West Gate Bridge Collection

This small collection comprises documents, images and objects relating to the construction of the West Gate Bridge (1966-1978), the 1970 collapse during construction and subsequent Royal Commission, and memorabilia collected from workers involved in the construction of the bridge.

Towering high above the lower Yarra River flats with its sweeping approach spans and 102-metre high twin cable-stay towers, the West Gate Bridge links central Melbourne to its western suburbs and on completion was Australia's longest and second-highest bridge. Its innovative design was of international significance incorporating the world's then longest cable-stayed steel box girder span. Today it is Victoria's fourth-longest bridge, with an overall length of 2,582 metres, including approach spans, and is both a key Melbourne landmark and the State's busiest and most important bridge carrying 160,000 vehicles daily.