Normanby Bridge – three bridges

There have been three bridges at the Normanby Bridge crossing. The photo below is the opening of the second bridge in 1893. You can see the original (first) bridge from 1874 on the right (the lower bridge).

Photo: Opening of 1893 Bridge with lower first bridge (1874 build) on the right

First Bridge Opening: 1874

The first Normanby bridge officially opened to traffic on Saturday, 31 October 1874. The Queensland Governor at the time being The Most Honourable George Augustus Constantine, Marquess of Normanby GCB GCMG PC — hence the suggested naming of “Normanby Bridge”.

Gympie Times and Mary River Mining Gazette, on 4 November 1874 (page 3, Notes and News)

First Normanby Bridge ca1870 — First Normanby Bridge depicted in artwork

Second Bridge Opening: 1893

The newly erected second Normanby Bridge opening took place on Saturday, 13 May 1893.

The Telegraph, 18 May 1893, page 5

Photo circa 1900 of the second Normanby Bridge built 1893, look closely you can see the white railings.

Photo circa 1920’s by Fred Murray Photographer.
Shows the 1893 built second Normanby Bridge with Inglewood Bridge in the background,
also towered by Victoria Bridge (Deep Creek Railway Bridge)

The Normanby Bridge which was destroyed in the 1955 flood

Third and present Normanby Bridge: 1959

The Gympie Times, 21 February 1959 – Partly constructed third Normanby Bridge in flood

The Gympie Times, 11 July 1959 – Overpass and cutting adjacent to Normanby Bridge

Third and present Normanby Bridge Opening: 1959

The present Normanby Bridge was opened on 17 October 1959. According to the Gympie Times, 20 October 1959 “An estimated 2000 people crowded the northern bank of the Mary River to witness the official opening of the new Normanby bridge by the Minister for Local Government. (Mr. J. A. Heading) at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Miss Queensland 1959 (Nancy Knudsen) cut a white ribbon stretching across the city entrance of the bridge“.