The first Princes Bridge C.1867
For the first 10 years the only method of travel between the north and south banks of the Yarra was by row boat. The Princes Bridge was opened in 1850 and was one of the largest bridges in the world, it's 150ft span second only to the center span of London Bridge. The arches in this photograph were temporary, erected especially for the visit of Prince Alfred in 1867. The first St Paul's can been seen in the distance, along with spires of St. Enoch's (since demolished) Wesley Church. The single-span Princes Bridges was intended to serve for generations, but with population boom of the gold rush period it soon became congested and was replaced in 1888 by today's bridge