Name: Sydney Harbour Bridge
Address: Sydney Hbr Brg, Sydney NSW, Australia
Rating: 4.7

Iconic structure opened in 1932, offering a BridgeClimb & the Pylon Lookout, hosting exhibitions.

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Sydney Harbour Bridge

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The Sydney Harbour Bridge is almost 100 years old, having been completed in 1932.

The arch of the bridge can change height by up to 18cm depending on the weather, due to expansion and contraction from heat and cold.

Expanding and Contracting

Almost 80% of the steel used to build the bridge was imported from the United Kingdom, traveling halfway around the world.

Imported Steel

The four pylons on the bridge are purely decorative and serve no structural purpose.

Pylon Purpose

The Sydney Harbour Bridge, a steel through arch bridge, uniquely incorporates a hinge at each end of the arch, a design element crucial for managing stress caused by temperature fluctuations. Its construction, commencing in 1924, involved two separate teams building each arch half, meeting precisely in the middle, a testament to the engineering precision of the era. The bridge's "coat hanger" nickname stems from its distinctive shape, but its official name is simply the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Interestingly, Paul Hogan, before his Crocodile Dundee fame, worked as a rigger on the bridge, a far cry from his later acting career. The bridge's paint job, requiring approximately 30,000 liters of paint, is a continuous undertaking, with painters constantly working to combat corrosion from the harbor's salty air. The original toll booths, now heritage-listed, stand as silent reminders of a bygone era of manual toll collection, predating electronic systems.

Introduction

The Sydney Harbour Bridge, an engineering marvel, stands as the eleventh-longest spanning-arch bridge globally and the tallest steel arch bridge, reaching 134 meters from its apex to the water. Its design, a steel through arch, was conceived under John Bradfield's direction, with British firm Dorman Long undertaking its construction, completed in 1932. The bridge's arch, composed of two 28-panel arch trusses, varies in height from 18 meters at the center to 57 meters at the ends. It spans 504 meters, with its summit rising 134 meters above sea level; thermal expansion can increase its height by 18 cm on hot days.

The bridge's steelwork weighs 52,800 tonnes, with the arch alone accounting for 39,000 tonnes. Approximately 79% of the steel, crucial for the arch's curve, was pre-formed and imported from England, while the remainder came from Newcastle Steelworks. Six million Australian-made, hand-driven rivets, each meticulously heated and hammered into place, secure the structure. The largest rivets weighed 3.5 kg and measured 39.5 cm long.

At each end, 89-meter-high concrete pylons, designed by architect Thomas S. Tait and faced with granite, provide a visual frame. Stonemasons quarried around 18,000 cubic meters of granite in Moruya, transporting the dressed blocks to Sydney on purpose-built ships. While the abutments support the arch's loads, the pylons serve primarily as aesthetic enhancements, added to reassure the public about the bridge's structural integrity.

Engineering Marvel

The Sydney Harbour Bridge holds a distinguished place on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, officially listed on June 25, 1999. This recognition stems from its profound importance in demonstrating the cultural and natural history of New South Wales. Acknowledged as one of the most remarkable feats of bridge construction, it was once the longest single span steel arch bridge globally. The bridge's pylons and approaches significantly contribute to the townscape, offering a grand entrance with continually changing views of the harbor.

The bridge has played a pivotal role in shaping metropolitan Sydney's growth, particularly in post-World War II residential development. Its archaeological remains also offer insights into the urban development of Milsons Point prior to the bridge's construction.

Beyond its state recognition, Engineers Australia designated the bridge a National Engineering Landmark in 1988. That same year, the American Society of Civil Engineers honored it with an "International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark" plaque.

The bridge's cultural landscapes, which give the Harbour Bridge its power, have been recognized for their cultural significance. A study of the harbour’s “green necklace” of cultural landscapes sought to change that. The AILA NSW Landscape Heritage Conservation Listing Project provides a framework to reexamine, reflect on, articulate and value cultural landscapes. The AILA NSW Landscape Heritage Study developed a ‘landscape lens’ method focused on a whole-of-landscape approach that looked beyond the limitations of cadastral boundaries to include visual and water catchments as part of the shared heritage value of significant landscapes.

Heritage Recognition

Initially designed purely for aesthetic purposes, the four pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge have since been repurposed for various functional roles. The southeastern pylon now houses a museum and tourist center, complete with a 360° lookout offering panoramic views of the harbor and city. In contrast, the southwestern pylon serves a more utilitarian purpose, supporting Transport for NSW's CCTV cameras that monitor the bridge and surrounding roadways.

On the North Shore, the two pylons incorporate venting chimneys for fumes originating from the Sydney Harbour Tunnel. The base of the southern pylon on this side accommodates the Transport for NSW maintenance shed dedicated to the bridge, while the base of the northern pylon houses the traffic management shed for tow trucks and safety vehicles deployed on the bridge.

During World War II, in 1942, modifications were made to the pylons, including the addition of parapets and anti-aircraft guns, to bolster Australia's defense capabilities and contribute to the overall war effort. These modifications highlight the pylons' adaptability and their integration into the broader infrastructure and security measures of Sydney. The pylons thus evolved from mere aesthetic features to integral components of the bridge's operational and historical significance.

Pylon Perspectives

The Sydney Harbour Bridge, a steel through arch bridge, nicknamed "the Coathanger", stands as a testament to innovative construction methods. Construction commenced on July 28, 1923, with the first task being the demolition of 469 buildings to clear the path for the bridge approaches. Dorman, Long & Co, the British firm responsible for the build, established workshops to fabricate steel trusses, girders, and panels, including the six million hand-driven rivets. The arch's construction was a groundbreaking project, employing electric creeper cranes that could climb the arch as it was built, eliminating the need for scaffolding over the harbor.

The arch was constructed in two halves from both sides of the harbor, with the southern end worked on first to detect errors. By August 19, 1930, the two halves met in the middle, then were riveted together, making the arch self-supporting. The bridge's design incorporated a feature to accommodate thermal expansion, allowing the arch to lift 18 cm on hot days. The total weight of the steelwork is 52,800 tonnes, with the arch itself weighing 39,000 tonnes. At each end of the arch stand 89-meter-high concrete pylons, faced with granite quarried in Moruya, where 250 stonemasons relocated to work on the project.

Construction Feats

Affectionately known as "the Coathanger" due to its distinctive arch-based design, the Sydney Harbour Bridge has become an iconic image of both Sydney and Australia. This nickname reflects the bridge's integral role in the city's identity, offering locals and tourists alike a recognizable and beloved landmark. The bridge's arch, composed of two 28-panel arch trusses, varies in height from 18 meters at the center to 57 meters at the ends, contributing to its unique shape.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is not only a functional structure carrying rail, vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic but also a celebrated feature offering various activities. You can walk or cycle across it, taking in the views of the harbour. For a more thrilling experience, BridgeClimb Sydney takes you to the summit, providing 360-degree views of the city. The bridge's fame has also made it a focal point for significant events, including the 80th-anniversary celebration in 2012 and the closing march of WorldPride in 2023.

Its image frequently appears in art and media, symbolizing Sydney's spirit and engineering prowess. The Harbour Bridge's iconic status is further cemented by its presence in popular culture and the numerous vantage points around Sydney that offer stunning views of its arch against the backdrop of the harbor.

Iconic Coathanger

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Did You Know?

Age

Expanding and Contracting

Imported Steel

Pylon Purpose

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