Top 10 Facts about the Sydney Harbor Bridge

By Rodney Haywood – Wikimedia

Top 10 Facts about the Sydney Harbor Bridge

Australia is one of the smallest continents in the world if you consider Antarctica.  This also makes Australia one of the largest countries on earth.

One of the most popular cities in Australia is Sydney. It is found in New South Wales on the southeast end of the continent.

Sydney is said to be an important economic and cultural city in the country. The city has some amazing landmarks like the Opera house and the Harbour Bridge.

The Harbour Bridge is one of the largest steel arch bridges in the world. It is used by pedestrians, cyclists, rail and vehicles. There are fun activities to do on the bridge like climbing it and getting the best views from up top.

This bridge has been in use since 1932. With time it has earned a nickname, coat hanger, because of the arch.

Want to know more? Check out these top 10 facts about the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  

1. It took 8 years to complete the Sydney Harbour Bridge

By Adam. J.W.C. -Wikimedia

This iconic bridge took eight years to build. About 53,000 tonnes of steel and 6 million hand-driven screws were used.

The two steel halves of the towering arch were joined in 1930. One trick about this bridge is that it plays with your eyes. Each piece of steel on the bridge is straight.

Construction work began in 1923 and more than 1,400 men worked on completing the bridge. It took them 8 years to complete.

2. Grey was the only available colour to paint the Sydney Harbour Bridge

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is grey in colour for a reason. About 272,000 litres of paint was used on this bridge.

During the construction of the bridge, the only available colour was grey. The men employed to paint this bridge worked throughout the year.

This is because it took a long to paint it. By the time they were done with the first coat, it was time for the next one.

They also use special fast-drying paint that dries mid-air before reaching the bridge surface or vehicles.  

3. Climbing the Harbour Bridge is quite an adventure

Photo sourced from Wikimedia

There is so much more about the Sydney Harbour Bridge than to just walk on it or drive on it.

For a breath-taking view of far beyond the bridge, a climb up will give you that and so much more.

The climb up the bridge may take a few hours but it surely is rewarding. One gets to experience a 360- view of Sydney and beyond.

4. Plans to build the Harbour Bridge earlier were postponed

There were plans to build a bridge (the name was not given by then) as early as 1815. This proposal was presented by Francis Greenway who was an architect.

He proposed that a bridge be built across the northern and southern shore of the harbour.

A few years later, still determined; he wrote a letter to the leading newspaper in Australia. In the letter, he expressed the fact that the bridge would be magnificent and a great tribute to the Mother country.

His dreams were realized in the 1900s. The government placed a contest for inspiring designs for a suspension bridge. Construction did not begin until 1923.   

5. A British firm designed and built the Harbour Bridge

By Rodney Haywood – Wikimedia

Six companies presented 20 proposals for a contract to build the Harbour Bridge. In 1924 a British firm, Dorman Long and Company, won the contract.

The company are credited with building the Tyne Bridge, an arch bridge, of Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Sir Ralph Freeman of Sir Douglas Fox and Partners and his associate Mr  Imbault were in charge of the design and erection of the bridge.

The architects were from the British firm John Burnet & Partners of Glasgow, Scotland.

6. The Arch Bridge was cheaper than a cantilever design earlier proposed

By Ernest Stowe – Wikimedia

When the Sydney government opened up a contest for a bridge design, they were hoping to have a suspension bridge.

One local Australian engineer, Norman Selfe, submitted a suspension bridge design that made him the winner.

Unfortunately, this competition was mired with controversy and a second was called for. Again, Selfe won after submitting a steel cantilever bridge.

The arch design was said to be cheaper than alternative cantilever and suspension bridge proposals.

It was also suitable for heavy loads since the bridge is also used by rail.

7. The first New Year’s Eve celebrations were held in 1993

The Sydney Harbour Bridge has been an essential part of the Sydney New Year’s Eve celebrations for more than two decades now.

There is always a spectacular show of fireworks each New Year’s Eve at midnight.

During the millennium celebrations in 2000, the Bridge was lit up with the word “Eternity”. This was a tribute to the legacy of Arthur Stace a Sydney artist.

Arthur had for several years inscribed the words eternity in chalk on the pavements around Sydney.

8. Several Australians showed up for the opening ceremony

During the inaugural opening of the bridge, thousands of Australians showed up to celebrate this architectural fete.

There was a marching band, a parade, a sports carnival among other exhibitions.

An awkward moment during the opening ceremony was during the ribbon cutting. A captain thought he was more deserving than the Premier and he decided to cut it.  

9. A painter turned celebrity worked on the Harbour Bridge

Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Paul Hogan rose to fame after his acting and comedy career took off. He started working on the Harbour Bridge as a painter back in the 80s. he became famous for Crocodile Dundee.

10. The initial design of the bridge was to have 6 lanes

By Corey Farwell – Wikimedia

The Sydney Harbour Bridge now carries eight vehicles, two train lines, a footway and a cycleway.  

When the bridge was designed, it had only four wider lanes in the central space. In 1958, tram service across the bridge was banned and two more lanes were added.

For the morning rush hour, the lane changes on the bridge also require changes to the Warringah Freeway, with its inner western reversible carriageway directing traffic to the bridge lane numbers three and four.