Lake Illawarra Strikes: Tasman Bridge Collapses
The bulk carrier Lake Illawarra was loaded with zinc concentrate when it hit the Tasman Bridge on January 5, 1975. Two of the bridge spans collapsed onto the ship. It sank in 35 meters of water in under a minute. Twelve people died — seven of them crew, two on the bridge. The Tasman Bridge connected Hobart's east and west shores across the Derwent River. Without it, the two sides of the city were cut off. The detour by road was 50 kilometers. Some families had to move. Businesses on the east side lost half their customers. The bridge stayed closed for nearly two years. When it reopened in October 1977, Hobart effectively reunited. The wreck of the Lake Illawarra is still at the bottom of the Derwent.
January 5, 1975
51 years ago
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