I was rummaging through some old photos in my archives and found this photographs of the Harbour Bridge shortly after its opening.

That spiked my interest and I researched the 'coat hanger'.

There had been plans to build a bridge as early as 1815, 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.

Tenders opened and as a result of the process, the government received 20 proposals from six companies.

On March 24, 1924 the contract was awarded to British firm, Dorman Long and Co Ltd of Middlesbrough, well known as the contractors who later built the similar Tyne Bridge of Newcastle Upon Tyne, for an arch bridge at a quoted price of AU£4,217,721 11s 10d.

The bridge was formally opened on Saturday, March 19 1932.

Premier of NSW, Jack Lang, was to open the bridge by cutting a ribbon at its southern end but he was gazumped by political dissident Francis DeGroot who slashed the ribbon with a sword.

For those technically minded the bridge has a total length of 1149m is 48.8m wide and reaches a height of 134m.

Mid span it is 49m above Sydney Harbour.

Total weight of steel work 52800 tonnes.

Each of the four pylons is 89m high.

Some 150,000 vehicles cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge daily.

The bridge is probably the most recognisable structure in Sydney.

The old girl is still working hard at the age of 87 and she's not showing her age.

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