120-534: The Sydney Writers Walk is a series of 60 circular metal plaques embedded in the footpath between Overseas Passenger Terminal on West Circular Quay and the Sydney Opera House forecourt on East Circular Quay. The plaques were installed to honour and celebrate the lives and works of well-known Australian writers, as well as notable overseas authors, such as D. H. Lawrence , Joseph Conrad and Mark Twain , who lived in or visited Australia. Quotes from
240-401: A bridge as early as 1814, when convict and noted architect Francis Greenway reputedly proposed to Governor Lachlan Macquarie that a bridge be built from the northern to the southern shore of the harbour. In 1825, Greenway wrote a letter to the then " The Australian " newspaper stating that such a bridge would "give an idea of strength and magnificence that would reflect credit and glory on
360-400: A change of government at the 1904 NSW State election construction never began. A unique three-span bridge was proposed in 1922 by Ernest Stowe with connections at Balls Head , Millers Point , and Balmain with a memorial tower and hub on Goat Island . In 1914, John Bradfield was appointed Chief Engineer of Sydney Harbour Bridge and Metropolitan Railway Construction, and his work on
480-421: A design for a suspension bridge and won the second prize of £500. In 1902, when the outcome of the first competition became mired in controversy, Selfe won a second competition outright, with a design for a steel cantilever bridge . The selection board were unanimous, commenting that, "The structural lines are correct and in true proportion, and... the outline is graceful". However due to an economic downturn and
600-687: A heritage conservation area which protects this historically significant zone. The site of the OPT is located within the country of the Cadigal (Gadigal) , a part of the wider Eora Aboriginal peoples within the Sydney Region and one of the several hundred communities of Indigenous Australian peoples. It has been noted that the Cadigal people were a harbour-dwelling clan, inhabiting the various shorelines which stretched from inner South Head , through
720-407: A large pneumatic rivet gun . The largest of the rivets used weighed 3.5 kg (8 lb) and was 39.5 cm (15.6 in) long. The practice of riveting large steel structures, rather than welding, was, at the time, a proven and understood construction technique, whilst structural welding had not at that stage been adequately developed for use on the bridge. At each end of the arch stands
840-532: A large contemporary brass plaque being bolted very tightly to the side of one of the granite columns of the bridge to makes things clear. The official ceremony to mark the turning of the first sod occurred on 28 July 1923, on the spot at Milsons Point where two workshops to assist in building the bridge were to be constructed. An estimated 469 buildings on the north shore, both private homes and commercial operations, were demolished to allow construction to proceed, with little or no compensation being paid. Work on
960-405: A more permanent design. As a result of this temporary mooring system's success, a permanent new mooring dolphin with both fixed above-water pile and a concrete deck mooring structure was introduced adjacent to Campbell's Cove to the north of the OPT. When first completed in the 1960s, the ground floor was dedicated to cargo, while the first floor contained customs and passenger facilities. Since
1080-421: A new terminal at Sydney Cove was considered. Running parallel to Post-War immigration and tourism, the growth and development of larger passenger ships meant that the construction of a dedicated cruise and ocean liner terminal became an infrastructural necessity. The terminals and stop-gap berths at Pyrmont , to the west of Sydney Cove were no longer accessible to all ships, as larger vessels were unable to clear
1200-523: A pair of 89-metre-high (292 ft) concrete pylons, faced with granite . The pylons were designed by the Scottish architect Thomas S. Tait , a partner in the architectural firm John Burnet & Partners. Some 250 Australian, Scottish, and Italian stonemasons and their families relocated to a temporary settlement at Moruya , 300 km (186 mi) south of Sydney, where they quarried around 18,000 m (635,664 cu ft) of granite for
1320-631: A public place of meeting and entertainment. Introduction of these retail spaces, along with the opening of a new southern forecourt bounded by the bounding and surrounding heritage items were all part of a re-imagining and transformation of the Circular Quay West precinct from an infrastructural and commercial transport hub into a public waterfront promenade. These major renovations including the structural re-cladding and partial demolition were made by Tonkin in collaboration with prominent Australian architect Lawrence Nield and completed in 1988 for
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#17327919162851440-555: A result of the swelled timber panels and other damage was arrested and stabilised one panel at a time, whilst a process of cosmetic retouching occurs. Today, the mural is still situated within the Customs Hall and serves as the first herald for people entering Sydney from the Overseas Passenger Terminal. Various parties are responsible for the commercial venues, site management and day-to-day operations of
1560-617: A result of this structural expression, the building can be broadly categorized as belonging to the Post-War International Style (Also known as Late 20th Century International Style) of architecture. The terminal's structural system has been identified within the State Heritage Register as "representative of the utilitarian approach to terminal design at the time, with its 'functionalist' character influenced by international trends." These trends of
1680-522: A significant work and some biographical information about the writer are stamped onto each plaque, along with an excerpt of the author's writing. The walk was created by the NSW Ministry for the Arts in 1991, and the series was extended when a further 11 plaques were added in 2011. However, as one journalist pointed out, the plaques are not updated. For example, Thea Astley 's plaque gives the year she
1800-513: A tunnel to complement the bridge. It was determined that the bridge could no longer support the increased traffic flow of the 1980s. The Sydney Harbour Tunnel was completed in August 1992 and carries only motor vehicles. The Bradfield Highway is designated as a Travelling Stock Route which means that it is permissible to herd livestock across the bridge, but only between midnight and dawn, and after giving notice of intention to do so. In practice,
