MARCH 19, 1932

If initial plans had been followed up, the Sydney Harbour Bridge would have celebrated its bicentennial three years ago.

Because it was as far back as 1815 that architect Francis Greenway, a convict transported to Australia for forgery, suggested a bridge be built across Sydney harbour.

Over the next 100 years, various schemes came and went and even the appointment of John Bradfield as Chief Engineer of Sydney Harbour Bridge – aka “Father of the Bridge” – in 1914 did little to progress matters.

It wasn’t until 1922’s Sydney Harbour Bridge Act No 28 was passed that tenders were invited, and Middlesbrough firm Dorman Long and Co. Ltd won with a design similar to the Tyne Bridge they had built in Newcastle.

Construction began in July the following year and, on March 19, 1932, the famous span was finally completed.

The total cost of the bridge was AU$6.25 million, which wasn’t paid off until 1988.