Garratt Road Bridge, Timber road and foot bridge over the Swan River in Perth, Australia
Garratt Road Bridge consists of two parallel structures spanning the Swan River to link Bayswater and Ascot. The paired bridges were constructed in separate phases to create a functional crossing that handles traffic in both directions.
The site appears in Aboriginal mythology and lay near 1880s pedestrian and railway bridges serving Ascot Racecourse. A vehicular crossing was proposed repeatedly, interest peaked in 1928, and the Great Depression delayed work. Ernest Godfrey's timber bridge opened in 1935; it was widened by 1.5 metres in 1962, and a second bridge followed in 1971–72.
The site appears in Aboriginal mythology: the Swan River was made by the Wagyl, a snakelike Dreamtime being, and scales it shed are said to remain visible in the riverbank at Ascot. The Mooro people lived north of the river and the Beeloo south, whose Martagarup flats fishing grounds lay just south-west of the bridge.
The crossing is open to both pedestrians and vehicles, with each direction clearly separated. Visitors should note that the two bridge sections operate independently, making navigation straightforward when crossing on foot.
The structure rests on a series of piers driven deep into the riverbed, a construction method that proved both stable and innovative for its era. This pier-based approach allowed the bridge to span the water without requiring heavy cables or arches.
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