Sydney Harbour Bridge Facts & Worksheets

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel continuous arch bridge in Sydney that spans Sydney Harbour from the CBD to the North Shore. The vista of the bridge, the harbour, and the surrounding Sydney Opera House is generally recognized as an iconic image of Sydney and Australia.

See the fact file below for more information about Sydney Harbour Bridge, or you can download our 29-page Sydney Harbour Bridge worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• Convict and notable architect Francis Greenway allegedly recommended to Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1814 that a bridge be constructed from the northern to the southern coast of the bay. Greenway stated in a letter to the then-weekly newspaper “The Australian” in 1825 that a structure like this “would convey a sense of strength and magnificence which would project honor and pride on the colony and the Mother Country.”
• In 1840, naval architect Robert Brindley recommended the construction of a floating bridge. Around 1857, engineer Peter Henderson created one of the oldest known sketches of a structure across the harbor.
• In 1900, the Lyne government announced plans to construct a new Central Railway Station and to hold an international competition for the design and development of a harbor bridge, which Minister of Public Works Edward William O’Sullivan managed.
• However, after the first competition’s outcome became entangled in controversy in 1902, Selfe won a second competition outright with a proposal for a steel cantilever bridge. Ernest Stowe designed a unique three-span bridge in 1922, with links at Balls Head, Millers Point, and Balmain, as well as a memorial tower and hub on Goat Island. John Bradfield was chosen as the head engineer of Sydney Harbor Bridge and Metropolitan Railway Construction in 1914, and his many years of work on the project earned him the title “Father of the Bridge.” 
• After World War I, efforts to rebuild the bridge gained traction. Bradfield persisted with the task of fleshing out requirements and funding for his cantilever bridge concept. In 1921, he traveled overseas to research bidders. 
• The government received twenty offers from six businesses due to the procurement procedure; on March 24, 1924, the contract was given to Dorman Long & Co of Middlesbrough, England, widely recognized contractors.
• The bridge’s construction corresponded with the building of the City Circle, a system of underground railroads beneath Sydney’s CBD. Furthermore, the bridge was built to accommodate six lanes of traffic, with two railway tracks and a footpath on each side.
• Despite initially advocating for a cantilever structure and having noticed that his arched general design was not included in the tender process or as an input to the formal design specification, Bradfield later tried to get his credit for Dorman Long’s design. 
• Dorman Long maintained that asking someone to generate a duplicate of a previous plan in a document not later used to detail the final structure was not a personal design contribution on Bradfield’s behalf. The official ceremony commemorating the laying of the first sod was placed on July 28, 1923, at Milsons Point, where two workshops to aid in the bridge’s construction were to be built.
• An estimated 469 buildings were demolished to allow development to begin. Meanwhile, work on the bridge started with the construction of ramps and approach spans. By September 1926, concrete piers to support the approaches and spans on each side of the harbor were in place.

STRUCTURE

• The bridge’s southern end is at Dawes Point in The Rocks, and its northern end is at Milsons Point on the lower North Shore. The main roadway has six original lanes of traffic, plus a further two lanes of traffic on its eastern side, which uses lanes that were once tram lines.
• Arch. The arch comprises two 28-panel arch trusses, with heights ranging from 18 m in the center to 57 m at the ends near the pylons. The span of the arch is 504 m, and its peak is 134 m above mean sea level; on hot days, expansion of the steel framework can increase the arch’s height by 18 cm. Moreover, the bridge’s steelwork weighs 52,800 tonnes, with the arch weighing 39,000 tonnes.
• Pylons. An 89-meter-high granite-faced concrete pylons rise at each extremity of the arch. Thomas S. Tait, a partner in the building company John Burnet & Partners in Scotland, designed the towers. The abutments at the foot of the pylons are necessary to sustain the arch’s weight and keep its span securely in location, but the pylons have no structural purpose. The pylons were updated in 1942 to add parapets and anti-aircraft weapons to aid Australia’s defense and the overall war effort.

