In 1887, after much lobbying by colonial settlers, a bridge was completed across the Aorere River, at the northern end of the South Island. From the start, the bridge was controversial because it was only a footbridge, with a maximum capacity of 220 pounds, even though it was supposed to allow further access for mining in the area. The original bridge was washed away in a severe flood in 1899. It took three years to construct its replacement, the infamous Salisbury Historic Swing-Bridge. Many photographs exist of the swing bridge,…
