Big Welcome Sign At 80

• August 19th, 2010
• Posted by EUEditor

A giant piece of meccano work completed the framing of Sydney Harbour, and the welcoming imagery of the Australian continent –  engineers making the link 80 years ago today, 19.8.30, at 10 pm, (appx. time this posting).

The depression-era vision of then New South Wales Premier, Jack Lang, and the engineer JJC Bradfield, the Sydney Harbour Bridge coped with most of the demand from modern traffic for over 50 years; paying its way as a tollway, constantly under maintenance and re-painting.

The building work was difficult and dangerous; the eventual first link-up, of the top arch, providing actual confirmation for an intensely interested public that it would happen.

  Completing the imagery, its arresting companion, the Sydney Opera House, another feat of inspiration, cost, and ingenuity in the building, was opened by Queen Elizabeth II just over 43 years later – on 20.10.73.

Reference

“80 years on, descendants of Bradfield reignite hope of yesteryear”, PRWire, Sydney, 19.10.10.  http://www.prwire.com.au/pr/19640/80-years-on-descendants-of-bradfield-reignite-hope-of-yesteryear, (19.8.10).

Geoff Chambers, “The span that united our city”, The Daily Telegraph, Sydney, 19.8.10.

Pictures

Techrights.org, cricketnewcastle.asn.au, cultureandrecreation.gov.au

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