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Fox RIver bridge removed December 2025
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DescriptionThe old Fox river bridge is finally gone. Caught a few whitebait underneath the north end. Seen 16 possums on it one night as a kid. I remember brother Peter jumping in to the freezing water to retrieve one . Hunting them for the bounty of two shillings and six pence . A lot of drivers found the hard right handed corner at the south end a bit too much of a test to their driving skills. Last reminder that Brighton was once a thriving community of five thousand. Too many good memories for sadness at the fate of the old girl.Date of Photo1st December 2025Map[1] ContributorCrow Bay
Shown in this image
EventFox RIver bridge removed December 2025
From Facebook
CommentsJeff Powley
One of my favourite spots from way back, heading up the Fox to the ballroom.
This is an interesting read on the history of the area
May be an image of text that says 'BRIGHTON Nelson South- South-West NelsonSouth-WestGoldField West Gold Field Its Boom & Bust YS HUTEL THEATRO ROYAL PANGETINER FENELL FINNELLSTEWUT HUNTER&CO Pat Lag HUNTER Co JAAGLET LES WRIGHT'
Peter Casserly
Great times we all had there bugger it going nothing for ever is it
Kathryn Andrew
Is that the bridge at the river mouth to the sea? Sorry for the stupid question from a north islander
Kim Fentiman
Was quite tight getting a semi and trailer onto the south end
Maye Dunn
Admin
Very sorry to see it go..lots of happy memories of learning how to fish from that Bridge, jumping off it. Whitebaiting under it. 3 generations of my family have enjoyed that Bridge. Hope they put a pedestrian clip-on on the other Bridge so that it is safe to cross the river.
Tony Simpson
This is how "the Coast" derived its vast story wealth (well maybe not Facebook) but stories relayed in local pubs over time - stories like the possum story above. Heard a few like these in the Kokatahi pub a lot of years ago. Big thanks for this one too...
Les Holmes Germanicus
Yes well the Historic Fox River Bridge has been removed. We, the Society that owned it, the Friends of Fox River and Bridge Soc. Inc, are now eligible to claim to be the longest existing sustained Heritage organization at least in our region, dating from 1991. Coming up to 35 years we not only restored, renewed. had maintenance plans and carried all this out by volunteers, paid local employment, historians and a hard working core of Society members. We successfully fundraised, had engineering professionals do frequent safety checks and identify concerns the Society always quickly addressed in the interest of public safety. The Bridge decorations from 2000 and summer market days at the Bridge ran for 12 years until the Final "DO". Waitangi Day markets at the Bridge included stone driftwood and sand sculpture events and carried prizes for creations. They ran so successfully Hokitika followed with their version. In twelve years we organized maybe 45 market days over the summer period when all the flowers were at their best. The history of the Society's role in the bridge is well documented and the art and flower installations are well captured in photos. We did all this to try to get public awareness, gain support and as important, new energy and skills. In 2009 we managed to score a commendation certificate at the Trustpower Community Awards. We needed recognition and more we needed members. We tried hard but we could not meet the huge cost of repairing the rest. There is no more funding from the government for these projects anymore, but this is not the end of the story. We will follow up.
Anne Marie Leech
Spent many years at Woodpecker Bay as a child. We would jump off that bridge into the river.
Also fished for herring for Dad’s crocheted bob to go cray fishing off Seal Island.
Wonderful memories spent with cousins at Woodpecker Bay?
Keith Hoggarth
my Grandmother (May Buckman) had a batch there during the 1960‘S, catching herring for crayfish bait was always fun, then off to seal island at low tide to bob for crays
Keith Hoggarth
very sad to see it gone
Colleen Yee
Just when was it finally removed and who by? has the story of the end of this bridge's life been recorded in any newspapers?
Bonnie Coad
Makes me feel quite teary eyed.... so much of my childhood was spent crossing that bridge, on foot, on bikes on horses... jumping off it, fishing off it, swimming under in summer. The new bridge was never as user friendly.... unless you where in a car of course ?
Elly Harris
Many memories come like tsunami. I have so much love for Fox river.
Janine Boote
Great memories, use to go there and fish of the bridge, with my Aunty Melva and Uncle Jack Boote
Rhonda Mckenzie
This is what it looked like in the 70s
May be an image of railroad
Rose Morrison
Such fond memories
Patrick Hill
When was this
Jade Dalzell
Oh no sad! All the markets and swimming growing up, beautiful!
Kelly Ryan
Oh no ...how are tourists going to get across the river.....?????
Kyle Stuart Torkington
Looks weird! And such a shame.
Picking it may have been a risk to the current bridge if it washed out maybe?
Steven Paul Duncan
Doc?
Ford Jackson
What happened to it
Grant Richardson
So sad it's gone.
Jodi Timms
So many memories.
Arthur Bass
A nice tidy clean up job.
Roger Wyatt
My uncle Fred and his crew of contractors built the bridge
Julie Purves
Bummer that is I used to love going there and just sit on the bridge with a coffee an my thoughts. Sad .
Tessa Daisy
Was a great bridge will miss seeing it.
Lyn Taylor
Oh, no!
Steve FitzGerald
Should have left it there for tourists photos and for kids to jump off
Leigh Manson
Cool place
Misty Ingham
I loved that bridge
Took photos ages ago
So have memories
Ian Haussmann
What happened to all the materials hardwood is worth big bucks today
Phil Rickard
Wtf why
y
Jenny Bosley
Why was it demolished
Bede Brown
Sad
Jack Devine
Few memories there uncle… especially that sudden stop at the south end for the unwary ay?
