Port Adelaide’s historic Bridge Keepers Gallery brought back to life

It looked out over Port Adelaide for decades and now the old Jervois Bridge Keepers Gallery has found a new home, after a much-needed facelift.

Cyclists riding across the Jervois Bridge at Port Adelaide in 1950.

One of the Port’s historically significant items has been restored – and it will soon have a new home.

The bridge keeper’s gallery, from the old Jervois Bridge, has been brought back to life and will feature prominently down the Port.

The site was discussed at Tuesday night’s Port Adelaide Enfield Council meeting, with the decision made to move it to wharf frontage adjacent to the current Jervois Bridge.

In 2016, the bridge keeper’s gallery was removed from its location on Nile Street in Port Adelaide to make way for the state government’s office building development.

The bridge structure is the last remnant of the original Jervois Bridge; a swing bridge that was opened in 1878 and was in operation until it was demolished in 1969.

The bridge was the only one of its type built in South Australia.

Following its removal from Nile St, Port Adelaide Enfield council took to restore the bridge remnant as it was heavily degraded.

The restoration work is now almost complete and the structure will soon be ready for reinstallation.

Potential locations around the Port for reinstallation of part of the old Jervois Bridge. Picture: Supplied

A report to council listed five potential relocation sites – the lawned area south of Hart’s Mill; in the Port River; on the wharf frontage adjacent to the existing Jervois Bridge; adjacent or over the bike path between the existing Jervois Bridge and Hart’s Mill or on the existing Jervois Bridge.

The report recommended the wharf frontage as the preferred location.

The Jervois Bridge at Port Adelaide in 1956.

“This location places the structure in close proximity to its original location, is prominent and highly visible, adjacent to the existing Port River loop shared use path, has moderate levels of foot traffic, is less likely than others to be disturbed by future developments and there are relatively few utility services located in this area which would require relocation,” the report states.

A capital budget allocation of $180,400 was provided for the remediation and relocation of

the bridge remnant in the 2020/21 PAE budget.

Jervois Bridge at Port Adelaide in December 1966.

So far costs of $168,286 have been incurred in its restoration, with an extra $48,093 needed to complete the project.

Mayor Claire Boan said the bridge remnant would be a good fit along the wharf frontage.

“This has been a project that has taken some time but we wanted to ensure this job was done properly,” she said.

“It’s a project that has strong community support and we’ve worked closely with the Port Adelaide Historical Society to find the best location.

“The wharf frontage is a key location and it (the bridge remnant) would provide a beautiful frame of the Hart’s Mill precinct.”