The Bridge

Stretching 2.5 kilometers across the Yarra River, the West Gate Bridge is a vital link between Melbourne’s western suburbs and the city’s heart.

As one of Australia’s largest cable-stayed girder bridges, it carries more than 160,000 vehicles each day, its sweeping curve a familiar sight on the skyline.

But beneath its steel and concrete lies a tragic history. The West Gate Bridge stands as a silent memorial to Australia’s worst industrial disaster – a catastrophe that claimed 35 lives and left families shattered.

On 15 October 1970, a section of the bridge collapsed during construction, sending workers plunging into the river below. The impact was immediate and devastating.

This website honours the men who lost their lives, the survivors who carried the scars, and the brave rescuers who fought against overwhelming odds to save those they could.

The West Gate Bridge is a testament to resilience, sacrifice, and the enduring legacy of those who built it.

The Bridge

Voices of Remembrance.

The West Gate Bridge Memorial honours the sacrifice of 35 men who gave their lives, so that we could work in safer conditions. Their loss led to change that ensures we can go to work and return home safely to our families. Their memory will never be forgotten.

Working on the West Gate Bridge changed the lives of many, including mine. It was a wake-up call for all of us, seeing the dangers we faced and the need to fight for safety. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Being on the West Gate Bridge that day, so close to the collapse, was a moment I’ll never forget. The tragedy became the turning point for the entire construction industry.