The Royal Commission

The Royal Commission into the Failure of the West Gate Bridge, chaired by Mr. Justice Barber, was established in response to the tragic collapse on 15 October 1970. The Commission sat for six months, beginning on 28 October 1970 and concluding on 14 July 1971. Over 73 days of hearings – pausing only for Christmas and Easter – 52 witnesses provided evidence, amounting to more than two million words.

Just over a month after the final witness testimony, the Commission released its findings in a detailed 300-page report, which was tabled in the Victorian Parliament on 3 August 1971. The report placed blame on critical failures in design, construction methods, and flawed attempts to correct a structural issue.

The introduction of the report states:

“On 15 October 1970, at 11:50 am, span 10-11 of the West Gate Bridge – one of the sections on the western side of the Yarra River – suddenly collapsed. The immediate trigger was the removal of bolts from a transverse splice in the upper flange plating near mid-span. These bolts were taken out in an attempt to straighten a buckle in one of the eight panels forming the upper flange. That buckle had been caused by the application of kentledge to counteract camber errors.

However, attributing the collapse solely to this bolt removal would be misleading. The root causes go much deeper.

The primary failure lay with the designers, Freeman Fox and Partners (FF & P), who did not exercise due diligence in structural design and failed to ensure adequate safety margins both during construction and for the bridge’s eventual service life. Additionally, the original contractor, World Services and Construction Pty Ltd (WSC), proposed an erection method that further compromised safety.

The secondary issue stemmed from this unusual construction method for spans 10-11 and 14-15. Its success required extreme care, yet neither WSC nor its successor, John Holland & Co. (JHC), appeared to fully grasp the risks involved. Meanwhile, FF & P failed in their duty to prevent unsafe practices.”

The Royal Commission’s findings remain a sobering reminder of the importance of rigorous engineering oversight and construction safety.

The Royal Commission

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.