Skippers Bridge

3D Model

Shotover river near Skippers Bridge. A cold fast flowing river. Beautiful and treacherous. The bridge and township were established to service the mining community in 1871. Gold is shiny and brings out the good and bad in men. The bridge was built to avoid the cold treacherous river ford below. Several bridges were built and wiped out by floods. Ancient stone lined paths can be traced from the river to the school above. The current bridge is safe at 96m, for now. Although a bridge plank has been lifted and thrown into the gorge below, leaving a gap tooth, and the bridge probably doesn’t have long to live, when the short ilves of men are a yardstick. It’s debatable whether moderns will see the value in keeping Skippers Bridge alive, although it should be. It’s amazing. Here it is.