Princes Bridge plaque 1846
HAM, Thomas
Registration number
1087569
Artist/maker
HAM, Thomas
Title
Princes Bridge plaque
Production date
1846
Medium
brass
Dimensions (H x W x D)
31.2 x 20.1 cm
Inscriptions
The / FOUNDATION STONE / of this bridge over the / Yarra Yarra River at Melbourne / was laid on the twentieth day of / MARCH AD 1846 by His Honour Charles Joseph La Trobe Esqr. / assisted by the Ancient & Honorable / Fraternity of FREE MASONS / In the ninth Year of Reign of Her / Most Gracious Majesty / QUEEN VICTORIA / Governor of New South Wales, / Sir George Gipps Knight. / Superintendent of Pt Phillip, C.J. La Trobe Esqr. / Resident Judge of Pt., Phillip, Wm.A.Beckett Esqr. / Mayor of Melbourne, His Worship J.F. Palmer Esqr. / Superintendent of Bridges, David Lennox.
Credit line
City of Melbourne Art and Heritage Collection
Keywords
Summary
This brass plaque commemorates the laying of the foundation stone for the second Princes Bridge on 20 March 1846. Known at the time as the ‘Lennox Bridge’ after its designer David Lennox, it was later re-named Princes Bridge in honour of the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII). Engraver, lithographer and publisher Thomas Ham (1821–70) also designed the first version of the City of Melbourne coat of arms in 1842–43.