OPERATIONS

• Road. Motor vehicle access to the bridge from the Sydney CBD is through Grosvenor Street, Clarence Street, Kent Street, the Cahill Expressway, or the Western Distributor. Drivers on the northern side will discover themselves on the Warringah highway, though it is simple to exit the road and drive west into North Sydney or east to Neutral Bay and beyond.
• Tidal flow. The bridge is fitted for tidal flow operation, which allows the traffic flow direction to be changed to better meet the morning and evening peak hour traffic flows. From west to east, the bridge contains eight lanes, designated one to eight. Lanes three, four, and five can be reversed. The numbers one and two always flow north. Six, seven, and eight are always south. The starting point is four in each direction. 
• Tolls. The bridge’s vehicular traffic lanes function as a toll road. Since January 2009, all vehicles entering the CBD (southbound) have been subject to a variable tolling scheme. The amount of toll paid is determined by the time of day the car travels via the toll plaza. The removal of the southern toll booths began in January 2017. Milsons Point’s remaining toll booths will be decommissioned in August 2020.
• Pedestrians. The pedestrian-only walkway is placed on the bridge’s east side. Climbing an easily visible set of stairs placed on the east side of the bridge at Broughton Street, Kirribilli, is required for access from the northern side. 
• Rail and Maintenance. The bridge connects Milsons Point and Wynyard railroad terminals on the north and south sides, with two tracks extending along the bridge’s western side. The Sydney Harbour Bridge, on the other hand, requires periodic checks and other maintenance work to make it safe for the public and free of corrosion. Painters, ironworkers, boilermakers, installers, electrical workers, plasterers, woodworkers, plumbers, and riggers are among the trades engaged on the bridge.

TOURISM

• Even throughout its building, the bridge was a significant feature of Sydney, attracting tourist attention. The southeast pylon, accessible through the pedestrian walkway across the bridge, has been one of the bridge’s ongoing tourist attractions.
• The Pylon closed for four weeks again in 2003 to construct an exhibit named “Dangerous Works,” which highlighted the risky conditions endured by the original bridge-building workers and two stained glass feature windows in their honor.

IMPORTANT EVENTS AND HERITAGE LISTING

• 50th Anniversary Celebration. The 50th anniversary of the bridge’s opening was commemorated in 1982. For the first time since its construction in 1932, the bridge had been closed to most vehicles save antique vehicles, and walkers were permitted full access for the day. 
• Sydney New Year’s Eve. The Harbour Bridge has long been a part of Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, most notably during the fireworks shows at 9 p.m. and midnight. To complement the pyrotechnics, the bridge has recently installed a rope light display atop the structure in the center of the eastern arch. For several weeks prior to the event, the scaffolding and structure were clearly visible, exposing the design shape.
• Walk for Reconciliation. The bridge was closed to vehicular traffic for a day in May 2000 to allow a special reconciliation march known as the “Walk for Reconciliation”. Furthermore, the bridge was the world’s largest single-span steel arch bridge at the moment of completion and until recently. The bridge, its pylons, and its approach are all significant aspects of the townscapes of nearby and distant regions. The curved northern approach to the bridge provides a spectacular sweeping entrance with constantly changing views of the bridge and water. 

Sydney Harbour Bridge Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Sydney Harbour Bridge across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel continuous arch bridge in Sydney that spans Sydney Harbour from the CBD to the North Shore.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Sydney Harbour Bridge Facts
2. WordSydneyCape
3. Is It True or False?
4. Twist It!
5. Search and Tell
6. New Year’s Eve
7. AusTrELL ME!
8. Tell The Differences
9. Behind the Bridge
10. The Next Largest Bridge
11. Be A Composer!

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Sydney Harbour Bridge completed?

The Sydney Harbour Bridge was officially completed and opened to the public on March 19, 1932.

What is the Sydney Harbour Bridge’s nickname, and why is it called that?

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is often referred to as the “Coathanger” due to its distinctive arch-based design, which resembles a large, upside-down coat hanger.

How long is the Sydney Harbour Bridge?

The Sydney Harbour Bridge has a total length of approximately 1,149 meters (3,770 feet). This measurement includes the main span, which is 503 meters (1,650 feet) long.

What is the purpose of the Pylon Lookout on the Sydney Harbour Bridge?

The Pylon Lookout is a popular attraction located on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It provides visitors with panoramic views of Sydney and the harbor. The lookout also houses a museum that offers insights into the construction and history of the bridge.

Is it possible to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and if so, how can one do it?

Yes, it is possible to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The BridgeClimb experience allows visitors to ascend the bridge’s arches and enjoy breathtaking views of Sydney. Participants are provided with safety gear and are guided by experienced climbers. Reservations are necessary, and there are various climb options available, including daytime, twilight, and night climbs.

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