Sydney Harbour Bridge

The Sydney Harbour Bridge, also known as the ‘Coathanger”, is one of the most iconic and well known landmarks and is visited by thousands of tourists each year. Opened back in 1932 after taking six years to complete, the bridge is was a feat in itself to complete with some lives even being lost along the way of construction. It took up to 1400 workers to complete, some of which were painters who used up to 80,000 litres of paint for each coat which is the equivalent to 60 soccer fields.

The Sydney harbour bridge cost a total of 6.25 million dollars from start to finish and was finally paid off in the year of 1988. Back in the days when it was first opened it would cost you around 6 pence to cross the bridge and if you were travelling by horseback it would cost you 3 pence. These days you can expect to pay around $3.00 to cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge when travelling through the toll gates. With the growing number of residents and tourist that come to Sydney each year, there is approximately 150,000 vehicles that make their way over the bridge each day.

As the south side and north side where a considerable drive over five different bridges and some 20km away it was decided upon that one bridge would connect it all. So way back in 1815 it was proposed that a bridge be constructed to link the north and south of Sydney but it wasn’t until many years later that it finally came to fruition. Designs for the bridge were called for in the 1900’s and it wasn’t until after WWI in 1923 that Dr. J.J.C Bradfield and his team started to oversee the entire planning and construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and to this very day you can still see the paved section that bears his name, The Bradfield Highway.

Many people come to Sydney just to catch a glimpse of this famous architectural structure or even do the famous bridge climb. This is where you join a tour group either for the morning or afternoon walk, which takes you to the top of the bridge for views that will leave your spell bound. With over 200 steps to climb it is not for the faint hearted, but most fitness levels are able to conquer it. Once at the top you will have a 360 degree vantage of point with views all across Sydney that everyone say are spectacular.

You can learn more about the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge when you visit the Pylon Lookout which can be accessed from the pedestrian walkways on the Harbour Bridge. Opened every day except for Christmas Day you can step back in time and read how it was all done and learn about the fascinating stories that come with this tall standing structure. You will also read that some famous faces also worked on the bridge before making it big, such as Paul Hogan who starred in Crocodile Dundee. The Sydney Harbour Bridge carries eight traffic lanes and two railroad lines as well as a pedestrian pathway and a cycleway on the western side.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is an Australian icon and is said to be the heart and soul of Sydney. Whether you view it from the banks of the river, of from nearby attractions such as the Sydney Opera House, one way or another it is a sight not to be missed. Many sightseeing tours include the Sydney Harbour bridge and it is visible from most Sydney accommodation, so there is every opportunity for you to witness this architectural marvel.