Red-letter day for bridge in October

Jenny Moss, of Luggate, and the children's book she has written about the Red Bridge. Photo by...
Jenny Moss, of Luggate, and the children's book she has written about the Red Bridge. Photo by Mark Price.
The Red Bridge - an Upper Clutha landmark near Luggate - has its centenary this year, and to begin celebrations it features in a newly published children's book.

The Grand Red Bridge, Luggate was written by long-serving primary and pre-school teacher Jenny Moss, of Luggate, and illustrated by Australian designer Kerry Perkins, formerly of Dunedin.

The bridge was officially opened on October 28, 1915, replacing the punt that had operated since the 1870s at a point on the Clutha River above the Devil's Nook.

It was called the Grandview Bridge but because of its paint job, has become much better known as the Red Bridge.

Asked this week what made it so fascinating, Mrs Moss laughed and said, ''because it's our bridge''.

''It's iconic. Lot's of people know it. You talk about the Red Bridge and people say, 'Oh yes, I know where that is'.

Mrs Moss says she had deliberately kept her book simple, to appeal to very young readers, but noted a history of the bridge had also recently been published by the Luggate Community Association.

Copies of the book are being distributed to children in the district, and Luggate families are being invited to the book launch, near the bridge, on Sunday, April 19.

The steel truss bridge was made in Dunedin by A & T Burt and Co, and cost 9508.

Mrs Moss said the local community hoped the bridge might be painted again soon, in a brighter shade of red than at present.

Official centennial celebrations are planned for Labour Weekend.

mark.price@odt.co.nz

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