1920-531: Is also common that a large number of Sydney tours for main tourist attractions leave the overseas passenger terminal during the busy months of December, January and February. Sydney Harbour Bridge The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge in Sydney , New South Wales , Australia , spanning Sydney Harbour from the central business district (CBD) to the North Shore . The view of
2040-427: Is composed of two 28-panel arch trusses; their heights vary from 18 m (59 ft) at the centre of the arch, to 57 m (187 ft) at the ends next to the pylons. The arch has a span of 504 m (1,654 ft), and its summit is 134 m (440 ft) above mean sea level; expansion of the steel structure on hot days can increase the height of the arch by 18 cm (7.1 in). The total weight of
2160-485: Is four each way. For the morning peak hour, the lane changes on the bridge also require changes to the Warringah Freeway , with its inner western reversible carriageway directing traffic to the bridge lane numbers three and four southbound. Until September 1982, during the evening peak the tidal flow was set as six northbound and two southbound lanes. The bridge has a series of overhead gantries which indicate
2280-615: Is not only at the Antipodes, she is far away from everything, sometimes even from herself. Overseas Passenger Terminal The Overseas Passenger Terminal ( OPT ), known officially as the Sydney Cove Passenger Terminal , is a public passenger terminal servicing cruise ships and ocean liners located in Circular Quay , Sydney, Australia . Whilst commercial shipping operations on and around
2400-681: The Australian Bicentenary . Subsequent to the 1988 major renovations, several other major changes have occurred. These changes, once again involved Lawrence Nield, now of the large Sydney-based practice, Bligh Voller Nield (now known as BVN Donovan Hill), alongside the NSW Government Architect's Office and permitted increased public access as well as improvements to the passenger terminal facilities. These changes were once again well received and led subsequently to three more awards in civic and public architecture at
2520-559: The Cahill Expressway , or the Western Distributor . Drivers on the northern side will find themselves on the Warringah Freeway , though it is easy to turn off the freeway to drive westwards into North Sydney or eastwards to Neutral Bay and beyond upon arrival on the northern side. The bridge originally only had four wider traffic lanes occupying the central space which now has six, as photos taken soon after
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#17327919162852640-571: The Sydney Harbour Tunnel , with the base of the southern pylon containing the Transport for NSW maintenance shed for the bridge, and the base of the northern pylon containing the traffic management shed for tow trucks and safety vehicles used on the bridge. In 1942, the pylons were modified to include parapets and anti-aircraft guns designed to assist in both Australia's defence and general war effort. There had been plans to build
2760-540: The Sydney Opera House . Today, although there are other passenger terminals on Sydney Harbour , the OPT maintains a significant public role as the only major passenger terminal east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge . As such, it has been host to many major international cruise liners which are unable to clear the underside of the bridge, including the largest liner to dock at the OPT to date, the Ovation of
2880-432: The 1960s, the number of annual passenger arrivals and departures had more than quadrupled from 30,000 in the 1940s to 160,000 people in 1962. Whilst the passenger terminal remained an important transport hub in the decades subsequent to its completion, the long term decline in passengers arriving by ocean liners (displaced by jet airliners) meant that by 1983, the Overseas Passenger Terminal structure lay virtually empty and
3000-431: The 1980s are more specifically known as part of the ' high-tech ' architecture movement, a term also applied to the work of international architects such as Norman Foster , Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano , whose works also dot the modern Sydney skyline. Architecture such as this emphasised a focus on the "poetics of structure, transparency and technology" and has its roots in the era of Victorian Industrial Revolution in
3120-406: The 1988 major alterations project, the Overseas Passenger Terminal has transformed from this original dual function to a wholly passenger embarkation facility. In addition to this, the OPT today also serves as a combination of passenger handling, events venue, entertainment and public observation spaces. Some of the new facilities introduced include: Like most of the original 1960s fabric, little of
3240-481: The 1997 Australian Institute of Architects awards. After the millennium, another series of proposed changes to the OPT were unveiled in 2001 at the cost of $ 22 million including a re-organisation which provided outside dining, a licensed hotel and new restaurants, as well as replacement of 1988 escalators with elevators. Despite these changes early in the millennium, they were however considered insufficient as, since 2010, there has been notable significant resurgence in
3360-591: The Circular Quay ferry wharves. Since the completion of major renovations in the early 2000s, the OPT has been host to cruise liners of ever increasing capacity and sizes. Two significant milestones were achieved in 2012, the first of which was the result of increased mooring capabilities which allowed the Queen Mary II to successfully dock on 7 March 2012. Shortly after this success, the Voyager of
3480-405: The Customs Hall are prepared when a cruise ship is moored to allow ABF officers to screen passengers, providing health questionnaires, outbound/inbound passenger cards and passport controls. Since the millennium upgrades, the efficiency and capacity of the OPT has been significantly improved, allowing for an average turn-over of 4,000 passengers within the course of a single day. The management of
3600-650: The NSW Department of Public Works prepared a general design for a single-arch bridge based upon New York City 's Hell Gate Bridge . In 1922 the government of George Fuller passed the Sydney Harbour Act 1922 , specifying the construction of a high-level cantilever or arch bridge across the Harbour between Dawes Point and Milsons Point, along with construction of necessary approaches and electric railway lines, and worldwide tenders were invited for
