Bridge: The epic story of an Australian icon - the Sydney Harbour Bridge Print on Demand (Paperback) – January 1, 2006

Good account, not super technical but about the genesis of the bridge from life in the region before the bridge, the people behind it and trials and tribulations of building it.

The Bridge has been with us for a little over 80 years now. This book, issued for the 75th anniversary covers the machinations in getting the bridge built and opened. So many interesting stories – the design (looks like it was pretty much a larger copy of New York’s Hell Gate Bridge of 1916) was contentious, with rival claimants for the glory (resulting in a somewhat ambiguous attribution on the memorial tablet), novel construction techniques and most of all, the opening, high-jacked by the fascist New Guard and de Groot, who couldn’t bear to see the bridge opened by a non-royal in the form of socialist Premier Jack Lang. While under construction it was described as the Iron Lung, providing an income for the many workers who would otherwise have been cast aside in the Great Depression. Very interesting to reflect on the stories of the devastation for the inhabitants at both ends of the bridge, who were uprooted, lost homes and businesses, with little compensation (to avoid a costly precedent!). Probably should be a memorial tablet for those people as well. Most of all I liked the story of nine year-old Lennie Gwyther, who rode his pony (Ginger Mick) nearly 1000km from Leongatha to Sydney to see the opening; Lennie and Ginger were treated as celebrities and rewarded with a place in the opening parade.The book is focused on the stories around the bridge, its construction and subsequent events – and less so on the mechanics and technical aspects of construction. The book quotes James Michener’s opinion that “It is very ugly”. Can’t agree, it is a thing of beauty in purpose, design and history – as is this beautifully illustrated book.

Peter Lalor has accumulated a lot of information on the design and building of one of the most famous bridges of our planet, a top Australian icon, the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Only the contribution of engineer Georges Imbault has been a bit underestimated.The text is well documented and well written. I read it on my kindle where the illustrations are unfortunately minuscule and hard to appreciate. A highly recommended reading for all bridge lovers.

Having just "walked" the bridge, this is a wonderful history with lots of photos. I will use it as a reference in presentations!

great story

Peter Lalor has produced a very readable and informative account of the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is a tale of courage, vision and hard work, interspersed with moments of high drama. The decade-long building of this iconic bridge was more than just an incredible feat of engineering, it was also inspiration for an emerging nation and a country experiencing the social turmoil of the unsettling 1930s. "The Bridge" captures it all and helps the visitor to Sydney understand the enduring emotive appeal of what is deprecatingly called 'the coat hanger' by locals.

Having visited Sydney and been priveleged to climb to the top of this magnificent bridge I am in awe of it. This very enioyable book is worthy of her , - the story of the men who made her. I recommend it anyone with an interest in engineering and human endeavour.

I have lived in Sydney for over 40 years and for a few of them even commuted across the Bridge every day and I'm surprised how little I know about it and I suspect that you'll be the same. The infighting before it started is new to me although I am really not surprised as Australia has always lack politicians with foresight and conviction. I didn't know about the effort from the Pommie engineers to take the credit the Bridge as clearly without Bradfield, no Bridge would have been built. I was intrigued with this story, from start to finish