Mick Angelhere's Australia ( Sydney Harbour Bridge)

Sydney Harbour Bridge the most iconic landmark of Sydney known all over the world and known as the Coathanger.

The bridge was designed by John Bradfield who also oversaw the building of the bridge which was began in 1924 and finished in 1932.

The Harbour finally connected the city to the North shore after over a century of various punts and ferries used to carry  people and cars across the harbour.

The bridge in its present form was almost never built because the New south Wales government wanted something a little smaller and less costly to build.

However Bradfield stuck to his guns and convinced the government of the day that the bridge was needed for Sydney thus we have the bridge we see today.

It came at a cost many homes and business were cleared away to make way for the construction as for compensation there wasn't any during the construction 16 men lost their lives work safety practices were a bit lax in those days.

Finally the Bridge was opened by the New South Wale Premier Jack Lang in 1932 however before he could cut the ribbon some bloke in uniform came charging up on a horse waving a sword and slashed the ribbon declaring it opened in the name of the people  before being dragged off and arrested by the police.

The ribbon was retied and the Premier Declared the bridge opened and there was a flypast with 21 gun salutes a procession of floats parade across the bridge then the general public were allowed to walk across the bridge. All in all it was a good day except for the chap who slashed the ribbon with the sword who was he?

Well I shall tell in the next instalment