Consider that most people don’t know that the Sydney Harbour Bridge has four imposing pylons. These concrete giants with granite facades stand tall at 89 metres. We are standing before one now the Sydney Harbour Bridge – North West Pylon. Interestingly the pylons serve no engineering purpose. They are purely for decoration.
Everyone recognizes the Sydney Harbour Bridge instantly. Its presence links the Sydney CBD and the North Shore. It is impossible to miss it in Sydney Harbour. Along with the Sydney Opera House its shape has become a visual symbol of Australia.
Construction of the bridge spanned from 1924 to 1932. It was under the direction of JJC Bradfield Chief Engineer. The Harbour Bridge is large. It is not the longest steel arch bridge. Its design takes after the Hell Gate Bridge in New York City. The Harbour Bridge has a nickname. It is called The Coathanger. This is because of its easily recognisable single-arch shape.
Let’s talk more about the Sydney Harbour Bridge – North West Pylon and the history of the bridge. After almost eight years of construction the Bridge was opened on 19th March 1932. The NSW Premier Hon John T. Lang officiated. The event drew huge crowds. Estimates range from 300000 to 1 million people. One man secured his place in history. Captain Francis De Groot led a paramilitary group called the New Guard. He slashed the ribbon with his sword before the official cutting ceremony. The captain was arrested. The ribbon was tied together. The ceremony continued. Captain De Groot is forever associated with the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The South-East Pylon has been a tourist attraction since 1934. After a hiatus during WWII Yvonne Rintoul created an All Australian Exhibition from 1948 to 1971. There is now a museum telling stories about the construction of the bridge. There are viewing balconies on the top level.
You get fabulous views from the Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout. You can see over the Sydney Opera House the Sydney CBD Port Jackson and the western side of the Harbour.
A great way to discover the Sydney Harbour Bridge is to participate in a bridge climb. You get fantastic views. You get to see the inside of the bridge. It is a very special experience. It is not cheap. It costs between AUD250 and AUD400. The price depends on the type of climb and the time of the day. Living in Sydney and using the bridge almost every day brings a different way of interacting with the structure.
The Harbour Bridge Pylon opens every day except Christmas Day. It is open from 10 am to 5 pm. You can access the entrance from the pedestrian walkway on the eastern side of the Bridge. If you come from the city side use the Bridge Stairs on Cumberland Street. You can also access the Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout from Milsons Point by walking across the bridge.
Bill Bryson once wrote about the Sydney Harbour Bridge. He said you can see it from every corner of the city. It creeps into frame from the oddest angles. From a distance it has a kind of gallant restraint. It is majestic but not assertive. Up close it is all might. It soars above you. You could pass a ten-storey building beneath it. It looks like the heaviest thing on earth. Everything that is in it is the biggest of its type you have ever seen. This is a great bridge.
The building of the bridge took almost eight years from 1924 to 1932. That is 7 years and 356 days to be precise. Just like the Eiffel Tower the bridge expands on hot days. It can grow up to 180mm. Engineers designed hinges at both ends of the bridge. The bridge contains 52800 of steel 17000 cubic metres of granite and 95000 cubic metres of concrete. The pylons don’t have a structural purpose. They are there for design effect. They are made of concrete and faced with granite. The Harbour Bridge is modelled on Hell Gate Bridge in New York City. It took 272000 litres of paint to give the bridge its initial three coats. The colour serves a purpose of durability. It also hides any dirt or dust. Only sixteen men died during construction. This is quite low considering the number of workers and the safety conditions in place at the time. During construction 128 tie back cables held the bridge up. They restrained the part-finished arches. These cables were each 365 meters long 70mm in diameter 8.6 tons in weight and made up of 217 individual wires.
While the BridgeClimb is a fantastic experience it is expensive. It can be time-consuming. It can be off-limits for people who are afraid of heights. If you are on a budget or a short timeframe don’t miss the Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout. The price is reasonable. You get fabulous views. Because it is a most underrated tourist attraction it is relatively quiet. You get quite close to the bridge. You can admire its beautiful structure.
The Pylon Museum will educate you on the history of the Harbour Bridge. It will highlight what a fantastic event and human adventure the building of the bridge was in Sydney’s history.