3720-552: The NSW Department of Public Works with producing, was a rough copy of the Hell Gate Bridge in New York City . The design chosen from the tender responses was original work created by Dorman Long, who leveraged some of the design from its own Tyne Bridge . It is the tenth-longest spanning-arch bridge in the world and the tallest steel arch bridge , measuring 134 m (440 ft) from top to water level. It
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3840-460: The OPT and which joins to an extended walkway from the Opera House and around Circular Quay. In 2000, this waterfront was further enhanced through minor foundation works and refurbishment. More recently, a second alterations project involved extending the north eastern section of the existing wharf by approximately 60 metres. This provided both additional wharf space to service vessels moored at
3960-416: The OPT as well as increasing the waterfront promenade open space by 1,000 square metres. The steel columns of the OPT are tapered and curve upwards to join steel beams, welded with steel web stiffeners and holding the suspended concrete slabs for the main passenger terminal level. The architect, Lawrence Neild has himself described the expression of structure as "an architectural metamorphosis that uncovered
4080-496: The OPT to support visits from future larger cruise ships. The NSW Government has placed these gangways in time for the 2019–2020 summer cruising season, and are projected to deliver around 1200 passengers every 30 minutes. On 21 March 2022 it was announced that the NSW Port Authority would investigate the cost of installing shore power at the Overseas Passenger Terminal at the same time that they announced that
4200-545: The Seas with a maximum ocupancy of 4,000 guests, made her maiden voyage to Sydney, docking at the OPT and within a single day, involved a turn-over of 6,600 passengers, the single largest one-day turnover to date. That was until the arrival of the MS Ovation of the Seas in 2016. which has a maximum occupancy of 4,905 passengers and currently, at a length of 348 metres, remains to be the largest ship to be moored adjacent to
4320-463: The Seas . The OPT promenade and viewing platforms are open to the public when ships are not docked in the terminal and a series of dining and entertainment venues within the building serve as part of the OPT's secondary function. The Overseas Passenger Terminal is located along the western edge of waterfront which frames Sydney Cove , also known as Circular Quay West and forms part of the promenade between Circular Quay station and First Fleet Park to
4440-458: The South and Campbell's Cove to the north. Its geographical location along the water's edge provides the structure with a clear, unobstructed view of two of Sydney's most recognisable icons, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House . Its location also borders along the eastern edge of one of Sydney's earliest colonial settlement areas, known as The Rocks and today is on the border of
4560-601: The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority to oversee and manage the operations and upgrade works. Some of these stakeholders include: The Overseas Passenger Terminal is host to both international and domestic cruise ships and liners. As a result of this, the Customs Hall, located within the OPT building is sometimes subject to immigration regulations and controls, managed by the Australian Border Force. Temporary spaces within
4680-472: The Sydney Opera House that contribute to its World Heritage Significance." The original 1960s passenger terminal was regarded as an eyesore, particularly as it was set in view of Sydney's most prominent waterfront. Since the revitalised building opened in 1988 however, it has been praised as one which increased public usage and access through a successful process of adaptive reuse. As a result,
4800-628: The United Kingdom, most prominently being the Crystal Palace (1851) designed by Joseph Paxton . The statement of significance in the New South Wales State Heritage Register for the OPT notes that the building demonstrates "an early use of concrete caisson technology as foreshore reinforcement." These reinforced concrete caissons were then used to create a 720-foot long seawall (220m), which
4920-586: The White Bay Cruise Terminal would have shore power from 2024. Today, the site is not merely part of multiple heritage conservation listings, but since 2006, the waterfront of the Overseas Passenger Terminal has also become part of the buffer zone for the Sydney Opera House UNESCO World Heritage Site , with the heritage site report identifying that the area offered "critical views to and from
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5040-456: The angled foundations built into their sides. Once work had progressed sufficiently on the support structures, a giant creeper crane was erected on each side of the harbour. These cranes were fitted with a cradle, and then used to hoist men and materials into position to allow for erection of the steelwork. To stabilise works while building the arches, tunnels were excavated on each shore with steel cables passed through them and then fixed to
5160-418: The arches, allowing the roadway and other parts of the bridge to be constructed from the centre out. The vertical hangers were attached to the arch, and these were then joined with horizontal crossbeams. The deck for the roadway and railway were built on top of the crossbeams, with the deck itself being completed by June 1931, and the creeper cranes were dismantled. Rails for trains and trams were laid, and road
5280-544: The associated roadway as the Bradfield Highway. After they did so, there was a 21-gun salute and an Royal Australian Air Force flypast . The intruder was identified as Francis de Groot . He was convicted of offensive behaviour and fined £5 after a psychiatric test proved he was sane, but this verdict was reversed on appeal. De Groot then successfully sued the Commissioner of Police for wrongful arrest and
5400-438: The base of the pylons are essential to support the loads from the arch and hold its span firmly in place, but the pylons themselves have no structural purpose. They were included to provide a frame for the arch panels and to give better visual balance to the bridge. The pylons were not part of the original design, and were only added to allay public concern about the structural integrity of the bridge. Although originally added to
5520-467: The beginnings of foreshore reclamation. One of the most prominent engineering works from this period is the Argyle Cut , a large open-cut passage through the contours of Sydney sandstone in the area and which formed an important transport link between The Rocks, Sydney Cove, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour, completed in 1859. Sydney Cove, as with many of the surrounding harbours began originally as
