Many of us know about the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a breathtaking global icon that looms over one of the world’s finest harbours and has adorned countless postcards over the years.
Spanning 503 metres and rising to 134 metres above the water, the bridge took eight years to build and officially opened in 1932.
Today it serves as a vital artery connecting the north and south parts of Sydney. Residents using the bridge—whether they’re walking, cycling, driving, or taking public transport—are treated to spectacular views of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House.
It is hard to imagine any other design, but Australian authorities and engineer John Bradfield considered 70 proposals before settling on the now-familiar steel arch—which was inspired by New York City’s Hell Gate Bridge.
Motivated to recreate “stories of the past or present,” local 3D animation studio Arterra Interactive obtained the original design drawings of seven alternative bridge proposals from the New South Wales State Archives.
Dorman Long and Co Project
The team at Dorman Long and Co submitted seven tenders for the Sydney Harbour Bridge competition. This design involved a cantilever bridge with a span of 490 metres (1,600 feet) and made use of precast concrete blocks.
Norman Selfe—Steel Cantilever Bridge
Norman Selfe was an engineer and architect. This design almost made the cut and was praised for its structural lines and graceful design.
Norman Selfe—Triple Arch Bridge
Another design from Selfe. Instead of one arch, it had three. The design actually won over New South Wales authorities, but an economic downturn and change of government saw it consigned to history. The suburb of Normanhurst would later be named after Selfe in recognition of his work.
Francis Ernest Stowe’s 1922 Design
This imposing design was the most radical and involved a three-way structure connecting Balmain, Millers Point, and Balls Head with a 500-foot cathedral-like tower in the middle on Goat Island. The central tower would double as a war memorial with the island being renamed, Anzac Isle.
Cars would drive from each of the three points and enter the central intersection before driving out the other side. Each arm of the bridge would have featured large pylons similar to that of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City.
However, there were questions over how well the design could handle high traffic flow.
McClintic Marshall
This American company was also involved in the construction of the George Washington Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge. The company submitted five designs incorporating cantilever, suspension, and arch bridges. This design did not make the final cut because the judges felt it did not harmonise with its surroundings.
PE Henderson Design
Engineer Peter Henderson went for a total visually simple design approach in 1857, it consisted of two masonry towers at either end and a flat strip of iron across the top.
‘Symbol of Hope’
The final design was awarded on March 24, 1924, to Dorman Long and Co for two reasons.The first was the company’s previous experience with the Tyne Bridge in the United Kingdom, and the second, was because the traditional steel arch was not only more affordable, it was stronger and more robust than other designs.
Ultimately, it would come to symbolise hope, connection, and movement for a young Australia.
“We’ve realised that even the most minor details could affect how the developers, engineers, architects, and government perceive a specific design. Some designs were rejected because the judges thought they ‘wouldn’t harmonise the surroundings’ or because it was ’simple and elegant, but aesthetically too severe for its setting,’” an Arterra spokesperson told The Epoch Times.
“Creating an icon takes a long time, tremendous effort, and patience. The design itself took years to be approved, several designs to consider, and many concerns to tackle.
“And our team at Arterra Interactive genuinely believes that it’s still possible for us to create another icon like this, as long as Australians put their mind to it.”
