Sir William Goodman Bridge

The Metropolitan Tramways Trust (MTT) was formed by the South Australian government in 1906 to manage and run the Adelaide tram network. The MTT was charged with electrifying the system and extending it to service suburbs within 10-mile radius of the Adelaide GPO.

Hindmarsh is a suburb to the north-west of the Adelaide CBD on the northern side of the River Torrens that is within this 10-mile radius. The MTT needed to develop a route for a tram service to Hindmarsh. The existing horse-tram ran along Port Road but was considered inappropriate as the eastern side of Port Road is parklands.

The MTT determined that by moving the tramway to the west it could serve residential areas on both sides. In 1908 the MTT has determined that the tramway will run along Holland Street and cross the River Torrens at the northern end of Holland Street.

The MTT appointed (later Sir) John Monash’s SA Reinforced Concrete Company (SARCCo) to construct the bridge in reinforced concrete in 1908 and the first horse-drawn tram services started in 1909 later to be replaced by electric trams as the network was updated.

Tram services ceased in 1953 and the bridge ownership changed to the two local government authorities – Thebarton and Hindmarsh Councils. The bridges were used for road traffic from 1962 until its closure for safety reasons in 2011.

A complete structural restoration of the bridge was carried out managed by John Woodside starting in 2013 and completed in 2014. The project won the Colin Crisp Award, Engineering Heritage Australia’s premier award for engineering heritage projects.

It is one of only two examples of reinforced concrete bridges in South Australia personally designed by Sir John Monash.

Sir William Goodman Bridge after restoration

Engineering Heritage Interpretive Panel

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Engineering Heritage Recognition Program

Marker Type	Engineering Heritage Marker (EHM)
Award Date	September 2014
Heritage Significance	First reinforced concrete bridge to be built in the Adelaide metropolitan area and the second in SA to use the girder design. An important river crossing to enable the expansion of the new electric tram network to residential areas north-west of Adelaide
Nomination Document	Available here.
Ceremony Booklet Ceremony Report	Not Available.
Plaque/Interpretation Panel	Available here.