5640-532: The bridge again built momentum. Bradfield persevered with the project, fleshing out the details of the specifications and financing for his cantilever bridge proposal, and in 1921 he travelled overseas to investigate tenders. His confidential secretary Kathleen M. Butler handled all the international correspondence during his absence, her title belying her role as project manager as well as a technical adviser. On return from his travels Bradfield decided that an arch design would also be suitable and he and officers of
5760-410: The bridge and its approaches, is named in honour of Bradfield's contribution to the bridge. Bradfield visited the site sporadically throughout the eight years it took Dorman Long to complete the bridge. Despite having originally championed a cantilever construction and the fact that his own arched general design was used in neither the tender process nor as input to the detailed design specification (and
5880-596: The bridge by symmetrical ramps and tunnels. The eastern-side railway tracks were intended for use by a planned rail link to the Northern Beaches ; in the interim they were used to carry trams from the North Shore into a terminal within Wynyard station, and when tram services were discontinued in 1958, they were converted into extra traffic lanes. The Bradfield Highway , which is the main roadway section of
6000-471: The bridge coincided with the construction of a system of underground railways beneath Sydney's CBD, known today as the City Circle , and the bridge was designed with this in mind. The bridge was designed to carry six lanes of road traffic, flanked on each side by two railway tracks and a footpath. Both sets of rail tracks were linked into the underground Wynyard railway station on the south (city) side of
6120-429: The bridge itself commenced with the construction of approaches and approach spans, and by September 1926 concrete piers to support the approach spans were in place on each side of the harbour. As construction of the approaches took place, work was also started on preparing the foundations required to support the enormous weight of the arch and loadings. Concrete and granite faced abutment towers were constructed, with
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#17327919162856240-426: The bridge pylons. The stonemasons cut, dressed, and numbered the blocks, which were then transported to Sydney on three ships built specifically for this purpose. The Moruya quarry was managed by John Gilmore, a Scottish stonemason who emigrated with his young family to Australia in 1924, at the request of the project managers. The concrete used was also Australian-made and supplied from Kandos . Abutments at
6360-438: The bridge solely for their aesthetic value, all four pylons have now been put to use. The south-eastern pylon contains a museum and tourist centre, with a 360° lookout at the top providing views across the Harbour and city. The south-western pylon is used by Transport for NSW to support its CCTV cameras overlooking the bridge and the roads around that area. The two pylons on the north shore include venting chimneys for fumes from
6480-541: The bridge was AU£ 6.25 million, which was not paid off in full until 1988. The bridge was formally opened on Saturday, 19 March 1932. Among those who attended and gave speeches were the Governor of New South Wales , Sir Philip Game , and the Minister for Public Works, Lawrence Ennis . The Premier of New South Wales , Jack Lang , was to open the bridge by cutting a ribbon at its southern end. However, just as Lang
6600-589: The bridge was also used to cut the ribbon at the dedication of the Bayonne Bridge , which had opened between Bayonne, New Jersey , and New York City the year before. Despite the bridge opening in the midst of the Great Depression , opening celebrations were organised by the Citizens of Sydney Organising Committee, an influential body of prominent men and politicians that formed in 1931 under
6720-597: The bridge, the Harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is widely regarded as an iconic image of Sydney, and of Australia itself. Nicknamed "The Coathanger" because of its arch-based design, the bridge carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic. Under the direction of John Bradfield of the New South Wales Department of Public Works , the bridge was designed and built by British firm Dorman Long of Middlesbrough , and opened in 1932. The bridge's general design, which Bradfield tasked
6840-459: The bridge. One of three microphones used at the opening ceremony was signed by 10 local dignitaries who officiated at the event, Philip Game, John Lang, MA Davidson, Samuel Walder, D Clyne, H Primrose, Ben Howe, John Bradfield, Lawrence Ennis and Roland Kitson. It was supplied by Amalgamated Wireless Australasia , who organised the ceremony's broadcast and collected by Philip Geeves, the AWA announcer on
6960-594: The building are listed as items of state heritage significance in New South Wales, independently of the main terminal structure. These structures are unique and were specifically designed for use at the OPT. In its original state, there were five of these extendible gangways attached to the terminal. During the 1988 refurbishment two of these extendible gangways were removed and relocated to the Wharf 13 at Pyrmont and Wharf 10 at Darling Harbour . One criticism of
7080-560: The building was also the winner of several prestigious Australian architectural prizes, presented by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Awards (now known as the Australian Institute of Architects ) in 1988. The primary design concept for the 1988 alterations project was to express the original structure freely, with the strong row of black steel portal frames visible along the waterfront. As
7200-469: The chairmanship of the lord mayor to oversee the festivities. The celebrations included an array of decorated floats , a procession of passenger ships sailing below the bridge, and a Venetian Carnival . A message from a primary school in Tottenham , 515 km (320 mi) away in rural New South Wales, arrived at the bridge on the day and was presented at the opening ceremony. It had been carried all
7320-472: The colony and the Mother Country". Nothing came of Greenway's suggestions, but the idea remained alive, and many further suggestions were made during the nineteenth century. In 1840, naval architect Robert Brindley proposed that a floating bridge be built. Engineer Peter Henderson produced one of the earliest known drawings of a bridge across the harbour around 1857. A suggestion for a truss bridge
