Some rare news footage of Melbourne’s ABC News on a day where tragedy struck in Melbourne.

On the morning of 15 October 1970, a span of the West Gate Bridge collapsed while still under construction.  The tragedy claimed the lives of 35 workers and was Victoria’s worst ever industrial accident.  A royal commission that followed the collapse found that aspects of both the bridge’s design and construction method were to be blamed for the accident. 

Construction of the bridge resumed in 1972 and was completed in 1978 – providing a link from Melbourne’s western suburbs to the central business district.

This clip provides a rare glimpse at television news coverage of that era – including ABC‘s iconic Magestic Fanfare which would symbolise ABC News on television for decades, and continues to do so on ABC’s radio outlets.

Newsreader for the bulletin was Bob Willcox and at the scene of the collapse is reporter Martin Goddard.

The clip is posted to YouTube by member telerecordings who has also provided many rare moments from television’s past including footage from regional television stations MTN9 Griffith and GMV6 Shepparton.

Source: Disaster at West Gate
YouTube: telerecordings