Historic photos of Brisbane’s Story Bridge as iconic landmark nears end of its lifespan

We take a look back over the history of the Story Bridge amid revelations it is nearing the end of its lifespan unless expensive repairs ramp up.

A visual history of Brisbane's iconic Story Bridge.

• Revealed: Deadline for Brisbane icon

With revelations that the Story Bridge will reach the end of its lifespan by 2040 unless expensive repairs ramp up, we take a look back at the history of the iconic Brisbane landmark.

A 1934 design sketch of the Story Bridge. The site of the bridge was recommended by the Brisbane City Council’s Cross River Commission in 1926. It would be built as a public works program during the Great Depression.

Construction of the Story Bridge started in 1935 and was finished in 1940. The 84-year-old bridge will require a major new renewal program to outlive its 100-year life span.

Components for the Story Bridge were manufactured in a purpose-built factory at Rocklea. There are 1.25m rivets in the bridge. Three died during the construction.

An aerial view of the Story Bridge in 1935 during construction. The bridge was built by the State Government as a toll bridge and then transferred to Brisbane City Council seven years later

Consulting engineer John Bradfield was appointed on December 15, 1933, to design the Story Bridge. Today, the bridge carries 100,000 vehicles a day and heavy usage combined with exposure to the elements means without intervention, the bridge has 20-30 years of remaining life.

A consortium of two Queensland companies, Evans Deakin and Hornibrook Constructions, won the tender to construct the Story Bridge with a bid of £1,150,000.

A photo from the late 1930s taken from the personal collection of Julie Hornibrook, the granddaughter of legendary bridge builder MR Hornibrook, who built the Story Bridge.

The Story Bridge, pictured in 1937, is a cantilever bridge spanning the Brisbane River. It was part of the then Bradfield Highway, connecting Fortitude Valley to Kangaroo Point.

The Story Bridge in 1940.

Pictured in January 1939, The Coastal steamer Canberra swinging with assistance from the tug Forceful before berthing in the Brisbane River under the shadow of the Story Bridge construction site.

The Story Bridge pictured in 1950.

Painters working under the bridge in 1955.

HMAS. Gladstone sails under the Story Bridge after arriving Brisbane in 1956.

The Story Bridge with wharves in the foreground in 1957.

The HMS Telemachus, a British T Class submarine, turns in the river under the Story Bridge in 1959.

A painter working on the Story Bridge in 1959.

Painting is an endless job for Mr Tom Daly, of New Farm, seen here in 1968, wielding his long-handled brush at the top of the 300-foot-high southern span of the Story Bridge, applying red paint to the iron work. Each application of paint takes five years, and Mr Daly is on his fifth trip across the bridge in 23 years.

The Brisbane Water Police headquarters pictured in 1971 nestled under the Story Bridge.

Maintenance works in 1984. The 84-year-old iconic Story Bridge will require a major new renewal program to outlive its 100-year life span. Picture: Brisbane City Council

The Story Bridge and Brisbane CBD in 1987. Picture: Brisbane City Council

The Story Bridge climb opened in 2005. By 2018, more than 150,000 people had scaled the iconic landmark.

A view of Brisbane's Central Business District and the Story Bridge from New Farm in 2014.

Lightning over the Story Bridge in 2020. Picture: Josh Woning

The Story Bridge lit up during Riverfire in 2017.

A view of Story Bridge from Howard Smith Wharves, a heritage-listed wharf built from 1939 to 1942 on a 3.5ha site. It has been redeveloped dining and entertainment precinct, opening in late 2018.