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#17327919162857440-476: The congestion experienced by the Overseas Passenger Terminal. Despite this, the OPT remains to be the only commercial berth on the seaward (East) side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and continues to pose future operational challenges as its passenger handling capacity is due to be reached in 2016. Running parallel to these developments, multi-disciplinary Australian architectural firm Architectus
7560-494: The cruise terminal. Among them are a mix of private firms as well as government departments and quasi-autonomous government entities which permeates through local, state and federal levels of governance in Australia. With these many affiliations, interests and governance and management authorities affecting the OPT and its surrounding public space, an Inter-agency Project Control (IPC) Group for Circular Quay has been established by
7680-632: The day. The radio is now in the collection of the Powerhouse Museum . The bridge itself was regarded as a triumph over Depression times, earning the nickname "the Iron Lung ", as it kept many Depression-era workers employed. In 2010, the average daily traffic included 204 trains, 160,435 vehicles and 1650 bicycles. From the Sydney CBD side, motor vehicle access to the bridge is via Grosvenor Street , Clarence Street , Kent Street ,
7800-619: The deafness experienced by many of the workers in later years was blamed on the project. Henri Mallard between 1930 and 1932 produced hundreds of stills and film footage which reveal at close quarters the bravery of the workers in tough Depression-era conditions. Interviews were conducted between 1982-1989 with a variety of tradesmen who worked on the building of the bridge. Among the tradesmen interviewed were drillers, riveters, concrete packers, boilermakers, riggers, ironworkers, plasterers, stonemasons, an official photographer, sleepcutters, engineers and draughtsmen. The total financial cost of
7920-489: The design of a new terminal west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, now known as the White Bay Cruise Terminal . The PCT Steering Committee also highlighted that between 2002–2008, cruise ship berthing had grown at an annual rate of 18%, culminating in an estimated 250,000 passengers entering from the OPT. This, it was identified, resulted both from an increasing growth in the cruise ship industry as well as
8040-484: The detailed design and erection process of the bridge. Architects for the contractors were from the British firm John Burnet & Partners of Glasgow , Scotland. Lawrence Ennis, of Dorman Long, served as Director of Construction and primary onsite supervisor throughout the entire build, alongside Edward Judge, Dorman Long's Chief Technical Engineer, who functioned as Consulting and Designing Engineer. The building of
8160-475: The direction of flow for each traffic lane. A green arrow pointing down to a traffic lane means the lane is open. A flashing red "X" indicates the lane is closing, but is not yet in use for traffic travelling in the other direction. A static red "X" means the lane is in use for oncoming traffic. This arrangement was introduced in January 1986, replacing a slow operation where lane markers were manually moved to mark
8280-432: The east, directly across Sydney Cove. Under the proposed changes of the 2012 Architectus $ 25 Million masterplan, a reconsideration of the circulation and arrival/departure halls of the Overseas Passenger Terminal involved reorganising the interior spaces to "offer greater flexibility and cater for usage over the next thirty to forty years." The Overseas Passenger Terminal's two extendible gangways, designed specifically for
8400-555: The heavy loads expected. In 1924, Kathleen Butler travelled to London to set up the project office within those of Dorman, Long & Co., "attending the most difficult and technical questions and technical questions in regard to the contract, and dealing with a mass of correspondence". Bradfield and his staff were ultimately to oversee the bridge design and building process as it was executed by Dorman Long and Co, whose Consulting Engineer, Sir Ralph Freeman of Sir Douglas Fox and Partners , and his associate Georges Imbault, carried out
8520-406: The height of the road/rail platform of the Sydney Harbour Bridge (which had been completed in 1932). Based on these demands, waterfront running parallel to the historic Rocks warehouses was reclaimed for a new passenger terminal, on which the site of the current Overseas Passenger Terminal is still situated. Groundbreaking for the new passenger terminal began in 1956, construction began in 1958 and
8640-563: The increasing passenger capacity of vessels. The Ports Authority of New South Wales (formerly, Sydney Ports Authority) has also highlighted the importance changes necessary in the wake of rapid growth in the cruise ship industry and noted that passenger ships arriving in Sydney had nearly tripled from 119 in 2009/10 to 280 in 2014/15. The opening of the White Bay Cruise Terminal in Balmain East in August 2013, has helped to alleviate some of
8760-554: The last time livestock crossed the bridge was in 1999 for the Gelbvieh Cattle Congress. The bridge is equipped for tidal flow operation , permitting the direction of traffic flow on the bridge to be altered to better suit the morning and evening peak hour traffic patterns. The bridge has eight lanes, numbered one to eight from west to east. Lanes three, four and five are reversible. One and two always flow north. Six, seven, and eight always flow south. The default
8880-447: The new passenger terminal shortly after its opening in the 1960s. The artwork was completed over a three-year period through the additional assistance of Murch's wife, Ria Murch and two helpers, David Schulunke and Helga Lanzendorfer. The artwork depicts two events surrounding the foundation of European settlement in Australia. Specifically, "it is a symbolic portrayal of two episodes, the flag raising ceremony held on 26th January 1788 and
9000-404: The north elevation of the structure, the 1988 additions also provided new public observation decks with unobstructed panoramic views over Circular Quay and Sydney Harbour. When spaces such as the customs hall and central forecourt are not closed for passenger shipping use, they are managed by a private venues management company and utilised as exhibition and venue spaces open for public hire. Over
9120-458: The north wall of the Customs hall is painted on a series of compressed wood fibre panels and assembled together on a timber framework. Given the sloping interior roof form, the maximum height of the mural is 13 feet 10 inches (4.22 metres) and slopes along the top edge to 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 metres). The NSW Maritime Services Board commissioned Murch to paint the mural for
