Barkers Bridge, Caversham
This is a timber bridge over the Swan River between Meadow Street, Guildford and West Swan Road, Caversham, linking Guildford and Caversham. Earlier bridges across the Swan River at this point were erected in 1855 and 1900. The 1855 bridge was constructed by Captain E.W. Ducane to the plan of an American railway bridge. Roses planted at the time of its construction as part of the beautifications of the approaches still survive.
The current structure crosses a wide stretch of floodplain on the Caversham side. The piles are whole Jarrah trunks and the roadway is also carried on whole tree trunks. Some of the piles on the floodplain have been replaced by steel posts. The earthworks of earlier bridges (probably dating back to the original bridge) remain adjacent to the present bridge.
The original Barker's Bridge, named after Samuel Barker, a local storekeeper, was built with convict labour and completed in 1854 at the north end of what was then known as River Street. A secons public bridge was built here in 1885. The present bridge dates from 1948. The bridge developed as a well known rendez-vous point for locals on their way to town around the turn of the 20th century. A stand of licac trees were planted to give shade to travellers waiting for a ferry ride across the Swan River at this point.
Barker's Store at 124 Meadow Street near the corner with Swan Street, survives, and dates from 1854. It was originally a complex of six buildings which combined a general store with a warehouse. The complex dominated the economic life of the town from the 1850s until the 1880s. The grave stones of Barker and numerous family members can be found in the Guildford Cemetery.
