Redcliffe Museum will mark a historical milestone with a special event celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Hornibrook Highway.
Constructed by Sir Emanuel (Manuel) Richard Hornibrook OBE, the highway officially opened on 4 October 1935, connecting Brighton (Brisbane) with Clontarf (Moreton Bay Region).
Julie Hornibrook, granddaughter of Manuel (MR) Hornibrook, will be the guest speaker at the celebration on Saturday, 4 October, sharing stories of her grandfather’s vision.
“Hornibrook was a family business, with my grandfather as the boss and his five brothers in the business,” Julie said.
“I think the workers had the sense of being part of a large family approach, and those who worked hard were given opportunities. Unemployment was high during the Depression, so to have regular work meant a lot to people.
“When the bridge was opened, my grandfather is quoted as saying, ‘I am proud of every man who worked on this job,’ so there was a real shared pride in skills and workmanship, which built hope and confidence in tough times.”
Legacy of the Hornibrook Highway
Julie said her grandfather was driven by the vision of building what became the southern hemisphere’s longest bridge at 2.7 kilometres.
“He had a huge commitment to the project and the community,” she said. “The company raised funds by charging a toll at a time when the government couldn’t afford to invest in infrastructure. The cost of the toll remained the same over the 40-year life of the contract.
“MR gave back to the community through using their big building equipment to build a local golf course and a shark-proof swimming pool for the local people. The Hornibrook bus company opened, which meant people could take a bus across the highway from Sandgate to Redcliffe, instead of the long way round the bay.
“These things really opened up Redcliffe as a popular destination with new jobs and interesting things for families to do.”
Although the bridge was demolished in 2010, Julie said it still lives in the hearts and minds of Redcliffe people.
“The beautiful art deco pylons are retained, so there’s a sense of beauty that was part of the life of the bridge and it’s still used for fishing,” she said.
“I think people know that the bridge was built with a vision for the future, expanding when even the government was broke, so it built hope and connection into the expanse of the timber framework.
“It was built through determination and leadership, building skills and community, through leadership that got others to see the possibilities of a future.”
Hornibrook Highway Turns 90
- Saturday, 4 October, 10.30am-12pm
- Redcliffe Museum
- 75 Anzac Avenue, Redcliffe
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