Sydney Harbour Bridge Turns 75
The Coathanger, Australia's Landmark and Famous Icon Remembered
Mar 17, 2007
Sydney's famous landmark, the Harbour Bridge celebrates its 75th year. Formal celebrations started from the moment the New South Wales governor cut the ribbon at the northern pylon before the official party and crowd of the first 1000 walkers across the bridge. Tributes, the bridge walk, and live entertainment especially at The Rocks and Darling Harbour are in full swing.
Harbour Bridge Facts
According to Sydney's The Sun-Herald, March 18, 2007 and Spiral Guides Australia, 2000:
- The Harbour Bridge opened on March 19, 1932.
- While it appears curve, it is made of straight pieces of steel.
- It took seven years to build from January 1925.
- A total of 272,000 liters of paint were used in the first three coats.
- Its huge tower of strength steel structure has impressive dimensions: its main span length is 503 meters from pylon to pylon, the crown of the arch is 147 meters above sea level; it weighs 52,800 tons with the arch span comprising 39,000 tons.
- The two granite-faced pylons on either side of the main span are purely decorative, as the arch itself rests on four giant steel pins at ground level.
- The bridge's deck is 53 meters wide, with two railway tracks, eight road lanes, a bicycle way and a footpath.
- Painting all this steel generally takes years and about 8,000 gallons of paint to apply each coat.
- Paul Hogan, the Australian comedian and actor of the movie "Crocodile Dundee" fame, was once a rigger on the bridge, a member of the gang of bridge painters.
Experiencing the bridge
The best and most challenging way to experience the bridge is to climb it. One doesn't need any special skills but a sense of adventure and a pair of rubber-soled shoes. Clad in a gray "Bridge suit," as a camouflage intended to avoid distracting drivers below and harness linked to a static line, about 10 professional climbers will escort you over the catwalk to the southeast pylon and then across the arch to the summit. This in itself offers a breathtaking view of the harbour and city.
The next best thing to climbing the bridge is to walk across it. Entrance to the bridge walkway is via Cumberland Street in The Rocks or Milson's Point Station on the north side. The southeast pylon, which houses an interesting exhibit on how the bridge was built, the 200-step climb to the top, is an interesting stopover for information.
Birthday gift to the Harbour Bridge
As a birthday present, the federal environment minister announced that the Sydney Harbour Bridge will be honored a place on the National Heritage List, joining alongside another dominant landmark, the Sydney Opera House.
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