1974 Holden Monaro

The car on display was involved in the Tasman Bridge disaster on the evening of 5th January 1975 in Hobart, when a bulk ore carrier travelling up the Derwent River collided with several pylons of the Tasman Bridge.

The collision caused a large section of the bridge deck to collapse onto the ship and into the river below. Twelve people were killed, including seven crew on board the ship, and the five occupants of four cars which fell 45 metres after driving off the bridge.

The disaster severed the main link between Hobart and its eastern suburbs, and is notable for the social impacts that resulted from the loss of such an important road artery. The car on display was left precariously balancing on the edge of the bridge.

The vehicle was saved only by the automatic transmission casing and it was a matter of life and death for the occupants of the car.

This vehicle was involved in one of the most shocking chapters in the state’s recent history, the 1975 Tasman Bridge disaster. The Monaro, occupied by the Manley family, was left hanging on the edge of the bridge on the evening of 5th January 1975, when a bulk ore carrier travelling up the Derwent River collided with several pylons of the Tasman Bridge. Twelve people lost their lives, including seven on board the ship, and five occupants of four cars that didn’t stop in time and fell 45 metres into the Derwent River. The temporary loss of Hobart’s main bridge was widely felt, essentially dividing the city and slowing travel and commerce. The Manley family were saved by the Monaro’s automatic transmission pan, which caught the edge of the bridge. Frank Manley never sold the car, and it remains in original condition.

ALL PHOTOS ARE COURTESY OF THE TASMANIAN POLICE MUSEUM ARCHIVES

FRANK MANLEY, WHO WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, STILL OWNS THE VEHICLE AND IT REMAINS IN ORIGINAL CONDITION. HE LIVES TO TELL THE TALE OF THE CAR THAT SAVED HIS FAMILY.