Fremantle Railway Bridge

Fremantle Railway Bridge (known also as the North Fremantle Bridge) is a railway bridge on the Fremantle railway line that crosses the Swan River between Fremantle and North Fremantle. It is the third structure with that name.

The original bridge was of concern due to its structure, ^[1] as well as its position limiting the eastern extent of the Fremantle Harbour. ^[2] It was opened in 1880 and was demolished in 1895–1897, after the second bridge came into operation. ^[3]

1926 flood

Load testing on the repaired section of the bridge, 1926

In 1926, the bridge was destroyed by a flood ^[4] and was re-built soon after. ^[5]

The current bridge, which was planned in the 1950s, ^[6] is further upstream and closer to the Fremantle Traffic Bridge than the earlier lower structure.

2000s damage

The current bridge was damaged in the 2000s by ships hitting it, one during a storm, but was repairable. It now has barriers to prevent further collisions.^{[ citation needed ]}

Bridge from north, 2010

Bridge from west end of harbour, 2017

References

1. "North Fremantle Bridge". Truth . No. 414. Western Australia. 10 June 1911. p. 11 (City Edition). Retrieved 1 April 2019– via National Library of Australia.
2. "Fremantle Railway Bridge". The Inquirer and Commercial News . Vol. LVIII, no. 3, 204. Western Australia. 2 September 1898. p. 3. Retrieved 15 January 2017– via National Library of Australia.
3. Campbell, Heather, North Fremantle Railway Bridge Collapse 1926. An accident waiting to happen? (PDF), Fremantle History Society, retrieved 15 June 2024
4. "Collapse of Fremantle Railway Bridge". Fremantle History Centre. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
5. "Reconstruction of Fremantle Railway Bridge after collapse in 1926". Rail Heritage WA. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
6. Maunsell, (G.) and Partners (1959), Railway bridge over the Swan River at Fremantle : memorandum of agreement, London, retrieved 15 January 2017

32°02′29″S115°45′14″E / 32.0414°S 115.7538°E / -32.0414; 115.7538