Garratt Road Bridge given heritage protection

Garratt Road Bridge - Western Australia's longest timber traffic bridge and possibly the longest ever built in the State - has been given State heritage protection.

Heritage Minister John Castrilli today announced its inclusion on the State Register of Heritage Places and said Garratt Road Bridge had been an important social and transport landmark, since its opening in 1935.

"From the 1930s, countless local children learnt to swim in the Swan River and it was also popular for competitive swimming in the 1960s with the construction of two jetties forming an Olympic-sized pool close to where the bridge crosses the Swan,"

Mr Castrilli said.

"Garratt Road Bridge is the finishing point for the Avon Descent, the longest white water rafting competition in the world, and the location for world, State and national water sporting events."

The 237m long bridge was built by the Main Roads Department using men employed under the Depression-era 'sustenance labour' scheme.  It was designed by Chief Engineer EWC Godfrey, who was responsible for the construction of all major bridges from 1928 to 1957.

In 1972, a second timber bridge was built alongside the original structure, turning the Garratt Road crossing into a four-lane dual carriageway to cope with increased traffic, particularly to and from Perth Airport.

"Over the years, the bridge has been sympathetically maintained by Main Roads WA to ensure the original 1935 timber structure remains substantially intact," the Minister said

"Garratt Road Bridge is still an important arterial link between east and west, and currently carries about 18,000 motorists a day."

The Heritage Council of WA manages the State Register of Heritage Places.