A higher quality version here. • Westgate Bridge Collap... An actual telerecording of the 7pm ABC news Oct 15 1970 the day the Westgate Bridge collapsed in Melbourne
Very nostalgic, I still recall the day. I grew up not far from this bridge, and I can still recall the thunderous sound and the cloud of dust, while attending a nearby school. Many of family and friends have personal stories, as they went to assist on that fateful day.
I was on a school excursion to Melbourne that day and we hand a look at the construction of the West Gate bridge. We were on the opposite bank when the bridge came crashing down. Can still remember hearing several loud cracks/bangs and then the noise of the bridge hitting the ground. The shock wave through the ground was amazing. I still hear the screams of the workers!!
I remember reading in the newspaper about one worker who was under the bridge. As it started to collapse he began running & was blown clear of the falling section by the wind created by the displacement of air by the massive rapidly falling section. One extremely lucky man !!! Those who were there described the noise of the shearing bolts as being akin to a machine gun.
I was born in Melbourne in March 1970 and I was 7 months old when this happened. I did not see the bridge finished while living in Melbourne. On January 9, 1974, I, with my parents moved to Whyalla, SA. Bridge finally opened on November 15, 1978. On July 9, 1982, I moved to Adelaide, and where I still live to this day. I've never been to Victoria in any capacity since January 8, 1974. Some great old TV coverage though. A 7 month old baby can't remember such things!
@@harryricochet8134 No, l know for a fact his body was buried so deep his body was not recovered . His last name was Dawson, why would his Own daughter lie
@@lindsayeast4688 I have no idea why your friend would lie, however that is irrelevant to the facts. I have read extensively about this workplace disaster, including the Coroner's Report as well as met survivors in person and the remains of every single worker who was killed were recovered. No workers, either those who were killed, injured or survived were at any time 'buried', some were trapped beneath the fallen span however without exception all were recovered. Cheers.
Don't Remember much.... Just a little bit of watching the News when I got home from School... Just in 5 days time I turned 7... I do remember seeing it getting build when I was crossing on the old river putt across the Yarra with my parents.
I was born in Melbourne on 15/03/1970 and I never got see the bridge finished (in 1979) while living there. I moved to Whyalla on 09/01/1974 and to Adelaide on 09/07/1982 and still to this day, I've never been across it. I would like to do someday.
my uncal fall from the bridge on callapes and lived and went back work to finish it of and said it was the safest bridge in the world on tv the day it was opened
My mum was an OR nurse at one of the Melbourne hospitals. She was looking at the bridge on her break, she went back to work and 10 minutes later the bridge collapsed. She remembers seeing the injured people and dead bodies coming into the hospital. She said it was horrific.
@mickjoG Actually, the accents haven't changed. Back then it was expected for those in TV and radio to speak with a British accent al a BBC. That's obviously changed since that time.
the name that I use here (darkangel2347) does pay tribute to my almost 4 years in Melbourne (15/3/70 to 8/1/74) and with a specific reference to this event. I was 7 months old at the time. The bridge finally opened on 1611/78. But by then, I'd had moved to SA. I still live in SA as of 12/7/11. The suicides of Jodie Gator & Stephanie Gestier in Melbourne (two 16-yo emo girls) in April 2007 also contribite 50% for this name that I use on RUclips.
The Commission found the cause of the collapse was basically a combination of the box girder design and very risky construction practices by the contractors, particularly during the morning before the collapse.
Incorrect. The Inquest found that a combination of factors led to the bridge collapse blaming the design, erection method, Freeman Fox & Partners, the Lower Yarra River Crossing Authority and the Builder's Labourers Union for covering up the causative longitudinal buckle in the bridge for nearly two weeks prior to its collapse and their wholesale theft, graft and blatant criminal malfeasance.
my dad was there,he was working on the bridge that day,but was on a break.he still refuses to drive over it to this day:(
thanks for posting this - it was a important piece of Melbourne history
Very nostalgic, I still recall the day. I grew up not far from this bridge, and I can still recall the thunderous sound and the cloud of dust, while attending a nearby school. Many of family and friends have personal stories, as they went to assist on that fateful day.
Incredible old News Footage. Thankyou for Posting!!
This bridge forms a daily part of my route home from work.
Damn hate it when I'm stuck at the top in heavy traffic situations.
I was on a school excursion to Melbourne that day and we hand a look at the construction of the West Gate bridge. We were on the opposite bank when the bridge came crashing down. Can still remember hearing several loud cracks/bangs and then the noise of the bridge hitting the ground. The shock wave through the ground was amazing. I still hear the screams of the workers!!
LIAR.
@neilringram thanks for the post - still recalling the screams nearly 40years later must be a horrible experience
I remember reading in the newspaper about one worker who was under the bridge. As it started to collapse he began running & was blown clear of the falling section by the wind created by the displacement of air by the massive rapidly falling section. One extremely lucky man !!!
Those who were there described the noise of the shearing bolts as being akin to a machine gun.
He was on a previous collapse of a similar bridge so he knew what was about to go down.
Never knew this happend. Only found out because I was researching Premier Bolte, absolutely insane. Rest In Peace to all the victims...