9240-699: The ongoing renewals are part of a wider urban revitalisation project of the larger Circular Quay area, involving a range of developments from the CBD and South East Light Rail project to new walkways and public domains along Sydney's various waterfronts. Coordinated by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, these projects, including the OPT's upgrade program are managed and planned by the Circular Quay Inter-Agency Project Control Group. In July 2019, two additional, custom-built walkways, carrying 5000 passengers each arrived at
9360-485: The opening clearly show. In 1958 tram services across the bridge were withdrawn and the tracks replaced by two extra road lanes; these lanes are now the leftmost southbound lanes on the bridge and are separated from the other six road lanes by a median strip . Lanes 7 and 8 now connect the bridge to the elevated Cahill Expressway that carries traffic to the Eastern Distributor . In 1988, work began to build
9480-445: The opening festivities, a phenomenal number given that the entire population of Sydney at the time was estimated to be 1,256,000. There had also been numerous preparatory arrangements. On 14 March 1932, three postage stamps were issued to commemorate the imminent opening of the bridge. Several songs were composed for the occasion. In the year of the opening, there was a steep rise in babies being named Archie and Bridget in honour of
9600-430: The original 1988 project, twin splayed escalators, which have since been demolished, were located at the southern end and made the circulation pattern comprehensible, providing a generous entrance area adjacent to Cadmans Cottage. Internally, the steel structure has allowed for the building's wide uninterrupted spaces and large exterior glass curtain-walls, providing a direct view of the Sydney Opera House , which lies to
9720-492: The original interior remains as a result of multiple alterations projects. One of the most significant interiors which dates from the original passenger terminal is a fifteen-metre mural known as Foundation of European Settlement , painted by 20th-century Australian artist Arthur Murch and listed as an item of local significance by the Ports Authority of New South Wales Heritage Division. The oil painting, located on
9840-497: The passenger terminal includes parking facilities, the primary public transport links are located south of the Overseas Passenger Terminal, at Circular Quay. The area is a transport hub with connections for commuter heavy rail services from Circular Quay railway station , commuter ferry services from Circular Quay ferry wharf , light rail services from the Circular Quay stop on the CBD and South East Light Rail , and buses . Sightseeing boat services also operate from Circular Quay. It
9960-418: The popularity of cruise ships and ocean liner travel, resulting in significantly increased passenger capacity needs. A Passenger Cruise Terminal (PCT) Steering Committee, established in 2009 by the then New South Wales Government Minister for Planning , Kristina Keneally , advocated for a series of future plans and estimates for cruise ship capacity, including modifications to the Overseas Passenger Terminal and
10080-676: The present Eastern Suburbs to Warrane (or War-ran, now known as Sydney Cove ) and from the City of Sydney to west of Gomora (now known as Darling Harbour ). The current site of the Overseas Passenger Terminal was part of the Sydney Cove area (now Circular Quay) and, following the arrival the First Fleet on 26 January 1788 under the direction of Arthur Philip , first Governor of the Penal Colony of New South Wales , Sydney Cove
10200-580: The project over many years earned him the legacy as the father of the bridge. Bradfield's preference at the time was for a cantilever bridge without piers, and in 1916 the NSW Legislative Assembly passed a bill for such a construction, however it did not proceed as the Legislative Council rejected the legislation on the basis that the money would be better spent on the war effort. Following World War I , plans to build
10320-600: The project. As a result of the tendering process, the government received twenty proposals from six companies; on 24 March 1924 the contract was awarded to Dorman Long & Co of Middlesbrough , England well known as the contractors who later built the similar Tyne Bridge in Newcastle Upon Tyne , for an arch bridge at a quoted price of AU£ 4,217,721 11s 10d. The arch design was cheaper than alternative cantilever and suspension bridge proposals, and also provided greater rigidity making it better suited for
10440-498: The road traffic, a path for pedestrian use runs along the eastern side of the bridge, whilst a dedicated path for bicycle use runs along the western side. Between the main roadway and the western bicycle path lies the North Shore railway line . The main roadway across the bridge is known as the Bradfield Highway and is about 2.4 km (1.5 mi) long, making it one of the shortest highways in Australia. The arch
10560-412: The rugged plate web steel structure and added a round tower framed with rolled I-beams and channels. The steel feels heavy and immovable against the floating ships." This primary steel structure is set back from the water's edge, providing for the large cantilevered extendable gangways between the building and ship main decks as well as providing logistical and transportation access along the waterfront. In
10680-512: The scene of public celebrations on 24 September 1993, when it was announced by the International Olympic Committee of the time that Sydney would be the host of the 2000 Summer Olympics . When cruise ships are not moored at the OPT, restricted spaces along the entire waterfront promenade, is opened for public access, providing an uninterrupted walk along the water's edge from Circular Quay to Campbell's Cove. Toward
10800-469: The shipping firm Norddeutscher Lloyd (Weber Lehmann & Co.) for commercial trade purposes. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, the Port of Sydney was able to handle the stable 20,000–30,000 passengers arriving and departing annually. It was not until after World War II that a combination of high immigration, increased tourism and the rise of cruise shipping that passenger numbers increased and
10920-489: The site date from 1792, the current primary structure and waterfront promenade date from 1958, with subsequent on-going alterations and land reclamation throughout the latter part of the 20th century. The current design retains the black steel portal frame trusses of the original 1958 structure, with major additions completed in 1988 in the Post-War International Style through the collaboration of Sydney architects Lawrence Nield and Peter Tonkin. The building's main structure,
