We remember
Beneath the West Gate Bridge, a plaque stands as a solemn tribute to the 35 workers who lost their lives when the bridge collapsed on 15 October 1970. Paid for and erected by their fellow bridge workers, the plaque was unveiled on 15 October 1978 as a lasting memorial to those who never came home.
The inscription reads:
“Construction workers employed on the West Gate Bridge erected and dedicated this memorial to their 35 workmates who were killed when a span of the bridge collapsed during construction at 11:50 am on 15 October 1970.”
Our Fallen Comrades
The workers who lost their lives that day were:
- Royvin Barbuto – Boilermaker
- Ross Bigmore – Carpenter
- Amadeo Boscolo – Carpenter
- Bernard Butters – Boilermaker
- Cyril Carmichael – Ironworker
- Peter Crossley – Engineer
- Peter Dawson – Rigger
- Abraham Eden – Rigger
- Anthony Falzon – Carpenter
- Esequiel Fernandez – Ironworker
- Bernard Fitzsimmonds – Ironworker
- Victor Gerada – Ironworker
- John Grist – Boilermaker
- William Harburn – Boilermaker
- Jack Hindshaw – Engineer
- Trevor Hunsdale – Fitter
- John Little – Rigger
- Charles Lund – Rigger
- Peter McGuire – Rigger
- Ian Miller – Engineer
- Jeremiah Murphy – Rigger
- Dennis O’Brien – Rigger
- Joseph Ozelis – First Aid
- Frank Piermarini – Rigger
- George Pram – Rigger
- Lesley Scarlett – Ironworker
- Christopher Stewart – Boilermaker
- Alfonso Suarez – Boilermaker
- William Tracy – Engineer
- George Tsihilidis – Boilermaker
- Edgar Upsdell – Ironworker
- Robert West – Boilermaker
- Robert Whelan – Boilermaker
- Patrick Woods – Rigger
- Barry Wright – Boilermaker
The plaque also honours all workers worldwide who have lost their lives in industrial accidents – a reminder that workplace safety is not just a regulation, but a responsibility to ensure that tragedies like this never happen again.