Building Brisbane: Historic photos show construction of Riverside Expressway and Captain Cook Bridge

Rare insight into the construction of an infrastructure project that forever changed the landscape of Brisbane - but also attracted plenty of controversy has been revealed in historical photos.

Construction of the Riverside Expressway, Brisbane. Photo: Gordon Foot/State Library of Queensland

It’s one of Brisbane’s most controversial major road infrastructure building projects that carved its way through the city’s inner south, leading to significant demolitions and upset residents.

But the old SE Freeway, which now forms part of the Pacific Motorway, has stood the test of time since the start of its construction in the late 1960s.

More than 60 years since the project began, never before seen construction photos of the freeway, the Riverside Expressway and the Captain Cook Bridge have been publicly released by the State Library of Queensland.

Specialist librarian at the State Library of Queensland Reuben Hillier said it was an era where safety equipment was a rarity and that the projects led to protests across the city.

Forming part of the entrance to the Pacific Motorway, the Riverside Expressway runs alongside the Brisbane CBD from Coronation Drive, Milton to the Captain Cook Bridge, which carries the Pacific Motorway across the Brisbane River to the southside of the city.

Construction of the Riverside Expressway and the Captain Cook Bridge began around the same time in the late 1960s, with the Captain Cook Bridge opening in 1973, while the Riverside Expressway opened three years later in 1976.

Labourers installing timber formwork for the road surfaces during construction of the Riverside Expressway, Brisbane. Photo: Gordon Foot/State Library of Queensland

Photographs of the construction of the city-changing infrastructure were taken by Gordon Foot, a World War II veteran who was working for the main roads department.

The collection of photos were held by Mr Foot’s family who donated the photos to the library last year before they were digitised for public release.

Workers and a crane installing a very large concrete beam during construction of the Riverside Expressway, Brisbane. Photo: Gordon Foot/State Library of Queensland

Mr Hillier said the collection of photos show the construction methods of the time.

“The photographs show all aspects of the construction, along the pretty bare river bank,” Mr Hillier said.

“They show sinking gigantic pylons to support the expressway, they show the massive concrete spans being transported to the site.

“They also show the building of the off ramps in what were otherwise city streets, which was a big change to the landscape of the city.”

Three labourers working on a concrete pour during construction of the Riverside Expressway, Brisbane. Photo: Gordon Foot/State Library of Queensland

Mr Hillier said the photographs show the workplace health and safety standards of the time.

“One of the things you really notice looking at the photographs is the different standards of occupational health and safety in the 70s,” he said.

“There’s lots of bare chests and people hanging from heights without much support, not many helmets.

“It’s definitely a much more casual workplace than you would see today.”

Four men working on a concrete pour during construction of the Riverside Expressway, Brisbane. Photo: Gordon Foot/State Library of Queensland

Mr Hillier said the Riverside Expressway and the Captain Cook Bridge were key developments for the city at the time.

“Back then, Brisbane was a much smaller city, people could have easily referred to it as a big country town,” he said.

“It was a major development, the Riverside Expressway, prior to that, there were no major roads going along the river.

“So it was a massive development and the Captain Cook Bridge really linked the CBD with the southern suburbs.”

Concrete piers underneath the Riverside Expressway during its construction, Brisbane. Photo: Gordon Foot/State Library of Queensland

While it would ultimately provide a vital link from the north to the south of the city, Mr Hillier said the construction of the Riverside Expressway, Captain Cook Bridge, and South East Freeway proved controversial at the time.

“It wasn’t without controversy, but it provided a big expressway straight through the middle of town,” he said.

“From the Captain Cook Bridge south, what they used to call the SE Freeway through Woolloongabba, was very controversial at the time, a lot was demolished and cleared to make way for it, and there was a lot of protest.

“People were upset, significant old buildings were being demolished and it was being carved straight through their suburb.”

Parked cars on the Riverside Expressway before the opening ceremony of the Captain Cook Bridge, Brisbane, 13 December 1972. Photo: Gordon Foot/State Library of Queensland

Mr Hillier said the Riverside Expressway is an integral part of modern-day Brisbane.

“The Riverside Expressway is not going anywhere, it provides one of the iconic scenes in our city,” he said.

“It definitely changed the landscape of the city for better or worse, depending on who you talk to.”

Originally published as Building Brisbane: Historic photos show construction of Riverside Expressway and Captain Cook Bridge