The Wolffs Road Footbridge Society Inc (WRFSI) is leading the restoration of the historic suspension bridge, a heritage-listed pedestrian bridge in West Eyreton, North Canterbury.

The Wolffs Road Footbridge spans 73 metres and was built about 1948.

It consists of steel rail iron towers with four wire rope suspension cables (two each side of the structure) which provide support to the timber stringers and deck through
timber transoms and concrete suspension cable anchorages. 

The bridge originally
provided pedestrian access across the Eyre River when water flow prevented the use of
the adjacent vehicle ford.

Users frequently took sacks of potatoes, peas and
other grain across in sack barrows. It was also used to carry cans of cream, and to allow
distribution of daily mail and newspapers to residents on the south side of the river.

The Eyrewell Forest Camp Village, which at one time numbered around 200 residents, used it
for getting such provisions. In a major flood of 1951, both the top (Oxford) and bottom
(Ōhoka) car bridges were washed out. 

The Wolffs Road Suspension footbridge was the only access for people living on the south side of the river between View Hill and
Mandeville. Provisions from Oxford were brought across the bridge for the people of View
Hill.

The bridge and land were given to the Eyre County Council by the Wolff family in 1978. 

In 1983, a car bridge was built on Poyntz Road, on the next ford downstream.

The bridge has been in a state of disrepair for many years and is currently not safe for use.

The bridge was listed as a
Category 2 Historic Place in February 1994.

Following recent public consultation by the district council and community board, the council gave ‘an indication that the community may wish to contribute to the restoration’.

WRFSI is now leading that contact with the community, in partnership with WDC.