11040-562: The site for commercial shipping. The first passenger ferry wharf was built in 1879 at the southern end of the Cove, approximately where the current Circular Quay wharves are located today. The site of the Overseas Passenger Terminal remained as a place for commercial shipping and dates back to an early linear timer wharf, built by the Sydney Harbour Trust . Constructed between 1900-1903, a series of warehouses and sheds were used by
11160-471: The site of the present day Luna Park , and fabricated the steel into the girders and other required parts. The bridge is held together by six million Australian-made hand-driven rivets supplied by the McPherson company of Melbourne, the last being driven through the deck on 21 January 1932. The rivets were heated red-hot and inserted into the plates; the headless end was immediately rounded over with
11280-646: The steelwork in the towers, while day labourers manually cleaned the granite with wire brushes. The last stone of the north-west pylon was set in place on 15 January 1932, and the timber towers used to support the cranes were removed. On 19 January 1932, the first test train, a steam locomotive, safely crossed the bridge. Load testing of the bridge took place in February 1932, with the four rail tracks being loaded with as many as 96 New South Wales Government Railways steam locomotives positioned end-to-end. The bridge underwent testing for three weeks, after which it
11400-548: The steelwork of the bridge, including the arch and approach spans, is 52,800 tonnes (52,000 long tons; 58,200 short tons), with the arch itself weighing 39,000 tonnes (38,000 long tons; 43,000 short tons). About 79% of the steel, specifically those technical sections constituting the curve of the arch, was imported pre-formed from England, with the rest being sourced from the Newcastle Steelworks . On site, Dorman Long & Co set up two workshops at Milsons Point, at
11520-524: The subsequent landing of the women, children, baggage and farm implements during the next ten days." The mural was unveiled on 1 February 1963 by W D Donaldson, a Nominated Commissioner of the Maritime Services Board. As part of the upgrades and renovations in the early 2000s, art conservator David Stein was appointed with conserving the mural which at the time, had been severely damaged due to water and moisture. Actively flaking paint, as
11640-504: The terminal building and the timetable of arrivals and departures for cruise ships is managed by the Ports Authority of New South Wales. There is a strict curfew for large vessel arrivals and departures currently in place. Between the hours 07:00-09:30 and 16:00-18:30, large vessels are generally not permitted to arrive or depart from the OPT terminal, so as not to affect rush hour wharf traffic in Sydney Harbour and more specifically,
11760-435: The terminal. Whilst the primary operation of the OPT is to serve as a cruise terminal infrastructure building, the 1988 and subsequent renovations have also provided for additional public recreation opportunities and spaces. In particular, the new southern forecourt in front of Cadmans Cottage has also become a new public gathering space along the waterfront. This site served as the primary location for news media coverage and
11880-516: The test train of the previous day, and were discovered too late to be ejected. The construction worksheds were demolished after the bridge was completed, and the land that they were on is now occupied by Luna Park. The standards of industrial safety during construction were poor by today's standards. Sixteen workers died during construction, but surprisingly only two from falling off the bridge. Several more were injured from unsafe working practices undertaken whilst heating and inserting its rivets, and
12000-499: The two halves of the arch touched for the first time. Workers riveted both top and bottom sections of the arch together, and the arch became self-supporting, allowing the support cables to be removed. On 20 August 1930 the joining of the arches was celebrated by flying the flags of Australia and the United Kingdom from the jibs of the creeper cranes. Once the arch was completed, the creeper cranes were then worked back down
12120-448: The two remaining extendible gangways highlighted that while "the industrial nature of the gantries contributes to the aesthetic significance of the building, the overall form and covering ... detracts from the artistic expression of the current Overseas Passenger Terminal design." In order to handle the increasing size of ocean liners, new mooring systems have been introduced to allow successful berthing of these vessels. Most significantly
12240-661: The two remaining uniquely designed extendable gangways and an interior mural known as Foundations of European Settlement by Australian artist Arthur Murch are all listed as individual items of significance within the State Heritage Inventory by the New South Wales Heritage Office . Since 2006, the building and its surroundings have also been listed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site buffer zone for
12360-410: The upper sections of each half-arch to stop them collapsing as they extended outwards. Arch construction itself began on 26 October 1928. The southern end of the bridge was worked on ahead of the northern end, to detect any errors and to help with alignment. The cranes would "creep" along the arches as they were constructed, eventually meeting up in the middle. In less than two years, on 19 August 1930,
12480-417: The way from Tottenham to the bridge by relays of school children, with the final relay being run by two children from the nearby Fort Street Boys' and Girls' schools . After the official ceremonies, the public was allowed to walk across the bridge on the deck, something that would not be repeated until the 50th anniversary celebrations. Estimates suggest that between 300,000 and one million people took part in
12600-574: The years, these spaces have been host to a series of significant local and international events, including providing art installation spaces for the annual Vivid Sydney Festival and previously, as a catwalk for the Sydney Fashion Week in 2012. Also located in the OPT is the Quay Restaurant , which between 2010 and 2018 sold more than 500,000 of the cult classic "Snow Egg" dessert created by Executive Chef Peter Gilmore . While
