In 1923 construction started on the span for the Sydney Harbour Bridge – today such an iconic symbol of Australia. More than 1,600 workers were involved in the building of the bridge.
Over 100 granite and quarry workers travelled from Aberdeen in January 1926. Dorman, Long and Company Ltd contractors for the building of the bridge travelled to Aberdeen to recruit the Scottish workers. The workers were assured of employment for 5 years and the Australian Government had pledged to assist in taking out their wives and families to be with them.
The government had to clear hundreds of houses from the northern and southern approaches to the bridge. This was a painful process for residents as their homes, and in some instances their businesses, were ‘resumed’ by the state government, sometimes without compensation. – Sydney Harbour Bridge
More than 250 stonemasons were brought into Australia to quarry and prepare the stone – men mostly from Scotland and Italy.
During the construction of the bridge 16 men died.
The official opening of the bridge took place on 19 March 1932. By that time 52,000 school children had already crossed the bridge in a series of ‘school days’. – Sydney Harbour Bridge
It is estimated that taking all costs into account – the construction process and completion had cost £10million.
