality of the shallow arched deck with the vertically of the streamlined concrete pillars, featuring understated Art Deco style ornament (Criterion E). The bridge is an important and prominent architectural element that forms a major gateway to the municipality.

Group

Transport - Road

Category

Road