Day 55: The Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb

The two most iconic sights in Sydney are undoubtedly the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Today, whilst Allison went shopping for the African segment of our trip, I got to climb the Harbour Bridge. It's quite an experience. You spend almost an hour beforehand getting kitted out, watching safety videos, and practicing ascending steel mesh steps and ladders. At it's height (sorry) you end up 440 feet above the waters of Sydney Harbour. Although you are clipped onto the superstructure the entire way it's still a little daunting to look down through all the steel and realize there is nothing else standing between you and a grim certain death.

Throughout the nineteenth century, proposals had been raised for constructing a bridge to link the northern and southern shores of Sydney Harbour. As early as 1815, Francis Greenway (a convict) had suggested to Governor Macquarie the construction of a bridge across the harbour. While this had never formed into anything beyond an idea, it was the first plan of many to come. The first known plan of any proposal dates from 1857 when the engineer Peter Henderson proposed the construction of a vast cast iron bridge, spanning from Dawes Point to Milsons Point. The bridge was to be supported by two pylons, one on either side of the harbour.

This was followed in 1878 by Commissioner WC Bennett's proposal for a floating bridge, and in 1879 by a high level bridge designed by TS Parrott. Parrott's plan included a series of piers on either side of the harbour and two larger piers positioned in the harbour supporting the roadway above. A plan by JE Garbett was actually accepted by the government in 1881 but never implemented. John Fowler, who had been involved in building the Firth of Forth Bridge in Scotland, proposed a suspension bridge to cross the harbour. A tunnel was also suggested around the same period.

Finally, in 1900, the local government set up a competition for the best bridge design and eventually put it out to bid. Times passes! The erection of the steelwork commenced in September 1926. The bridge was opened to traffic six years later, on March 19, 1932. Completing the entire work, including the bridge and approaches, took eight years. (But it wasn't until 1996 that they started shooting fireworks off the bridge on NYE). 

Some random facts I learned on my tour were:

1. There are 6 million rivets in the bridge (it was constructed before welding). That's more than one rivet each for the entire population of Sydney.

2. Its eventual cost was 10 million pounds. That's about 1.5 billion AUD, allowing for inflation.

3. The top of the arch can rise and fall by about 8 inches because of temperature changes.

4. Paul Hogan (Crocodile Dundee - "That's not a knife, mate") worked as a rigger on the Bridge.

5. Until 2012, it was the widest bridge in the world at 160 feet (48.8m). Looking down at that - it's enormous. There are 6 full lanes of traffic, a bus lane, another random car lane, two rail transit lanes, and double walkways for pedestrians. 

Additional pics below/

A> The Bridge as seen from White Bay

B> One of the (decorative pylons) and the Opera House hiding behind it.

C> Opera House under one of the spans.

D> Proof I climbed the Bridge!

E> Some bridge climbing friends. 












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