I was born in Melbourne in March 1970 and I was 7 months old when this happened. I did not see the bridge finished while living in Melbourne. On January 9, 1974, I, with my parents moved to Whyalla, SA. Bridge finally opened on November 15, 1978. On July 9, 1982, I moved to Adelaide, and where I still live to this day. I've never been to Victoria in any capacity since January 8, 1974. Some great old TV coverage though. A 7 month old baby can't remember such things!
Man 1970 was a Long time ago far and the style of news have changed gosh we are so lucky to live in a wealthy world nowadays with color television!
R.i.p to all those lost,over 50yrs ago but feels like yesterday.thinking of all those affected.🕊️
Thank you. My Uncle Died that day. RIP Dennis
Hi guys, what a great resource! Is there anyway that I can get and use some of this footage in a video about the WGB?
what happened? How did this bridge fall down? this vid has been kept in pretty good shape. thanks for posting.
Friend from high school Dad died in this accident. His body was never recovered
+Lindsay East I'm really sorry.
Rubbish, every person who died was recovered and buried, stop talking such ridiculous melodramatic garbage
@@harryricochet8134 No, l know for a fact his body was buried so deep his body was not recovered . His last name was Dawson, why would his Own daughter lie
@@lindsayeast4688 I have no idea why your friend would lie, however that is irrelevant to the facts. I have read extensively about this workplace disaster, including the Coroner's Report as well as met survivors in person and the remains of every single worker who was killed were recovered. No workers, either those who were killed, injured or survived were at any time 'buried', some were trapped beneath the fallen span however without exception all were recovered. Cheers.
@@harryricochet8134 The friend was his daughter, who was off school for a month due to the accident. I can only go by what she told me.
Thanks, this was interesting.
Don't Remember much....
Just a little bit of watching the News when I got home from School...
Just in 5 days time I turned 7...
I do remember seeing it getting build when I was crossing on the old river putt across the Yarra with my parents.
I was born in Melbourne on 15/03/1970 and I never got see the bridge finished (in 1979) while living there. I moved to Whyalla on 09/01/1974 and to Adelaide on 09/07/1982 and still to this day, I've never been across it. I would like to do someday.
my uncal fall from the bridge on callapes and lived and went back work to finish it of and said it was the safest bridge in the world on tv the day it was opened
Wow where did u get this !!!
Ade "tv film collector" Gregg
My mum was an OR nurse at one of the Melbourne hospitals. She was looking at the bridge on her break, she went back to work and 10 minutes later the bridge collapsed. She remembers seeing the injured people and dead bodies coming into the hospital. She said it was horrific.
Which hospital???
I remember the opening of the bridge in 1978 as a child. RIP to those who died, shocking shocking event.
Hopefully they were able to resolve of what happened to the 21 missing men.
same here
The fortieth annivrsary was this week. RIP to those who died.
Ummm.. Rest in paradise people that died .. I live in Melbourne and I am always scared as hell to cross it!
One day, I'd like to visit Melbourne and for the use of this name, I would pay a visit to the Westgate Bridge memorial.
@mickjoG Actually, the accents haven't changed. Back then it was expected for those in TV and radio to speak with a British accent al a BBC. That's obviously changed since that time.
Its funny, I remember that day as a 12 year old, I dont remember the British accents.
RIP who died....CFMEU
can i interview your uncle ? ? im writing an essay on the collapse
@jpx08 hmmm- haven't we come along way as a country.
A higher Quality version here. ruclips.net/video/zBk5becd3hQ/видео.html
don't blame him.
@telerecordings it was the same
i live in the western suburbs..
the name that I use here (darkangel2347) does pay tribute to my almost 4 years in Melbourne (15/3/70 to 8/1/74) and with a specific reference to this event. I was 7 months old at the time. The bridge finally opened on 1611/78. But by then, I'd had moved to SA. I still live in SA as of 12/7/11. The suicides of Jodie Gator & Stephanie Gestier in Melbourne (two 16-yo emo girls) in April 2007 also contribite 50% for this name that I use on RUclips.
yer not that fact its the fact that they put one too much layrer of conncrete on the deck and when the train took out the supports it gave way :)
i think australian accents must have sounded more british in the 70's.
accents so different in melbs back then. like wtf?
+maarkybaggio We were all still British Subjects back then.
Emile Tankard yes very true.
Radio and TV announcers, yes.
Still had the more British accents.
The policeman at 2:05 had the more broad Australian accent though.
Ummm , Yes you do!.
After reading this post , it seems you're in no position to call anybody illiterate.
Was this filmed with a cinder-block?
like kinda what happend with the grandville diasater eh?
The Commission found the cause of the collapse was basically a combination of the box girder design and very risky construction practices by the contractors, particularly during the morning before the collapse.
Incorrect. The Inquest found that a combination of factors led to the bridge collapse blaming the design, erection method, Freeman Fox & Partners, the Lower Yarra River Crossing Authority and the Builder's Labourers Union for covering up the causative longitudinal buckle in the bridge for nearly two weeks prior to its collapse and their wholesale theft, graft and blatant criminal malfeasance.
sorry jacob but he has since pastaway but i can ask his family if you like
Well, after it collapsed the bit that fell was lower!
The announcer had his facts wrong. Only one concrete column collapsed, and that was pushed over by the steel span which collapsed first.
Makes my blood boil whenever feminists today talk about male privilege.
Yes - men worked incredibly hard and bravely then and should be respected for it.