12720-429: Was a special temporary mooring system, designed and implemented by engineering firm Arup Group in 2012 to allow the mooring of the Queen Mary II . This involved a series of temporary drag anchors to be installed on the seabed around Campbell's Cove and the passenger terminal to take the ship's bow lines. This temporary system has subsequently been kept for larger vessels to moor, pending the design and implementation of
12840-420: Was about to cut the ribbon, a man in military uniform rode up on a horse, slashing the ribbon with his sword and opening the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the name of the people of New South Wales before the official ceremony began. He was promptly arrested. The ribbon was hurriedly retied and Lang performed the official opening ceremony and Game thereafter inaugurated the name of the bridge as Sydney Harbour Bridge and
12960-626: Was also the world's widest long-span bridge, at 48.8 m (160 ft) wide, until construction of the new Port Mann Bridge in Vancouver was completed in 2012. The southern end of the bridge is located at Dawes Point in The Rocks area, and the northern end at Milsons Point on the lower North Shore . There are six original lanes of road traffic through the main roadway, plus an additional two lanes of road traffic on its eastern side, using lanes that were formerly tram tracks . Adjacent to
13080-591: Was anyway a rough copy of the Devil's Gate bridge produced by the NSW Works Department), Bradfield subsequently attempted to claim personal credit for Dorman Long's design. This led to a bitter argument, with Dorman Long maintaining that instructing other people to produce a copy of an existing design in a document not subsequently used to specify the final construction did not constitute personal design input on Bradfield's part. This friction ultimately led to
13200-510: Was awarded an undisclosed out of court settlement. De Groot was a member of a right-wing paramilitary group called the New Guard , opposed to Lang's leftist policies and resentful of the fact that a member of the British royal family had not been asked to open the bridge. De Groot was not a member of the regular army but his uniform allowed him to blend in with the real cavalry. This incident
13320-454: Was backfilled to reclaim the area. The original building allowed a 40 ft (12 m) apron to the Cove and was 625 by 111 ft (191 by 34 m). The resulting foreshore allowed for vehicular access along the waterfront as well as cargo transfer and passenger embarkation. The revitalised 1988 project allowed for the first time this waterfront space to become part of a publicly accessible waterfront promenade, when ships are not docked at
13440-520: Was born (1925) but there is no reference to her death in 2004. The same is true for Oodgeroo Noonuccal , who died in 1993; Judith Wright (d. 2000); A. D. Hope (d.2000); Dorothy Hewett (d.2002), and Ruth Park (d.2010). In 2014 the Rotary Club of Sydney Cove published a guide to the Walk. Writers marked with an asterisk * were the subject of plaques added to the Walk in 2011. Australia
13560-470: Was chosen as the site of the new settlement. The first wharf operations, primarily for trade and commercial purposes began in 1792, along the inner western edge of Sydney Cove, now in the vicinity of First Fleet Park and west of Circular Quay station. As the colony continued to mature and, coinciding with the development of trade and the discovery of gold in the 1850s, rapid development occurred around Sydney Cove, leading to new and larger warehouse stores and
13680-530: Was completed in 1960 at a reported final cost of £1.75 million. Alongside the 500 guests in attendance, the opening was officiated by the then Deputy Premier of New South Wales , Treasurer and Minister for Lands, Jack Renshaw on 20 December 1960. Ten days after its official opening, the passenger terminal was host to its first passenger ship, the SS Oriana , which arrived on its maiden voyage from Southampton , England, carrying over 2,000 passengers. By
13800-430: Was declared safe and ready to be opened. The first trial run of an electric train over the bridge was successfully completed on both lines 11 March 1932. On 19 March 1932, 632 people were the first fare-paying passengers to cross the bridge by rail, paying a premium of 10 s. for the privilege, but they were not the first members of the public to do so. That distinction fell to a pair of clergymen who inadvertently boarded
13920-578: Was derelict. As a result of this, the New South Wales Department of Public Works launched an ideas competition for the revitalisation and renovation of the terminal building. Eventually won by the conceptual work of Peter Tonkin (now of Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects), the project opened up the site to retail and restaurant opportunities, transforming the function of the terminal from purely infrastructure to
14040-508: Was made in 1879, and in 1880 a high-level bridge estimated at £850,000 was proposed. In 1900, the Lyne government committed to building a new Central railway station and organised a worldwide competition for the design and construction of a harbour bridge, overseen by Minister for Public Works Edward William O'Sullivan . G.E.W. Cruttwell , a London based engineer, was awarded the first prize of £1,000. Local engineer Norman Selfe submitted
14160-498: Was one of several involving Lang and the New Guard during that year. A similar ribbon-cutting ceremony on the bridge's northern side by North Sydney's mayor, Alderman Primrose, was carried out without incident. It was later discovered that Primrose was also a New Guard member but his role in and knowledge of the de Groot incident, if any, are unclear. The pair of golden scissors used in the ribbon cutting ceremonies on both sides of
14280-511: Was selected in 2012 to complete a series of significant interior renovations, providing new spaces of movement as well as a revitalisation of pre-existing public spaces. The implementation of other changes from the 2012 masterplan are ongoing and as of August 2015, the community consultations page for the OPT upgrade, managed in part by the Ports Authority of New South Wales, has been continuing to provide regular updates of ongoing extended night working hours and proposed construction works. Today,
14400-404: Was surfaced using concrete topped with asphalt. Power and telephone lines, and water, gas, and drainage pipes were also all added to the bridge in 1931. The pylons were built atop the abutment towers, with construction advancing rapidly from July 1931. Carpenters built wooden scaffolding , with concreters and masons then setting the masonry and pouring the concrete behind it. Gangers built
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