Celebrating Another New Year by the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Celebrating another New Year by the Sydney Harbour Bridge



Australians everywhere, celebrate New Year watching the fireworks taking place on the arch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. A spectacular moment every year, the Sydney Morning Herald has provided an exclusive section where we present a history of the Harbour Bridge to make this day even more memorable.

As early as 1815 Francis Greenway suggested building a bridge from Dawes Point to the northern shore of Port Jackson, to Governor Macquarie. Many years were to past before this vision would become a reality.

By 1890, the construction of a bridge was essential for the development of the city because of heavy level of ferry traffic in Sydney present at the time, and so design submissions were brought forward. The designs weren't seen as suitable, so the drive to build a bridge failed.

In 1912, the New South Wales Government had appointed a brilliant government engineer, John Bradfield, Ð''Chief Engineer for Metropolitan Railway Construction and Sydney Harbour'. The general design was prepared by Bradfield, but a more detailed design were undertaken by Sir Ralph Freeman of Sir Douglas Fox and Partners and his associate Mr. G.C Imbault

Work first began on the Sydney Harbour Bridge in December 1924, with approximately 1400 men working on it. Construction on the bridge was during the time of the Great Depression. It was an important time to start because it provided many jobs for men in need of work during those troubled years.

John Bradfield demanded a very high standard of work and visited occasionally throughout the project to make sure things were done as planned. Sixteen men had died throughout the process, as working conditions were unsafe for the men who had to work over 80 metres above the water.

There was great excitement on 20 August 1930 after the arch was successfully joined. The steel decking was then hung from the arch and was all in place within nine months, being built from the centre outwards to save time

moving the cranes.

One the 19th March 1932, the bridge would be officially declared open by the New South Wales Premier, John T. Lang. Before Premier John T. Lang could cut the ribbon and declare the bridge open,