Kathryn Andrew
We stopped there over winter and had a cuppa on the beach with the kids. Was our first time on that part of the West Coast, so glad I took photos of the bridge
No photo description available.
Michael Hosking
What a ? shame, I am pleased I took photos of it when I was last over there.
One of my favourite spots from way back, heading up the Fox to the ballroom.
This is an interesting read on the history of the area
May be an image of text that says 'BRIGHTON Nelson South- South-West NelsonSouth-WestGoldField West Gold Field Its Boom & Bust YS HUTEL THEATRO ROYAL PANGETINER FENELL FINNELLSTEWUT HUNTER&CO Pat Lag HUNTER Co JAAGLET LES WRIGHT'
Peter Casserly
Great times we all had there bugger it going nothing for ever is it
Kathryn Andrew
Is that the bridge at the river mouth to the sea? Sorry for the stupid question from a north islander
Kim Fentiman
Was quite tight getting a semi and trailer onto the south end
Maye Dunn
Admin
Very sorry to see it go..lots of happy memories of learning how to fish from that Bridge, jumping off it. Whitebaiting under it. 3 generations of my family have enjoyed that Bridge. Hope they put a pedestrian clip-on on the other Bridge so that it is safe to cross the river.
Tony Simpson
This is how "the Coast" derived its vast story wealth (well maybe not Facebook) but stories relayed in local pubs over time - stories like the possum story above. Heard a few like these in the Kokatahi pub a lot of years ago. Big thanks for this one too...
Les Holmes Germanicus
Yes well the Historic Fox River Bridge has been removed. We, the Society that owned it, the Friends of Fox River and Bridge Soc. Inc, are now eligible to claim to be the longest existing sustained Heritage organization at least in our region, dating from 1991. Coming up to 35 years we not only restored, renewed. had maintenance plans and carried all this out by volunteers, paid local employment, historians and a hard working core of Society members. We successfully fundraised, had engineering professionals do frequent safety checks and identify concerns the Society always quickly addressed in the interest of public safety. The Bridge decorations from 2000 and summer market days at the Bridge ran for 12 years until the Final "DO". Waitangi Day markets at the Bridge included stone driftwood and sand sculpture events and carried prizes for creations. They ran so successfully Hokitika followed with their version. In twelve years we organized maybe 45 market days over the summer period when all the flowers were at their best. The history of the Society's role in the bridge is well documented and the art and flower installations are well captured in photos. We did all this to try to get public awareness, gain support and as important, new energy and skills. In 2009 we managed to score a commendation certificate at the Trustpower Community Awards. We needed recognition and more we needed members. We tried hard but we could not meet the huge cost of repairing the rest. There is no more funding from the government for these projects anymore, but this is not the end of the story. We will follow up.
Anne Marie Leech
Spent many years at Woodpecker Bay as a child. We would jump off that bridge into the river.
Also fished for herring for Dad’s crocheted bob to go cray fishing off Seal Island.
Wonderful memories spent with cousins at Woodpecker Bay?
Keith Hoggarth
my Grandmother (May Buckman) had a batch there during the 1960‘S, catching herring for crayfish bait was always fun, then off to seal island at low tide to bob for crays
Keith Hoggarth
very sad to see it gone
Colleen Yee
Just when was it finally removed and who by? has the story of the end of this bridge's life been recorded in any newspapers?
Bonnie Coad
Makes me feel quite teary eyed.... so much of my childhood was spent crossing that bridge, on foot, on bikes on horses... jumping off it, fishing off it, swimming under in summer. The new bridge was never as user friendly.... unless you where in a car of course ?
Elly Harris
Many memories come like tsunami. I have so much love for Fox river.
Janine Boote
Great memories, use to go there and fish of the bridge, with my Aunty Melva and Uncle Jack Boote
Rhonda Mckenzie
This is what it looked like in the 70s
May be an image of railroad
Rose Morrison
Such fond memories
Patrick Hill
When was this
Jade Dalzell
Oh no sad! All the markets and swimming growing up, beautiful!
Kelly Ryan
Oh no ...how are tourists going to get across the river.....?????
Kyle Stuart Torkington
Looks weird! And such a shame.
Picking it may have been a risk to the current bridge if it washed out maybe?
Steven Paul Duncan
Doc?
Ford Jackson
What happened to it
Grant Richardson
So sad it's gone.
Jodi Timms
So many memories.
Arthur Bass
A nice tidy clean up job.
Roger Wyatt
My uncle Fred and his crew of contractors built the bridge
Julie Purves
Bummer that is I used to love going there and just sit on the bridge with a coffee an my thoughts. Sad .
Tessa Daisy
Was a great bridge will miss seeing it.
Lyn Taylor
Oh, no!
Steve FitzGerald
Should have left it there for tourists photos and for kids to jump off
Leigh Manson
Cool place
Misty Ingham
I loved that bridge
Took photos ages ago
So have memories
Ian Haussmann
What happened to all the materials hardwood is worth big bucks today
Phil Rickard
Wtf why
y
Jenny Bosley
Why was it demolished
Bede Brown
Sad
Jack Devine
Few memories there uncle… especially that sudden stop at the south end for the unwary ay?
Kathryn Andrew
We stopped there over winter and had a cuppa on the beach with the kids. Was our first time on that part of the West Coast, so glad I took photos of the bridge
No photo description available.
Michael Hosking
What a ? shame, I am pleased I took photos of it when I was last over there.
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West Coast New Zealand History (23rd Dec 2025). Fox RIver bridge removed December 2025. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 19th Mar 2026 11:48, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/35648