The idea of a bridge at that point was first proposed in the mid-19th century.

[10] The design of the bridge was the result of a public competition, announced in November 1925.

[11] It was won by Messrs. Edward Saunders and Alan Wilson, engineers, in conjunction with Messrs. Alfred R. La Gerche and W. E. Gower, architects.

[10] During construction engineers knew deep foundations would be required to find bedrock but, at 20 metres below sea level, they struck a red gum stump that took three weeks work to remove.

[13] The cantilever girder type, with steel girder suspended span bridge was completed in 1930,[2][14] with an adjacent glass and steel covered footbridge built alongside in 1998, as part of the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.