Looking back: Hornibrook Highway 90th anniversary

SOURCES: History Redcliffe; A Man of Achievement (Waveney Browne, 1974); Brisbane Art Deco (Kimberley Wilson, 2016; Hornibrook Highway essay (Julie Hornibrook).

The Hornibrook Highway was the bridge that changed everything for the Redcliffe Peninsula, creating opportunities for residential and commercial development and tourism, when it opened almost 90 years ago.

It was the vision of Manuel Richard (MR) Hornibrook, whose company had just finished building the William Jolly Bridge in 1932.

He and his brothers Gus, Reg, Ray, Eric and Frank were looking for new projects to keep their workforce employed during the Great Depression, which had started in 1929, and knew a project of this magnitude would do just that.

MR Hornibrook was also motivated by a desire to create a road link from Brighton to Clontarf, overcoming the Peninsula’s isolation by making it easier for Brisbane’s people to visit. Before the bridge, they had to travel on a flood-prone road via Petrie or by boat.

On October 4, 2025, MR Hornibrook’s descendants will gather with community members at Redcliffe Museum to celebrate 90 years, to the day, since the official opening.

MR Hornibrook, who was Knighted for his contribution to the construction industry in 1960, built more than 100 bridges during his life, including the Story Bridge (in partnership with Evans Deakin & Co.), and New Victoria Bridge, as well as the Iconic Sydney Opera House roof.

Building the Hornibrook Highway bridge in the early 1930s was his most ambitious project at that time.

It was challenging to construct, being the southern hemisphere’s longest viaduct over water (2.68km) when it opened, but also difficult to fund.

When he first proposed the bridge to the Queensland Government, he was told it could not pay to build it.

MR Hornibook convinced the government to pass a special act of Parliament for a privately constructed toll bridge. It was the first public-private partnership in Queensland.

With the Great Depression taking its toll and financial backers difficult to find, the Queensland government was asked to guarantee a loan in 1933.

In March 1934, Hornibrook Highway Ltd was floated on the stock exchange, attracting investment from Sydney and Melbourne, and was fully subscribed within two weeks.

The National Bank of Australasia provided a £100,000 loan for the construction period. This was repaid by a second loan from AMP Society from 1935.

MR Hornibrook secured a 40-year franchise on the structure, charging the same toll for the entire period – one schilling, which was converted to 10 cents when decimal currency was introduced.

Momentous occasion

Construction started on June 8, 1932, at the Brighton end. Premier Arthur Moore turned the first sod during a ceremony which was attended by more than 550 people and broadcast on radio.

The bridge was designed by Chief Engineer George Boulton and had two rises for small boats to move underneath.

Identical Art Deco portals on the north and south ends were designed by John Beebe, housing toll facilities, a small office and night safe.

All materials for the bridge were manufactured in Queensland, except the reinforced steel which came from New South Wales.

Ironwood and tallowwood timber was sourced from around Conondale, Kilcoy and Mapleton.

When the last plank was laid, on September 7, 1935, a convoy of workers drove across the bridge for the first time followed by MR Hornibrook and the Redcliffe Mayor.

The official opening happened almost one month later (October 4, 1935) on a day which was declared a public holiday in Redcliffe.

MR Hornibrook said: “The hour is come!”.

Queensland Governor Sir Leslie Wilson cut the ribbon on the Brighton side using a gold boomerang before driving across the bridge (viaduct) and being welcomed by a Scottish pipe band at Clontarf. About 3000 vehicles drove across it before the toll started at 6pm.

The highway was a success for the Hornibrook family, with the debt repaid without having to call on the government guarantee.

The opening of the bridge led to a population and tourism boom on the Peninsula.

Redcliffe was supplied with tap water from Brisbane, for the first time, via pipes built under the bridge.

The highway was handed back to State Government’s Main Roads department in October 1975, with the final toll paid by then Minister Russ Hinze at 6pm.

Increased use and traffic delays prompted the construction of the Houghton Highway bridge, which opened to its east in 1979. It became the longest viaduct in the Southern Hemisphere, beating its neighbour by 60m.

The Hornibrook Highway bridge closed to traffic, but remained open to pedestrians, cyclists and anglers.

A third bridge, the Ted Smout Memorial Bridge opened in 2010 to further ease traffic congestion and provide a pedestrian alternative.

On July 14, 2010, the Hornibook Highway bridge, which had fallen into disrepair, was closed ahead of its demolition.

The Art Deco entrances remain with fishing platforms at each end.

Hornibrook family pride

MR Hornibrook’s granddaughter Julie wrote an essay for the State Library of Queensland about the bridge in 2015-16, in the lead-up to the 80th anniversary, after gaining a fellowship to research the Hornibrook Highway and the William Jolly and Story bridges.

She was 17 years old when her grandfather died – too young to ask him the questions she has now about the landmark projects.

“What we used to do when we were kids … he had this lovely big Dodge car. We would go on Sunday drives and we’d often go for a drive over the Hornibrook Highway and then we’d have an ice cream on the other side or play on some swings,” she recalls.

“It was only later that I realised he would have wanted to have a look at the bridge, he would have wanted to check on things. From our point of view, we just thought that was a lot of fun.

“No one had seatbelts, so you used to see if your head could hit the roof over the bumpy bits.”

Julie says the bridge was a visionary project, with a lasting legacy.

“The highway connected Sandgate and Redcliffe, and then it opened up Redcliffe,” she says.

An integrated train and bus ticket was created, well ahead of its time, so people could travel from Brisbane City to Redcliffe.

“People could go out for a day’s outing, have a swim at the beach, and come back again,” Julie says.

Hornibrook also supported the development of Redcliffe Golf course, using his equipment which was nearby for the bridge construction, and built a shark-proof swimming enclosure.

Hornibrook descendants will gather at Redcliffe Museum for a presentation about the bridges’ history and impact on October 4 to mark the anniversary.

The free event is open to the public, but bookings are essential.

Visit moretonbay.qld.gov.au/Galleries-Museums/Events/RM/Hornibrook-Bridge-Turns-90