Princes Bridge plaque

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

Thomas Ham, Foundation Stone, Yarra River, Princes Bridge, Plaque

Summary

This brass plaque celebrates the laying of the foundation stone, by Charles Joseph LaTrobe, for the first Princes Bridge across the Yarra River in Melbourne. Engraver, lithographer and publisher Thomas Ham (1821–70) also designed the first version of the City of Melbourne coat of arms, in 1842–43.