Friday, 9 May 2025

Batman Bridge

The Batman Bridge built in 1966 - 1968 was the first cable stayed bridge in Australia is only about 30 minutes from home with a good run.  It was named after John Batman, a Tasmanian pioneer and the founder of the city of Melbourne.

The photos were taken on different days over time.


Several years ago people used to park their caravans all in the above area, there were toilets, picnic tables and the grass was mowed and green, then the local council in the area decided that no one could park their caravans there, toilets were removed and placed in another area, even some picnic tables and chairs were removed.  Now the area is just a place to look at the whirlpools in the Tamar River in that area.  I guess the locals didn't care for holiday makers and wanted to keep the area for themselves or something like that.



68 comments:

  1. Love the header!
    Your are probably right... some people don't like "tourism".

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    1. Thanks. Photo taken yesterday in our City Park.
      I read where some places in this world are going to stop tourists from visiting as they are tired of them.

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  2. Wonderful Autumn colour in your header.
    Good collection of photographs from Batman Bridge.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you Jan. Header photo taken yesterday in our City Park.

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  3. Margaret, your header is beautiful! Wonderful photographs of this bridge, thank you so much for sharing.

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    1. You are welcome Linda. Header photo taken yesterday in our City Park.

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  4. Nice new header, it's a beauty. I guess the people in charge listened to the locals. Love Batman Bridge, it is impressive looking.

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    1. Thank you Bill. Header photo taken yesterday in our City Park.
      It's a good thing the Council does listen or did in that situation as the tourists were spoiling that area.
      It's a nice bridge, being painted in the first photo.

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  5. Interesting and wonderful bridge.
    Great photos!
    Very beautiful the header and the footer of your blog.

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    1. Thank you Maria. It is a good bridge to have across the Tamar River, saves a lot of travelling down one side and up etc.

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  6. Schöne Herbstfarben im Hader. Eine schöne Brücke.
    Gruß
    Noke

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    1. Header photo taken yesterday in our City Park. Thank you Noke. It's a good bridge.

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  7. It looks like a very nice bridge. Your header is very beautiful. It's strange to think about that you have autumn, and I have spring!

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    1. Thank you. Header photo taken yesterday in our City Park. It's hard to get used to opposite seasons, but then after awhile it becomes more natural to remember.

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  8. The bridge over the river is impressive.

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  9. The Batman Bridge, Australia's first cable-stayed bridge, is a local landmark with a rich history, but it's disappointing to see the once-welcoming riverside area now stripped of amenities—likely a move by locals or the council to discourage holidaymakers and keep the space more private.

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    1. It's certainly private there now, it's kept clean and there is just no one about even in the summer you see but a few people. Shame but on the other hand I can understand why they did what they did.

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  10. I can't believe there was an actual person called "batman"!!!
    did he wear a cloak? :)
    Haha. well, it is a beautiful spot.

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    1. lol Liam. He probably did wear a cloak, who knows.
      A bit about John Batman...
      The Batman Bridge in Tasmania is named after John Batman, a Launceston businessman and pioneer who co-founded Melbourne. While he played a role in establishing Melbourne, Batman was also responsible for the deaths of Aboriginal people during Tasmania's Black War. This has led to calls for the bridge to be renamed.

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  11. Our friend was driving us and I was just amazed as the bridge came into view. Wow.

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    1. Oh yes, Andrew, that bridge has the wow factor if you are not expecting to see it.

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  12. Impressive bridge - Batman Bridge??????????
    Why not a Tassie founder/colonial resident ( a word I don't like - too
    many connotations involved).
    Again 4 seasons this morning but sun as prevailed.
    Cheers
    Colin

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    1. Who knows why John Batman had a bridge named after him, they the authorities could have named it after anyone. Batman was a Launceston businessman of note but he also had a dark side having a lot to do with the killings of some our Aboriginals as many people did back then.

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  13. That's quite impressive. And like everybody else, I love the new header.

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    1. Thank you Angie. Took the header photo yesterday in our City Park.

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  14. A lovely bridge and a lovely header picture. I hope the caravanners have a decent spot still.

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    1. Thank you River. Have no idea where the caravanners now go probably to a caravan park as there are a few down that way.

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  15. Such a shame that the caravanners were moved on. Was there any reason given?

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    1. No reason given, it was just closed, signs were put up and policed from memory EC.

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  16. Beautiful pictures of the bridge.
    Your new header is also beautiful with the autumn colors.
    I wish you a good weekend.
    Greetings Irma

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  17. Replies
    1. It's a decent length from start to finish but not that long compared to some bridges Anne.
      Thank you.

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  18. There is a bit of a love/hate relationship between tourists and residents in many places. Too many visitors can disrupt a community in a hurry.

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  19. Uma foto outonal muito bonita!
    Que a ponte seja sempre para unir e nunca desunir!
    As fotos estão muito originais, Margaret!
    Um abracinho sorridente!
    💟💟💟Megy Maia

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  20. What a shame to see such a beautiful spot lose its welcoming charm over the years. It’s sad when decisions that should enhance public spaces end up making them feel less inviting. Thanks for sharing the history and photos

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    1. It is a shame. We used to go there to have a picnic lunch, but we can't now along with many other people.

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  21. What a striking piece of history and architecture—the Batman Bridge stands as a reminder of both progress and preservation. It's sad to see how community spaces sometimes lose their warmth when accessibility is restricted, but may God use even these changes to guide us in finding beauty in stillness and history in simplicity. Thank you for sharing.

    melodyjacob.com

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    1. You are welcome Melody. It sure is a shame we can't got there for picnics anymore.

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  22. Nice shots of a well engineered bridge

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  23. I do like looking at bridges, this one is a damn good one, it sucks that councils make dumb decisions like the one about the caravans but that's councils for ya

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    1. We wonder sometimes why council do what they do, they often do what they are not supposed to do and then do the opposite.

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  24. Hello Margaret,
    That's a wonderful and special bridge. Really fantastic.
    Great to see these pictures.

    Many greetings,
    Marco

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  25. Quando hai scritto ponte di Batman ho pensato subito all' eroe dei fumetti 😂
    Invece era il nome dell' architetto.
    Bello questo ponte.

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    1. I can understand how you would think that..lol
      It is a beautiful bridge.

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  26. It's a shame the tourists were stopped, but at least you can still visit to see the whirlpools.

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    1. Yes we can still visit and do sometimes when down that way or up that way Nikki.

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  27. Me encantan los puentes y este es muy bonito. Un abrazo Margaret.

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  28. It seems like an ideal place for a picnic, before they stopped it.

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  29. Una bella estructura y unas buenas imagenes, amiga.

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  30. While as a tourist it sad to know you can no longer picnic there but as a local I can see why they might want to keep it to themselves.. not all tourists are good tourist. The mess and noise they bring ruins the neighborhood.

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  31. I love bridges. This is an interesting one. You will have to let us know if they decide to rename it.

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  32. This is awesome bridge dear Margaret 👍
    Sad that facilities for tourists were closed by locals . Not all people but I too noticed that people belong to backward area where earring opportunities are not available dislike tourism here . I also assume that some people feel uncomfortable with crowds in their area during specific times

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  33. A spectacular bridge. Great photos Margaret and interesting history. Thanks once again for the map. What a shame about it being blocked off to campers. Before I go, I must say how much I love your header. It's gorgeous!

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