Sale Swing Bridge, Iron truss bridge in Sale, Australia.
The Sale Swing Bridge is a 45-metre wrought-iron truss bridge on Swing Bridge Drive near Longford, 5 km south of Sale, Victoria. It spans the Latrobe River at its junction with the Thomson River and pivots 90 degrees on nine cylindrical cast-iron columns filled with concrete to let river traffic pass.
Designed by John Grainger and built in 1883 by contractor Peter Platt for the Victorian Government Board of Land and Works, it was the first movable bridge in Victoria. It was operated by bridgekeepers until 1938, when regular openings ceased; at its peak it opened up to 20 times a day for steamers between Sale and Melbourne. After a major restoration from late 2003 to early 2006, it reopened.
Engineers Australia recognizes the Sale Swing Bridge as an Engineering Heritage National Landmark for its technical innovation in Australian bridge construction.
The bridge is on Swing Bridge Drive near the South Gippsland Highway at Longford, about 5 km south of Sale. As of 2023 it opens each Saturday and Sunday from 3pm to 4pm, and on the second Wednesday of each month from 11am to noon.
The rotating mechanism uses a portable hydraulic unit mounted on a trailer that moves into position when needed. This portable approach is unusual among swing bridges and allows flexible operation without permanent infrastructure at the bridge.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,389 contributors worldwide.