This unusual bridge over the Clarence River at Grafton in northern NSW is a two level structure with two railway lines on the lower deck and road traffic above on the top deck. The bridge still sees several trains a day from Sydney to Brisbane (passenger and freight) as well as countless motor vehicles on Craig Street on the top deck.

The first practical step to bridge the Clarence at Grafton was taken back in 1915 when construction of a railway bridge with a pedestrian footway was suggested and approved. Fortunately, the wheels of progress moved slowly, because by 1922 the Department of Public Works had not begun construction, but rather had adopted a much more progressive proposal - a bridge for vehicles as well as trains, with two pedestrian footways.

Several sites for the bridge were considered with the final choice narrowed down to the Wilson's Hill site, another crossing Susan Island and a third at Mountainview. Wilson's Hill won the day because the river at this point was suitable for foundations and it was relatively narrow. A bonus was that a bridge here could more easily link with existing railway lines.

The bridge design was amended to provide a bascule span for shipping with a navigable fairway of 23 metres and a depth of 13.4 metres of water. The bridge thus approved was unique in the Southern Hemisphere with provision for trains, vehicles, ships and pedestrians. Seven concrete piers were put down to foundations on solid rock at depths ranging from 9 metres to 23 metres below high water level. Officially opening the bridge on 19th July 1932, the Governor-General, Sir Isaac Isaacs, referred to "the stamp of originality" evident in the design. Mr JHS Angus, a director of the Clyde Engineering Co, said the bridge (which cost $827,346 to construct) was the second largest built in Australia next to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, also opened in 1932. The Hawkesbury River Bridge, although a rival to that across the Clarence, was imported and reassembled in Australia. The same applied to the George's River Bridge in Sydney's south.

After the Governor-General cut a ribbon with a pair of gold scissors, the bascule span was raised. "The Daily Examiner" recorded what followed in these words: "One of the aerial machines which have been flying over Grafton during the carnival was piloted through the passage, occasioning a thrill amongst the huge crowd of spectators. Shortly afterwards the NCSN (North Coast Steam Navigation) Coy's motorship Melinga, gaily decorated with bunting, passed through on her voyage to Sydney and the cheering was renewed with vigour."