3-076-221 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

The road bridge over the Coomera River was constructed by M. R. Hornibrook Ltd using predominately local material with the exception of steel bars manufactured at Lithgow NSW and girders that originated from Belgium. The bridge contained 224 girders that were 61½ feet long and 6½ tons each and were the largest solid girders ever imported into Queensland at the time. The bridge opened on 14 June 1930 with the Attorney General N. F. Macgreaty’s car officially recorded as the first to cross the new bridge. However, according to local legend, it was not the first crossing. The Attorney General’s car had been proceeded a week earlier by two young students from Coomera State School, Vince and Allan Hargraves, who rode their horses over the bridge. The opening of the bridge was an important event which included a picnic at the site followed by a ‘smoke concert’ at the Grand Hotel in Labrador and an afternoon tea at the Capitol Theatre in Coolangatta. With the opening of the road bridge the ferry crossing was no longer required and, after sixty years, ceased operation.