Sydney Harbour Bridge: History and Celebration.
If one was asked to select from all the images the one that most epitomises Sydney, it would surely be, the Sydney Harbour Bridge – “the Coat Hanger” as it is affectionately called by some.
This month, The Sydney Harbour Bridge is celebrating its 90th birthday. Special light displays on the bridge and pylons are marking the milestone in Sydney’s history.
Linking the north and south sides of the harbour, it was the vision of the government engineer John Bradfield. Costing over £10 billion, 1400 workers were employed in the construction – a very welcome public works job to have during depression years.
The opening proved to be quite controversial and an unexpected spectacle when Captain Francis de Groot rode his horse slashing the ribbon, upstaging the NSW Premier, as a protest that the Governor of NSW Sir Phillip Game had not been invited to perform the ceremony. Captain de Groot had served in the First World War with the 15th Hussars and was politically opposed to the left wing, socialist views of the then State Premier, Lang.
De Groot declared as the ribbon was cut “I declare the bridge open in the name of the decent and respectable people of New South Wales”.
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Pedestrians on 19th March 1932 were the first to cross followed by vehicles. It is estimated that 250,000 people were there. My parents told me that they had walked across the bridge on that day but unfortunately I have failed to pick them out of the huge crowd in this photo!
The Oriana guests have an opportunity to walk across the bridge anytime during their stay or may like to book a tour to walk over the arch to experience magnificent views of the harbour and beyond.
There are some more exciting events coming up over the next few months in Balmoral, but I will need to follow up in the next newsletter.
