It’s Officially ‘Walyalup Bridge’

In an announcement made today on behalf of the Government of Western Australia, Rita Saffioti, Transport and Major Infrastructure Minister, said the new Fremantle Traffic Bridge is officially to be named Walyalup Bridge.

The Fremantle Shipping News’ contest for our readers’ preferred name goes in and will be announced this coming Friday.

Fremantle’s new traffic bridge will officially be known as Walyalup Bridge when it opens to the public on Sunday 1 November, marking a new chapter in the long history of river crossings at the gateway to Fremantle.

Credit Les Moyle

The announcement comes as work on the bridge nears completion, with the new structure set to open ahead of schedule next Sunday, 1 November.

Before vehicles begin using the bridge later that evening, the public will be invited to walk across it during a free community celebration from 9am to 1pm. Organisers are promising food, entertainment and family-friendly activities, with thousands expected to attend.

The name Walyalup reflects the traditional Whadjuk Noongar name for Fremantle. For Whadjuk Noongar people, Walyalup is a place of deep cultural, spiritual and historical significance.

The name derives from walyo, the Noongar word for the woylie, a small native marsupial that once inhabited the coastal plain surrounding Fremantle.

The naming continues a growing recognition of Walyalup in local civic and cultural life. The name is already used for the Walyalup Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre and Walyalup Civic Centre, while the Fremantle Dockers adopt Walyalup during the AFL Indigenous Round.

Announcing the name, Minister Rita Saffioti said the bridge’s history meant different things to different people, whether through its Noongar heritage, its role in the life of the Fremantle community, or its significance as a major engineering project and transport link. She said the name Walyalup Bridge would become part of the continuing story of the crossing, connecting its past, present and future.

Federal Fremantle MP Josh Wilson described the structure as a “simple but stylish new old Freo bridge”, saying the name creates a connection between contemporary infrastructure and First Nations heritage.

The bridge replaces the ageing Fremantle Traffic Bridge, which opened in 1939, and occupies a site that has served as a crossing point over the Swan River since the nineteenth century. Bridges have stood at the location since 1866.

The new structure is notable for being Australia’s first extradosed bridge, a design that combines aspects of cantilever and cable-stayed construction. It carries two traffic lanes in each direction and provides significantly wider shared paths for pedestrians and cyclists.

Project designers have sought to weave cultural and historical storytelling into the bridge and its surrounding landscape through public art, lighting, signage and architectural features.

Elements of the old bridge will remain visible in the area. Timber piles from the former structure have been retained and will form part of an interpretation of the site’s long history of river crossings.

Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk said Walyalup Bridge was a fitting name for the point where the Swan River meets Fremantle Harbour and the gateway to the city. She noted that the retention of the old bridge’s timber piles would help preserve a visible link with the crossing’s history.

Bicton MLA Lisa O’Malley said the opening would be an historic moment for the local community, reflecting the strong memories many people hold of both the bridge and the river beneath it.

People attending the opening event are being encouraged to leave their cars at home and walk, cycle or use public transport.

There will be no parking available at the site.

Transperth will operate shuttle buses every five minutes between Fremantle Station and the bridge from 8.30am to 12.30pm. Weekend parking remains free at Transperth stations, and public transport is free for passengers using a SmartRider or contactless payment.

*Let us know your preferred name for Fremantle’s newest landmark by emailing our Editor now!

*By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News

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