Deadly collapsed wall in Melbourne was 'significantly' cracked - The Australian

Cracks are clearly visible in the wall. Picture: Jes Richardson Source: Herald Sun

THE brick wall that toppled onto a Melbourne footpath killing three people last week was significantly cracked, photographs show.

The photos, taken on December 12 and supplied to the Herald Sun, reveal cracks that engineering experts say would have hindered the wall's ability to resist wind loads, forcing it to topple in last week's strong gusts.

Montmorency student Alexander Jones, 19, and French materials engineering researcher Marie-Faith Fiawoo, 33, died at the scene.

Mr Jones's sister Bridget, 18, died in hospital on Sunday morning.

Con Adam, a senior research fellow at Monash University's school of civil engineering, told the Herald Sun the "significant" cracks caused the wall's collapse.

"That picture tells us a lot about the wall. The wall as a whole was under sheer failure, this renders the wall unable to resist wind loads," Dr Adam said.

"The wall, if it was designed properly, should flex with the wind and go back without collapsing.

"If there is a crack in the bottom of the wall it just couldn't resist the wind load. That crack at the base of the wall was the weakest point."

The photographs were supplied by self-described "urban explorer" Jes Richardson, 25, who said a bluestone wall at the other end of the site was also propped up by metal beams.

"If that fell, it would fall on to the footpath," she said.

Ms Richardson's photographs also show the plywood hoarding that was attached to the wall in late 2011 by site owner Grocon extended beyond the height of the wall by about 40cm.

Investigators have been focused on establishing whether the hoarding may have acted as a sail in the wind, pulling the wall over.

The nearest accurate weather station, the St Kilda beacon, recorded westerly winds of 102km/h at 2.59pm, just before the wall fell last Thursday.

WorkSafe confirmed yesterday it visited the Grocon site in October 2011 amid concerns over the safety of workers using A-frame ladders to erect the hoarding.

WorkSafe's acting general manager of health and safety, Shane Gillard, was unable to say whether the wall had been inspected.

As The Australian today reported, there is growing doubt that developer Grocon had a permit for the erection of the hoarding, with former lord mayor Trevor Huggard saying the incident had exposed "a gaping hole" in the maintenance and administration of derelict sites in Victoria.

Vegetation that had grown through parts of the wall, a chipped concrete foundation, and the constitution of the wall's lime-based mortar are also being investigated as possible causes that may have contributed to its collapse.

Montmorency Secondary College - where Alexander Jones was school captain in 2011 and Bridget graduated last year - will today open its doors to students, friends, and family of the siblings between 11am and 3pm.