Sydney Harbour Bridge!!!!!!
BY SIMON,ILLIAS & NELSON
facts
On this page I describe Sydney Harbour Bridge facts.
This includes details, characteristics and circumstances that surrounded the development of this much loved icon.
I discuss key identities involved in the Bridges construction and opening, building and measurement facts and figures, as well as information and trivia relating to the Bridge after it was opened.
For a start, did you know that the Bridge is affectionately known as the 'Coat Hanger'Sydney Harbour Bridge
Francis Greenway was shipped as a convict from England to Sydney in 1812 for forgery. He was the first to propose building a bridge to span the Harbour.
The engineering company that was employed to construct the Bridge was Dorman, Long and Co.[3]
The opening of the Bridge on Saturday, 19 March 1932, was a huge event for the city. In a controversial statement the ribbon was first cut by the sword of Captain Francis De Groot, protesting that the bridge should be opened by a member of the royal family.[4]
After the excitement had passed the ribbon was retied and the NSW Premier John Lang cut the ribbon again and officially opened the Bridge.[5]
The southern approach is built on Dawes Point. It was named after Lieutenant William Dawes, who was an officer of marines, scientist and administrator, and who volunteered to sail with the First Fleet. He was appointed to construct the settlement’s first observatory at Dawes Point.[6]
The northern approach is built on Milsons Point. It was named after James Milson, who arrived in Sydney in 1804. He originally worked as a keeper of Government House. He then leased the land around Milsons Point in 1822 and ran a successful dairy farm.[7
Construction facts
Construction - Sydney Harbour Bridge Facts and Figures
An average of 14,000 people were continuously employed to construct the bridge between 1924 and 1932.[8]
For many Sydney inhabitants, the construction project was an 'iron lung' that offered employment. Bridge workers were the highest paid employees across all industries at the time.
To facilitate the need for steelworks, Milsons Point Railway Station was demolished. The steelworks in turn were demolished to make way for Luna Park.[9]
The constructed of the Bridge began simultaneously at both Dawes Point and Milsons Point, and was joined in the middle eight years later. [10]
To test the load capacity of the Bridge, 96 steam locomotives were positioned over the carriageway in various configurations.[11]
16 people lost their lives during construction of the Bridge.
Mesurement Facts about the bridge
The Bridge measures 1.15km when including both approaches.[12]
Initially the Bridge was painted three times. This used 272,000 litres of paint.[13]
The Bridge is held together by approximately 6 million rivets that add 3,200 tonnes to the weight.[14]
The Bridge pylons are 86.87 metres tall.[15]
134 metres is the distance from sea level to the top of the arch.[15]
15,291m3 of granite was used for the facing of the piers and pylons.[16]
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the worlds widest span bridge, and the worlds tallest steel span bridge. It is the worlds fifth longest steel arch bridge
Interesting facts
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district (CBD) and the North Shore. The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic image of Sydney, New South Wales, and Australia. The bridge is nicknamed "The Coathanger" because of its arch-based design