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Phillip Island Bridges
Phillip Island Bridges

Fur and fins

In the days before the bridge was built, there was only one way to get the circus to town.

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17 Jan 2022
Phillip Island Bridges

A look back in time ... a second bridge is built

It was 52 years ago on Sunday, November 21, since the Phillip Island bridge was opened. One of the major factors in the growth of the island since that time was the construction of the second bridge which replaced the old swing bridge which opened...

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23 Nov 2021
Phillip Island Bridges

Pre bridge days

Prior to a bridge being built across to Phillip Island, a two car, and later a six car punt transported vehicles and livestock across the Eastern Passage. And punting across was by no means an easy feat. When loaded, the unwieldy flat bottomed...

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29 Jul 2020
Phillip Island Bridges

The two Phillip Island bridges

Many people on Phillip Island in the 1930’s gave a tremendous amount of time and effort to persuade the government of the day to build a bridge linking Phillip Island with the mainland. It was a long and difficult struggle, but in spite of...

Guest Admin
29 Jul 2020
Phillip Island Bridges

The quest for a bridge

Many people on Phillip Island in the 1930’s gave a tremendous amount of time and effort to persuade the government of the day to build a bridge linking Phillip Island with the mainland. It was a long and difficult struggle, but in spite of...

Guest Admin
28 Jul 2020
Phillip Island Bridges

Demolition of first bridge

A contract was let to demolish the suspension bridge, after the first one was built, and despite local rumours of the day, it was not re—assembled in Adelaide or Japan. Due to the original use of so much second hand material and the effects of the...

Guest Admin
28 Jul 2020
Phillip Island Bridges

Fall from the bridge was life-changing

Reg Excell, of Cowes, came to be working on the construction of the Phillip Island bridge in 1968 through a quirk of fate. A shearer by profession, Reg worked in sheds across Australia with the Grazco Company, and at year’s end over the holiday...

Guest Admin
28 Jul 2020
Phillip Island Bridges

Memories of the opening of the first island bridge

Charlotte Berryman’s great grandfather was early settler Captain John Cleeland, renowned for training race horses at his grand home, Woolamai House. She was born at Warley Hospital and went to Cowes Primary School. As a six year old, and as a Cows...

Guest Admin
28 Jul 2020