Carlo and the Princes Bridge, Melbourne

Princes Bridge, over the Yarra River at Swanston Street, was officially opened on October 4, 1888. The Public Works Department engineer involved with the project was Frederick Hynes and the assistant engineer was Carlo Catani. Frederick Margarson Hynes, was born February 23, 1842 and joined the Civil Service on July 21, 1873, having previously worked for the Great Indian Peninsular Railway Company.   His official role at the time of the bridge opening was Engineer for Roads, Bridges, Harbours, Jetties and Coast Works. Frederick died at the young age of 49 on January 1, 1892 and in November of the same year, Carlo was appointed to his role (1).

The new Princes Bridge, c. 1887-1888. Photographer: Charles Rudd.

State Library of Victoria Image H2018.282/30

This post looks at the opening of the bridge as presented by articles in The Argus, The Age and The Herald.

The Argus reported on the opening -
The new Prince's bridge was formally opened for traffic at noon yesterday by Mr. J. Nimmo, M.L.A., the Commissioner of Public Works, in the presence of a large gathering of spectators, including the mayors and councillors of the municipalities which have contributed to the cost of the structure - Melbourne, South Melbourne, Prahran, St Kilda, Brighton, Malvern, Caulfield, und Moorabbin - representatives of the tramways trust, and officers of the Public Works department. The proceedings were brief and formal, the municipal representatives passed over the bridge in open carriages, after which Mr. Nimmo declared it to be open for traffic, and congratulated the majors and councillors on the successful completion of the structure, which was a credit to all concerned - the Government and the municipalities who had provided the means, the designer, the contractor, the workmen, and the officers of the Public Works department.

The Commissioner of Public Works afterwards entertained the municipal representatives and a large party at luncheon in the supper room of the Melbourne Town hall. There were about 100 present. Mr Nimmo presided, and on his right were the Mayor of Melbourne (Alderman Benjamin), Mr W. Westgarth, Mr Bent, M. L. A.,(mayor of Brighton and president of the shire of Moorabbin), Mr. D. Munro (2) (the contractor for the bridge), Mr. Munro, sen., and Mr E. G Fitzgibbon (town clerk of Melbourne), on the left of the host were the mayor of South Melbourne (Mr T. Smith), the mayor of Prahran (Mr. H. Osment), the mayor of St. Kilda (Mr S.E. Jeans), the president of the shire of Malvern (Mr A. E. Clarke), and the president of the shire of Caulfield (Mr J. Ballantyne). The engineer who designed the bridge, John Henry Grainger, of Jenkins & Grainger (3) was not present.

At the luncheon Mr Nimmo read a detailed report, which was provided to the Press, on the history of the bridge and it included the following information - The cost of the bridge is contributed as follows :- The Government, one third ; City Council of Melbourne, one third ; City of South Melbourne, £10,000 ; City of Prahran, £10,000 ; Borough of St Kilda, £10,000 ; Shire of Malvern, £2,500 ; Borough of Brighton, £2,000 ; Shire of Caulfield, £2,000 ; Shire of Moorabbin £1, 000.

The report also listed the names of the officers of the Public Works department who have been engaged on the works of the new Prince's bridge are as appended: - W. H. Steel, inspector-general ; W. Finlay, superintending officer ; F.M. Hynes, engineer ; C. Catani, assistant engineer ; J. Bell, inspector masonry, killed by falling into the coffer-dam in August 1887 (4) ; J. Bowman, inspector of masonry ; D.E. Spence, inspector of iron works ; J. Middleton, assistant Inspector of iron works.

Princes Bridge over the Yarra, undated.

State Library of Victoria Image H141992. SLV have this incorrectly dated as c. 1885.

There were a number of toasts including one to Mr Munro. The Age reported his response - 
Mr. David Munro, in replying, said the work had been well carried out, and had proved 
financially satisfactory to his firm, though he had encountered many difficulties at first. Finding a combination of quarrymen against him, he had secured quarries of his own, and finding that the Railway department had not sufficient rolling stock, he had purchased about 150 trucks from the South Australian Government and from other places outside the colony. He had found much trouble in getting granite blocks of the size he had required, and had procured them from Harcourt, beyond Castlemaine. He now found that there was a large supply of granite within 12½ miles of Melbourne and he strongly recommended its use. He thanked the company for drinking to his health, and he expressed his obligations to the officers of the Public Works department for the courtesy they had shown him, and for the assistance they had given him in carrying out the work.

Mr Munro, senior also responded to the toast. The Age reported that that he remarked that  that the work of the bridge was as well executed as it possibly could be by the hand of man. The Argus reported that he said -  

As an old mechanic he could testify to the excellence of the materials and workmanship in the construction of the new Prince's bridge. The erection of the bridge had involved the establishment of workshops extending over seven acres, and fitted with the best appliances that could possibly be secured.

Princes Bridge, Melbourne, c. 1890s.  Photographer: William H. Cooper. 

