Cataract Gorge, Launceston

One of the main attractions in Launceston, second city of Tasmania, is the Cataract Gorge along the River South Esk, close to the city centre with nature reserves and walking trails in addition to a pleasure park. The river has long been exploited for hydro-electric power, and  the Trevallyn Power Station is situated upstream.  Crossing the gorge are two dramatic suspension bridges, dating from the turn of the 19th century. The Alexandra Bridge just above the First Basin was opened in 1904 and has always been part of the public area.

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Overview of Alexandra Bridge	The deck	Pedestrians on the bridge. The First Basin can be seen below	Aerial view	Credits

Above the Second Basin, an old power station at Duck Reach, the earliest municipal hydro-electric power station in Australia, lies abandoned but the building has been preserved to incorporate a small museum display. A suspension bridge for access to the power station has stood for most of the 20th century, but was twice destroyed by catastrophic floods (the river was very low when I visited). After the bridge was destroyed in the 1969 flood, it was finally rebuilt in 1995 to provide access for the public to the upper reaches of the gorge.

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Overview of Duck Reach Bridge	The deck	View from river level	The old Power Station	Inside the old power station
Panel recording the eventful history of the bridge

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