Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel arch that connects the business district to the North Shore, stretching 1149 meters (3770 feet) across the water and rising in a single sweeping curve overhead. Its deck carries eight lanes of road traffic and two railway tracks, with pedestrian and cycling paths running along the outer edges, organizing movement across several levels.

Building started in 1923 and took eight years, involving 1400 workers who assembled 53,000 tons of steel before the opening in March 1932. Dorman Long, a British engineering firm, led the project, which was seen at the time as the largest engineering achievement in the southern hemisphere.

On New Year's Eve and during major celebrations, thousands gather along the waterfront as fireworks are launched from the arch itself, lighting up the structure in a way that has become part of Australian tradition. Locals and visitors claim their spots early in the day, spreading picnic blankets and camping out to watch the display that has marked national moments for decades.

Pedestrians and cyclists use separate paths that run along the sides, open throughout the day and quieter in early morning hours. The arch clears the water by 49 meters (161 feet), allowing ships to pass underneath without interruption while traffic flows above.

At 134 meters (440 feet) tall, this is the tallest steel arch anywhere in the world, its surface originally protected by 272,000 liters (72,000 gallons) of paint applied in three layers. Climbing to the top offers a perspective on the harbor that usually only birds experience.

Location: Sydney

Location: New South Wales

Inception: March 19, 1000

Official opening: March 19, 1932

Height: 134 m

Length: 1,149 m

Longest Span: 503 m

Width: 48.8 m

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Made from material: steel

Address: Bradfield Hwy, Dawes Point - Milsons Point NSW

GPS coordinates: -33.85223,151.21068

Latest update: December 3, 2025 07:18