State Library of Victoria Image H90.132/5

The bulk of the reports in The Argus and The Age consisted of a political speeches and a detailed history of the planning and construction of the bridge, which took ten years. The report, is an interesting look at the process and the number of Government bodies involved with the works. This is from The Argus  - 

On the 22nd July 1878 the City Council of Melbourne passed a resolution, undertaking to be liable for one third of the cost of a new bridge, in the line of Swanston street. On the 9th August, 1878, at a deputation to the Government on the subject, the City council was informed that the Government would also contribute one-third, and provision was made on the Estimates for £350 for competitive designs of the new bridge. On the 12th Feb, 1879 the Inspector-General of Public Works recommended that the position, lines and width of the river at the site of the bridge should be decided on before the plans of the bridge were prepared. 

On the 3rd April, 1879 at the urgent request of the Mayor of Melbourne, the Minister of Public Works decided that competitive designs be invited at once, leaving the width of river and the position of bridge to the judgment of the competitors. On the 8th April, 1879, competitive designs for a new bridge, over the Yarra in line of Swanston street were invited to be sent in by the 17th June, the author of the first approved design to receive a premium of £200 and the author of the second £100.

In July 1879 a board was appointed to select the two best designs, consisting of Messrs J. H. Patterson, M L.A , Minister of Public Works (chairman) ; Joseph Storey, M. L. A., Major of Melbourne ; John Holtom, city councillor of Melbourne; John Boyd, mayor of Emerald Hill ; W. H. Steel inspector general of Public Works ; and Edward Turner, engineer of roads and bridges, Public Works department. On the 1st August, 1879, the board awarded that the designs bearing the mottos " Premier " and "Albert Edward" were the first and second respectively, and on opening the letters bearing these mottoes the first bore the names of Messrs. Jenkins and Grainger, and the second those of Messrs Temperley Edwards and A. M. Henderson (5).

On the 21st July 1879, the Inspector-general of Public Works represented that the measures for improving the river and removing the Falls reef (6) so as to give relief from floods, should precede or be included in the scheme for the new bridge, and it was decided to refer the question to a professional board, so as to have the width, depth, and lines of the river, and also the site of the new bridge definitely fixed. This board (usually termed the bridge board) was formed in May, 1880, and consisted of Messrs W. H. Steel, inspector general of Public Works (chairman) ; T. Higinbotham, engineer-in-chief of Railways ; W. Elsdon, engineer Railway department ; Joseph Brady, engineer Harbour Trust ; John Nimmo, M.L.A., ; A. K. Smith, M.L.A., ; W. C. Watts, city surveyor, Melbourne  and Sydney Smith, town surveyor, Emerald-hill ; with Mr E.G. Fitzgibbon as hon. secretary. 

On the 3rd September, 1880, the board reported, giving the definite width, depth and lines for the river, advised the removal of the reefs, fixed the site of the new bridge, and recommended that the bridge be gone on with. On the 16th September, 1880, the Minister of Public works directed that the bridge be proceeded with in accordance with the report. On the 20th October, 1880, as the engineer-in-chief of railways asked that additional width be given to Flinders-street station ground over that afforded by the lines recommended by the board, the Minister asked the board to meet and consider the question ; and on the 10th December, 1880, the board reported to the effect that if the Government considered the additional ground worth the cost that would be entailed there was no objection. On the 19th January, 1881, the new line of the north side of the river, as desired by the Railway department was therefore adopted. In the condition of competition it was provided that the author of the first design might be requested to prepare the working drawings of the bridge, and Mr. J.H. Grainger, having represented that such design was prepared by himself, applied to be entrusted with their preparation, and that was accorded to on March 10, 1881.

On the 22nd November 1881, the plans were completed by Mr. Grainger. on the 26th January, 1882, the plans were forwarded to the City Council and approved, and afterwards forwarded to Emerald-hill Council. On 19th May, 1882, the Minister of Public Works asked the board to again meet and report, as it was stated that the views of the Railway department as to the extent of ground required for station purposes had now been modified. In May 1882 Messrs R. Watson, W.H. Greene, A.J. Skene,and W. Cain were added to the board, as Messrs T. Higinbotham and A.K. Smith had died, and Mr W.Eldson had resigned. On the 30th May, 1882, the board, after ascertaining the views of the Railway department, reported and recommended that the original line of river and site of bridge referred to in the report of 3rd September 1880, should be adhered to. On the 8th August, 1882, the board again reported, fixing the gradient for the north approach to the bridge so as to give head-way for the railway traffic under the structure.

The above reports were approved, and Mr. Grainger was directed to make the necessary alterations to the plans of the bridge consequent on the change of the site. On the 18th August, 1882, at the request of the City Council, a roadway 24ft wide was provided for on the south bank of the river, and granite of bluestone was substituted for Stawell stone in the facework masonry of the bridge. Tenders were invited for the new bridge, exclusive of the south approach, on 21st March 1883, and the tenders were opened on June 7, 1883. The lowest, £128,000 was not accepted, being considered too high. On the 9th August, 1883, Mr Grainger received the balance of his commission for the preparation of the plans of the bridge, and his connection with the department and the work of the bridge then terminated.

