The bridge was originally built in 1928 with the intention of connecting Kew with the public golf course located on the opposite side of the Yarra River, in Fairfield, replacing a ferry service.

[1] It was named after T J Kane, a councillor at the City of Collingwood.

[1] In the early hours of Saturday 1 December 1934,[3] as a result of the 1934 Victorian floods, the original bridge was washed downstream and damaged beyond repair.

A ferry service replaced the bridge beginning in the days following the collapse.

[4][5] A replacement bridge was constructed in 1935,[6] resembling the design of another bridge further upstream linking Kew to the Yarra Bend Asylum.