[3] A parade was held in Tharwa and 1500 people watched Mrs Elizabeth McKeahnie (the oldest resident of the area) open the bridge.

There is a mark on the concrete pier on the Western side of the river showing the flood level in 1991.

The bridge and its site have associative significance with the period of nineteenth century European settlement and development of the region.

During July and August 2005, Tharwa Bridge was strengthened with bailey panels to provide a temporary crossing for vehicles up to five tonne.

Barriers were put in place to close off the bridge to road, cycle and pedestrian traffic.

In the event of that crossing being closed due to flooding, the only other high level bridge in the area is near the Cotter Dam.

[10][11] The second phase of the project was completed in February 2010 with the foundations improved to withstand major flooding.