English: [The Fitzroy Bridge spans the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton, Construction commenced in 1945 and it was opened by Premier Vince Gair on 27 September 1952.]

MAYOR TURNS FIRST SOD IN BUILDING OF NEW BRIDGE

The Mayor (Mr H. Jeffries) launched the construction of Rockhampton's £400,000 Fitzroy River traffic bridge on Saturday afternoon when he ceremonially turned the first sod on the south bank of the river, a few yards upstream from where the present bridge stands.

The ceremony attracted a crowd of some thousands, vhich, the Minister for Education (Mr Larcombe) said, indicated both appreciation of what was an historic occasion and interest in a project which would be of great importance to the city and district.

With the war over the Mayor said, it was an occasion for happiness that the inventiveness, skill and labour of mankind could now be turned to undertakings which were not designed for destruction but for the well-being, prosperity and progress of civilisation.

"The historic importance of starting this project is two-fold," the Mayor continued. " First, it marks an important milestone in the history of Rockhampton and the development of Queensland coastal communications, and secondly, it has the distinction of being the first major public work undertaken in Queensland (and I might go so far as to say, in Aus- tralia), after the termination of hostilities.

"Of the importance of this project to Rockhampton much could be said. We are aware of the straits to which we have been reduced in handling the city's own cross-river traffic because of the inadequacy of the existing bridge.

"The delays, inconvenience and loss sustained on this account might have been borne for some time longer, so long as the bridge remained trafficable, but we had to realise that it is a national highway and that the present bridge facilities were likely to cause grave loss to Rockhampton in the future.

"To maintain communication with the north and the south, better bridge accommodation than we possessed was necessary, and it also was essential in order to give access to our wonderful seaside resorts. Had these facilities been denied, an inevitable result would have been the side-tracking of Rockhampton, with great loss, not only to the city, but to the State as a whole. The new bridge will enhance the value of Queensland lines of communication and will also accelerate the progress of the city particularly North Rockhampton."

Description source: Morning Bulletin, 1 October 1945

View the original record at the Queensland State Archives:

Item ID2140146, Photographic material