The bridge that fell: Melbourne’s West Gate Bridge collapse 50 years on
For the 50th anniversary — 15 October 2020 — we collaborated with comics-journalist and cartoonist Sam Wallman, and writer and editor Jacinda Woodhead, on a piece based on our research and the story of the disaster. The images are below.
This work was printed as A5 zine format and copies were provided to the Memorial Committee. It was also published by the Guardian, with contextualising words from Deputy Culture Editor Stephanie Convery.
From the Guardian: “On 15 October 1970, the under-construction West Gate Bridge, connecting Melbourne’s affluent eastern suburbs with its working-class west, collapsed. Thirty-five people died. It was Australia’s worst construction disaster. For its 50th anniversary, they shared their research with Walkley-nominated cartoonist Sam Wallman to create a visual retelling of the story of the collapse. … Sarah Gregson and Elizabeth Humphrys began researching the West Gate Bridge construction collapse together after they realised they had both grown up somewhat in the shadow of the disaster: Elizabeth was born only a few kilometres from the site, while Sarah’s father was a boilermaker, and it hit her family hard to hear that 10 of his profession were among the 35 who died the day the bridge fell. The pair spent three years among the archives, researching what had happened and its aftermath.”
You can also see what others said, or artworks they produced about the 50th anniversary, here.
