Hornibrook Highway 90th anniversary

Image: Cr Karl Winchester and Julie Hornibrook. Courtesy of City of Moreton Bay.

A visionary piece of infrastructure that revolutionised transport between Redcliffe and Sandgate has marked its 90th anniversary in City of Moreton Bay.

The brainchild of Sir Manuel Hornibrook, the Hornibrook Bridge took three years to bring to life, officially opening on October 4, 1935.

The legacy of the superstructure was celebrated on Saturday at Redcliffe Museum with Sir Manuel’s granddaughter Julie speaking about the bridge, its builders and the community it served.

City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said the toll bridge marked the beginning of a new era of growth on the Redcliffe Peninsula, giving the local population direct access to Brisbane, and opening up Redcliffe as a holiday destination.

“When you consider the scale of what was proposed and the logistics involved, the Hornibrook Bridge was truly a remarkable feat of engineering,” he said.

“We owe a great debt to Sir Manuel Hornibrook, whose vision and experience laid the foundations for what would eventually become one of Australia’s fastest growing cities.

“History is defined by moments that can change a community for generations to come. Today, we recognise such an event and the incredible legacy forged by those who came before us.”

Building the bridge was not without challenges, requiring the careful leadership and know-how of Sir Manuel to secure the required finance, and timber supplies and workforce to make the complex design a reality at the height of the Great Depression.

Read about the bridge’s history here.

Councillor Karl Winchester (Div 6) said it was an honour to mark the anniversary of the historical icon.

“The Hornibrook Bridge represents an intrinsic part of the fabric of not only Redcliffe but of City of Moreton Bay itself,” he said.

“Many in our community hold cherished memories of the bridge at the height of its glory and while it lives on today in a different form, a new generation of locals are still able to enjoy this piece of history.”

Councillor Sandra Ruck (Div 5) said the bridge had left an indelible mark on the wider Redcliffe Peninsula.

“To this day, the Hornibrook Bridge remains one of the few game-changing projects that revolutionised transport in our area,” she said.

“It gave local residents direct access to Brisbane for the first time and transformed the local economy for the better. 90 years on, we continue honour that legacy and ensure the contribution of Sir Manuel, and all those involved in the bridge’s construction, will never be forgotten.”

Ms Hornibrook said her grandfather showed remarkable ingenuity and patience to bring the project to fruition.

“Projects like these were built in tough times. They needed vision, innovation and a lot of collaboration for problem solving. They were all built before computers were invented and bridges like the William Jolly and the Story Bridge, also built by Hornibrook, have stood the test of time,” she said

“I have really valued playing my part in bringing the legacy of my grandfather and these big build projects back to life. In doing so I have found people are so interested in the history and have connections to those bridges today.”

Ms Hornibrook said she was proud the people of Redcliffe continued to remember and love the bridge and its story.

“The art deco portals and fishing pier are all that remain now, but it is still celebrated in memory,” she said.

“A lot of local people have stories about the bridge. When it was built it was the longest bridge in Australia, and it really opened up the Redcliffe area.

“It reminds us that even in difficult times, there can be positive ways to build community and connections that can really make a difference to the way people live.”