Sydney Harbour Bridge

Variously referred to as “The Coathanger”, “The Blue Arch of Heaven” or simply “The Bridge”, there can be no doubting that Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of Australia’s true national treasures. It dramatically straddles the city’s harbour with a span of over 500m and, with the top of its magnificent arch standing a staggering 134m above the water, it is the tallest bridge of its kind in the world.

Capturing Hearts and Minds

Designed and built by a British firm from Middlesborough, the bridge was opened in 1932 to a thunderous reception. Estimates of the number of people in attendance at the opening vary from 300,000 to a million, an astonishing number in either case given that the population of Sydney at the time was just 1.2 million. The construction of the bridge was seen by many as a triumph over the economic depression gripping the world at the time.

To The Top

Now, more than 80 years later, the bridge is crossed by around 200,000 vehicles every day. This fact alone goes some way to show that, although the nearby Sydney Opera house has probably succeeded the bridge as Australia’s national landmark, it is the bridge which more likely holds pride of place in the hearts of everyday Sydneysiders. There are a variety of different ways to appreciate it, but without doubt the most spectacular is the BridgeClimb. Not for the faint of heart, it involves climbing up ladders and stairs and along gangways, all the while being entertained by your guide with stories of the bridge’s history, until you finally arrive at the summit of the great arch. There are tours during the day, at sunset and at night, and all offer unique and spectacular views of the Sydney shoreline.