Panorama of the Story Bridge, Riverfire 2022, Brisbane, Queensland

This panorama taken with a drone shows the Story Bridge from Admirality Towers apartments on the night of Riverfire 2022.

Story Bridge (Kangaroo Point — Fortitude Valley)

The Brisbane River, with its winding course, has long been both a source of pride for locals and a challenge for transportation planning. As commerce expanded and the population grew, there was an increasing need for easier access between the northern and southern suburbs, leading to the construction of several impressive bridges.

The Story Bridge has since become an iconic part of the city. In the 1920s, rising traffic congestion in the inner city called for urgent solutions. Dr. J. C. Bradfield was commissioned to design a large bridge to facilitate traffic flow between the southern and northern suburbs without passing through the city’s narrow streets. Work began in 1935, led by two local companies, and the bridge was officially opened in 1939. It was named in honor of J. D. Story, a prominent local engineer and designer of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The massive concrete supports carry a complex steel structure high above the river. Construction progressed simultaneously from both sides, meeting in the middle. Although the opening of the Gateway Bridge in 1986 helped reduce some of the traffic burden, the Story Bridge remains a key route for vehicles crossing between the northern and southern banks of the river.