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Sydney Harbour Bridge
"Coathanger"
John Bradfield was born at Sandgate near Brisbane in Queensland on the 26th December 1867. His Family had arrived from England in 1857.
Completing St Andrew's College Mr Bradfield had continued his brilliant academic career becoming a Master of Engineering. In 1889 Bradfield with Honours had successfully graduated B.E. with the University Gold medal from the University of Sydney.
Bradfield, John Job Crew (1867–1943)
In February 1912 Mr Bradfield had proposed a suspension of a bridge with an intention to connect Sydney and North Sydney.
John Bradfield became an Engineer in charge of Sydney Harbour Bridge for over twenty years, and oversaw the creation of one of Australian famous landmarks.
From 1913 to 1930 Mr Bradfiled continued to represent the government in dealings with contractors and was responsible supervising the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. In 1933 John Bradfield had retired as an Engineer and later became a consulting engineer.
As a result the Sydney Harbour Bridge (also known as "Coathanger") was officially opened in Sydney on the 19th March 1932 by Premier Jack Lang. It has taken six years to construct the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Sydney Harbour bridge is standing 134 metres above the harbour, and this year celebrating 82 years since it's official opening in March 1932.
With construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which had started in 1924 it has taken 1,400 men eight long years to build this remarkable Australian icon at the cost of 4.2 millions.
When Sydney Harbour Bridge was first opened for a car to travel across the bridge it would cost 6 pence. If a rider was traveling on a horse it would cost 3 pence. Comparing the cost so many years ago these days a return trip costs a lot more and there are no shortages of people, who wish to cross the bridge on the daily basis. Eighty two years ago you were allowed to walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge for free and you were allowed to have a bicycle using in a special lane on the bridge.
Length of arch span 503 metres
Height of top of arch 134 metres about mean sea level
Height to top of aircraft beacon 141 metres above mean sea level
Width of deck 49 metres
Clearance for Shipping 49 metres
Height of Pylons 89 metre above mean sea level
Base of each abutment tower 68 metres across and 48 metres long (two pylons rest on each
abutment tower)
Total length of bridge 1149 metres including approach spans
Bearing Pins Each of the four pins measures 4.2 metres long and 368 millimetres
in diameter
Thrust on bearings Under maximum load approximately 20,000 tonnes on each bearing
Number of rivets Approximately 6,000,000
Largest rivet Weighed 3.5 kilograms and was 395 millimetres long
Longest Hanger 58.8 metres
Shortest Hanger 7.3 metres
Total weight of steelwork 52,800 tonnes including arch and mild steel approach spans
Weight of arch 39,000 tonnes
Rock excavated for foundations 122,000 cubic metres
Concrete used for bridge 95,000 cubic metres
Granite facing used on pylons & piers 17,000 cubic metres
Allowance for deck expansion 420 millimetres
Allowance for arch expansion The arch may rise or fall 18 centimetres due to heating or cooling
Number of panels in arch 28, each 18.28 metres wide
Record tonnage erected 589 tonnes of steelwork was erected on the arch in one day on 26
November 1929
Paint required 272,000 litres of paint were required to give the Bridge its initial three
coats.
Sydney Harbour Bridge Technical Information
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is known as the world’s largest but not the longest steel arch bridge.
Today Sydney Harbour Bridge has become a renowned international symbol of Australia.
