Opened in September 1963, the Fig Tree Bridge isn’t just a concrete and steel structure. It’s a testament to Sydney’s ambition, a vital artery connecting Hunters Hill and Linley Point across the Lane Cove River. This Fig Tree Bridge replaced a much older bridge, a charming iron truss swing bridge from 1885. That original bridge played a key role as part of the first fixed crossing of Sydney Harbour, linking with the Gladesville and Iron Cove Bridges. Imagine the scene: four workers heaving and straining, gears groaning as they slowly swung open the iron span to allow boats passage, a process that took a full hour. The old bridge’s southern abutment still stands as a quiet memorial. It provides a viewing platform at the end of Joubert Street where you can find the wheel that once orchestrated the opening and closing of the swing bridge. Our current Fig Tree Bridge, sleek and modern, tells a story of a city looking towards the future. It was built alongside the Tarban Creek and Gladesville Bridges as part of a grand plan, the North Western Expressway. This expressway was meant to connect Sydney with the future Sydney-Newcastle Freeway. Although the expressway never came to fruition, the Fig Tree Bridge stands ready. Its design, with subtly off-center camber, reveals a hidden potential. The piers and deck were designed to accommodate two additional lanes, a testament to the ambitious scale of the original plan. Today, Fig Tree Bridge stands as a vital link. It forms part of a crucial alternative route, bypassing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, connecting the city center with the lower north shore along Burns Bay Road. And for those seeking a physical challenge for a good cause, the Fig Tree Bridge proudly participates in the Seven Bridges Walk, a fundraising event for the Cancer Council of NSW.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to