26 March 1879   Murray Bridge

The bridge over the River Murray at Murray Bridge opened for road traffic on 26 March 1879.

Discussion about a bridge at a place then known as Edward's Crossing began in 1864. In 1867/68 ironwork for a bridge was ordered from England, but after it arrived it was decided the project was going to be too expensive, so for the next four years the materials lay rusting by the side of the railway line at Dry Creek.

At last, on 7 November 1873, the foundation stone of the bridge was laid and work began on the construction of the stone piers. The bridge, which has five 120 foot spans across the river, and a further 23 by 60 foot spans across the swamps on either side, making it, in all, 1980 feet long, was a remarkable engineering feat. The total weight of iron used was more than 1000 tons, all of which had to be carted across the Mount Lofty Ranges. When completed the bridge carried road and rail traffic. In 1925 the present railway bridge was opened and the old one reverted to road traffic only.

Cyclopedia of South Australia , Volume 1, 1907, p. 149.