Story Bridge

Why go

The bridge makes Brisbane's geography clear in a single crossing: the city centre rises on one bank while Kangaroo Point occupies the opposite bend. Its cantilever structure is an attraction in its own right, especially when viewed from the riverbank before walking across. The crossing suits a visit that also includes Kangaroo Point.

What to look for

• The steel cantilever span above the Brisbane River.
• Views toward the city centre and Kangaroo Point from the crossing.

The full story

Story Bridge grew out of a long argument about how Brisbane should cross the river below Victoria Bridge. Residents had sought another crossing from the nineteenth century, and by the 1920s a wider bridge plan aimed to take traffic around the city centre. During the Depression, bridge construction became a major public works project. John Bradfield advised on the design, and Queensland firms Evans Deakin and Hornibrook built the steel cantilever span. Work began in 1935; the two sides met in 1939, and the bridge opened in 1940. Look at the unequal riverbanks to understand an engineering choice: the northern end could anchor into rock, while the southern side needed a separate anchor pier and difficult deep foundations. The bridge's name honours public servant John Douglas Story.

Useful to know

• Check the council's Story Bridge renewal update before choosing a pedestrian route.
• Look at the span from a riverbank viewpoint before crossing to see how the structure meets each shore.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.