Love Locks on Melbourne’s Evan Walker Bridge

In the early 2000s, attaching inscribed padlocks to bridges and other public structures became an international ritual associated with romantic commitment. Couples typically marked a lock with their names or initials, secured it to a railing and discarded the key.

These love locks were photographed in 2015 on Melbourne’s Southgate pedestrian bridge, which crosses the Yarra River between Southbank and the central business district. The bridge was officially renamed the Evan Walker Bridge in July 2015.

By May 2015, approximately 20,000 locks had accumulated on the bridge. Their weight caused supporting wires to sag, and the City of Melbourne removed them as part of bridge maintenance. New locks placed on the structure have also been subject to removal.

Rather than discard all the recovered metal, the city provided locks to six artists. Their completed works included a 120-kilogram harmonic bell, a large necklace and 100 heart-shaped keepsakes. The works were exhibited at Melbourne Town Hall in 2016 and offered through a charitable raffle.