The abutment comprises a large masonry podium supporting a section of road and a sawn stone rusticated arch with composite neoclassical ornament.

A marble memorial tablet is fixed to the southern side of the arch to commemorate an eleven-year-old Greek Australian child, Hector Vasyli, who was accidentally killed on the site in 1918 while welcoming returning soldiers.

[2] On 22 June 1897 (Diamond Jubilee Day) the second permanent Victoria Bridge was opened for traffic, including trams.

Industry and commerce was attracted to the area, and Stanley Street developed into a major retail centre and thoroughfare.

Following the introduction of tram services to South Brisbane, this "swinging girder" was closed permanently to permit the laying of tracks.

A series of floods in 1893 resulted in the collapse of the Victoria Bridge which cut vital transport and communications links with the central city.

[1] The significance of the Victoria Bridge to the commercial development of the south side of the river is best demonstrated in two anecdotes relating to human nature.

The ceremony therefore required a formal opening on the north side, following which the party of dignitaries proceeded to cross the bridge to the southern bank.

Police arriving on the scene took the signs at face value and proceeded to prevent vehicular traffic from using the bridge for most of the day.

As a consequence of this prank commerce on either side of the river was considerably disrupted and the university students were severely reprimanded for their actions.

[1] The design of the bridge caused much comment, due to the impressive stone arches flanking the approaches and the manner in which the engineers had addressed the various problems presented by the site.

The cylindrical iron pillars which supported the span across the river were slightly tapered above normal water level.

[2] As per the other construction materials - wood and stone - the bridge was built with local ones (with the only possible exception of the Oregon pine of the main girders).

The central dividing structure echoed the form of the sides of the bridge, consisting of a series of metal lattice framed hog-backs.

By 1926 the bottleneck caused by the increased volume of traffic attempting to use the only river crossing in the city led to the establishment of a commission to explore alternative sites for bridges.

[1] In 1969 when the bridge was being demolished, to be replaced by the present structure, the memorial tablet was removed for safekeeping until a suitable location was found for it.

[1] The entry to each pedestrian footway was defined with a rusticated arch of sawn stone which combines both Classical and Egyptian vocabularies.

Either side of the arch a granite tablet is applied which supports ornate metal brackets which held gas lamps to illuminate the entry to the bridge.

A marble tablet is applied to the landward side of the up-river pylon below the lowest cornice, commemorating Hector Vasyli.

Metal brackets are attached to the stonework of the pylons, the centre of the arch and on the top of the outer pilaster; fittings for a gas illumination.

A temporary wooden structure was erected in 1865 as staging for the permanent bridge, but was closed to traffic from Nov 1897 as a result of flood damage.

The northern section of the Victoria Bridge collapsed on 6 February 1893 under pressure from debris during the disastrous flood of that year.

[1] The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history.

The elegance of this remaining portion serves as a reminder of the grace and style of the substantial structure designed by A B Brady, Government Architect.