On the 31st August, 1883, it was reported by the inspector-general that, in view of the occurrence of a flood while the piers of the new bridge were being built, it was necessary that a temporary bridge be erected and the old Prince's bridge removed, so that an outlet might be had by removing part of the roof under the old bridge. This was approved by the Minister of Public Works on October 12, 1883, and tenders were invited for the erection of a temporary timber bridge and the removal of old Prince's. These tenders were opened on November 1, 1883, and the contract was taken by Mr W. Halliday for £6,695, and was completed about August 1, 1884. The year 1884 and the early part of 1885 appear to have been occupied in negotiations between Mr. Deakin, Minister of Public Works, and the various local bodies south of the Yarra, with reference to the amounts to be contributed by them towards the remaining one-third of the cost of the bridge. 

It was decided that when fresh tenders were invited the work should include the south embankment, and the widening and deepening of the rivers adjacent to the bridge. The preparation of the plans of the south embankment, the widening and deepening of the rivers, and the modifications of the plans of the bridge rendered necessary by the cable tramway passing over it, were now entrusted to Mr. F.M. Hynes, C.E., of the Public Works department. On the 29th May, 1885, tenders for the new bridge were invited, and the tenders were opened on the 27th August 1885, the lowest being that of Mr. David Munro for £136,998. The contract was signed on November 16, 1885.

Reports of the opening - The Argus, October 5, 1888, see here; The Age,  October 5, 1888, see here and the Herald October 4, 1888, see here.

Some of the people involved with the project and other footnotes
(1)  Frederick Hynes - Statistical Register of the Colony of Victoria, 1890, see here and The Argus, January 2, 1892, see here

'

Carlo appointed Engineer for Roads, Bridges, Harbors, Jetties and Coast works to

replace the late Frederick Hynes.

Victoria Government Gazette November 25, 1892, p. 4340.

(2) Contractor - David Munro (1844-1898). Read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, by Michael Cannon, here.

(3) Bridge designer - John Harry Grainger (1854-1917) - read his Victorian Collections story, here. the story also has images of the bridge design and decoration. Jenkins and Grainger - J. S. Jenkins - he was an architect and surveyor and in partnership with Grainger for a time, but the Princes Bridge design is considered to be Graingers. John Shanks Jenkins  died March 19, 1913 aged 78 at his home 546 Swan Street, Richmond. An obituary said that he was one of the oldest municipal engineers in Victoria and was a councillor and ex-Mayor of Richmond.  His daughter, Constance, was an artist - read about her, here. [Source - death notice The Argus, March 22 1913 see here; obituary The Argus, March 22, 1913, see here.]

(4) John Bell - masonry inspector -  the man who fell into the coffer dam. He sadly died on August 17, 1887 two days after the fall. Mr Bell, aged 54,  had been the inspector of government works at Queenscliffe and his obituary said that his happy genial manner made him many friends.  [Source - Obituary - Queenscliffe Sentinel, August 20 1887, see here; death notice - The Argus, August 18, 1887, see here]

(5) Temperley, Edwards and A. M. Henderson - the runners-up in the design competition. They are listed as - J. R. Temperley, George H. Edwards and A.M. Henderson - in the Weekly Times August 9, 1879, see here.  

John Ridley Temperley. He was a mechanical and hydraulic engineer and joined up with George Edwards in 1879. In 1885 involved with a  friend in the invention of the Brennan torpedo; and in 1898 granted a patent for  Improvements in apparatus for raising, lowering, and conveying for transporting loads. [Kyneton Observer, July 17, 1879, see here; Geelong Advertiser, June 5 1885, see here; Australasian August 13, 1887, see here; Australian Town & Country Journal, August 6 1898, see here.]

George H. Edwards, architect and surveyor.  The Kyneton Observer article referred to above notes - We learn that Mr Geo. H. Edwards C. E. and Architect, late of Kyneton, has joined Mr J. R. Temperley, C. E. also of Kyneton, in his business in Melbourne. The firm is now practising under the style of Temperley and Edwards, Architects, Engineers, and Surveyors, at their new offices, Colonial Chambers, Collins-street west, Melbourne. Mr Edwards is well known here as an architect, and also in connection with the great iron bridge across the River Murray, at Echuca, having executed the design and superintended its erection under Mr W. B. Greene, C. E. We understand Mr Edwards has had extensive experience as architect and engineer, in Europe and the colonies, and has earned a reputation for good and economical instruction. Mr Temperley has for some years been successful as a mechanical and hydraulic engineer, and has recently been engaged in carrying out extensions of water supply, &c., at Echuca and elsewhere. Edwards sued the Richmond Council in 1883 over money he said he was owed for professional services in regard to Richmond Park bridge (see here) 

Anketell Matthew Henderson, C.E., F.R.V.I.A.,  lecturer of Architecture at Melbourne University and President of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects.  He died November 15, 1922, aged 69.  Read his obituary in The Argus November 16, 1922, here.

(6) Falls Reef was located in the Yarra River, near Queens Bridge (end of Market Street). They were removed in 1883 - 1885, under the advice of Sir John Coode. See articles in The Argus of May 24, 1883, here and December 3, 1884, here.