Photo showing the steep approach to Lambeth Bridge, c 1900. It was steep and difficult for horse-drawn carriages, so was increasingly only used as a footbridge within 17 years, it was already starting to deteriorate - its twisted cables had suffered from oxidation and the girders were also rusting badly. Lambeth Bridge, a stiffened suspension divided into three spans, was pretty poorly used from the start. Various Acts were passed, and Bills presented, but it took until 1861 for the Lambeth Bridge Act to finally get a company to construct the bridge, at a cost of £48,924. The first Lambeth Bridge was not a success.ĭespite there being an act in place for the building of a bridge on the horseferry site as early as 1737, it took many years for the bridge to actually get built. The ferry is commemorated today in Horseferry Road, to the north of the river. Photo from british-history.ac.uk.įor many, many years, if you wanted to cross the Thames in central London with your horses, or your horse and carriage, the horseferry between the Palace of Westminster and Lambeth Palace was your only option. 9.The first recorded account of London's horseferry, which operated on this site, is from 1513. A captain thought he was more deserving than the Premier and he decided to cut it. There was a marching band, a parade, a sports carnival among other exhibitions.Īn awkward moment during the opening ceremony was during the ribbon cutting.
Several Australians showed up for the opening ceremonyĭuring the inaugural opening of the bridge, thousands of Australians showed up to celebrate this architectural fete. This was a tribute to the legacy of Arthur Stace a Sydney artist.Īrthur had for several years inscribed the words eternity in chalk on the pavements around Sydney. There is always a spectacular show of fireworks each New Year’s Eve at midnight.ĭuring the millennium celebrations in 2000, the Bridge was lit up with the word “Eternity”. The Sydney Harbour Bridge has been an essential part of the Sydney New Year’s Eve celebrations for more than two decades now. The first New Year’s Eve celebrations were held in 1993 It was also suitable for heavy loads since the bridge is also used by rail. The arch design was said to be cheaper than alternative cantilever and suspension bridge proposals. Again, Selfe won after submitting a steel cantilever bridge. Unfortunately, this competition was mired with controversy and a second was called for. One local Australian engineer, Norman Selfe, submitted a suspension bridge design that made him the winner. When the Sydney government opened up a contest for a bridge design, they were hoping to have a suspension bridge. A British firm designed and built the Harbour Bridge The government placed a contest for inspiring designs for a suspension bridge. In the letter, he expressed the fact that the bridge would be magnificent and a great tribute to the Mother country. He proposed that a bridge be built across the northern and southern shore of the harbour.Ī few years later, still determined he wrote a letter to the leading newspaper in Australia. This proposal was presented by Francis Greenway who was an architect. There were plans to build a bridge (the name was not given by then) as early as 1815. Plans to build the Harbour Bridge earlier were postponed One gets to experience a 360- view of Sydney and beyond. The climb up the bridge may take a few hours but it surely is rewarding. There is so much more about the Sydney Harbour Bridge than to just walk on it or drive on it.įor a breath-taking view of far beyond the bridge, a climb up will give you that and so much more. Climbing the Harbour Bridge is quite an adventure They also use special fast-drying paint that dries mid-air before reaching the bridge surface or vehicles.
By the time they were done with the first coat, it was time for the next one. This is because it took a long to paint it. The men employed to paint this bridge worked throughout the year. About 272,000 litres of paint was used on this bridge.ĭuring the construction of the bridge, the only available colour was grey. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is grey in colour for a reason. Grey was the only available colour to paint the Sydney Harbour Bridge Each piece of steel on the bridge is straight.Ĭonstruction work began in 1923 and more than 1,400 men worked on completing the bridge. One trick about this bridge is that it plays with your eyes. The two steel halves of the towering arch were joined in 1930. About 53,000 tonnes of steel and 6 million hand-driven screws were used.
This iconic bridge took eight years to build.
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