The Sydney Harbour Bridge turns 80 years old today. I could not imagine Sydney without the old coathanger, as it is affectionately known, but at the time of its construction in the 1930s, it was deeply unpopular because it was very expensive, and almost sent the State of New South Wales bankrupt during The Great Depression. You can read some fun facts about the Sydney Harbour Bridge here.
To celebrate, I bought this snowdome from The Museum of Sydney (known as "The MOS"):
The snowdome design is reproduced from a print by Douglas Annand and Arthur Whitmore in 1931, and features a typical "Chesty Bond" type lifesaver and a couple picnicking on the beach. Douglas Annand was born in the same town as me, so I feel a connection to this print.
Even Google is celebrating:
And of course, I have to make this occasion personal to me with a self-portrait of me at the Opera Bar on the Opera House forecourt, with the Harbour Bridge in the background, just before Christmas last year:
I am not asleep, although it looks like it. I kinda like this photo, even though my eyes are closed - it was a happy occasion, with my two work colleagues and I enjoying a girly bubbly drink before going out to dinner.
I have never done the bridge climb and am unlikely to, as I hate heights. However, I have walked across the pedestrian footpath that leads from one edge of the Bridge to the other, which is quite a spectacular walk in itself. I used to drive past the Bridge every day on the bus and train when I lived in Sydney for a year, so it was very much a part of my life for a while, and I miss it.
Happy birthday to the Sydney Harbour Bridge!
Nice tribute - I didn't know about the anniversary because I am a bit out of touch but seeing the bridge has always been a highlight for me
ReplyDeleteYes, happy birthday to the Old Coathanger. I used to live in Kirribilli and I worked in the CBD so walked across the bridge every day to get to and from work and it was the BEST way to travel. And the view was amazing because that was before they put up all the wire fencing to stop people from jumping. I've done the bridge climb too and I hate heights but I didn't find that too bad, probably because it's very safe and you aren't aware of being in any danger. xx
ReplyDeleteSydney must be a great place...
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't want to do the bridge climb either, but I'd love to see the bridge in person. I enjoy watching the New Year's Eve fireworks at the bridge on TV.
ReplyDeleteOh I don't think I've ever seen a picture of you so thank you for putting it up! :D
ReplyDeleteGreat shots! And I love that even Google got in on the celebration.
ReplyDeleteOhh we finally get to put a face to a lovely blog hehe :) I didn't know that the Sydney Harbour Bridge was so young hehe I thought it was over 100 years old ~ But i agree can't imagine Sydney without the bridge and the opera house~
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun and informative post...I loved reading about the bridge. There is just something magical and glorious about a bridge, isn't there? Nice photo of you, I like it, too!
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