1932, English, Published edition: Official program for the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

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Official program for the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge
 
Bookmark: http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/172471709
Physical Description
  • Programs
  • Ephemera
Published
  • 1932
Language
  • English

Edition details

Title
  • Official program for the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Other Contributors
  • Parry Print (Made)
  • Australian Post Office (Maker)
  • Australian Post Office (Made)
  • Parry Print (Maker)
Published
  • 1932
Physical Description
  • Programs
  • Ephemera
Subjects
Summary
  • Program, Opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, paper, Parry Print /​ Australian Post Office, Australia, 1932 An 'OFFICIAL PROGRAMME' for the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Saturday the 19th of March, 1932. The program has been printed on one side in black text on a sheet of pink paper. An image of the Harbour Bridge is printed at the top of the page. The program itemises the times and events that are taking place to celebrate the opening of the bridge. The paper is creased and has faded.
Notes
  • Text on the program reads in part 'Resume of /​ OFFICIAL PROGRAMME 1d /​ Sydney Harbour Bridge Celebrations /​ Saturday 19th March 1932 /​ ...'.
  • The English company Dorman, Long and co succssfully tendered to construct an arch bridge with abutment towers faced with granite masonry for a cost of 4,217,722 pounds. construction began in 1923 and on Saturday 19 March 1932 the Sydney Harbour Bridge was officially opened. The state government declared the 19th a public holiday. A voluntary group the Sydney Harbour Bridge Celebrations Committee organised a week of 'pageantry and display that would advertise to the world the faith and pride we have in our State and Capital'. In October 1931 the Committee declared that the opening 'will form a landmark in Australia's national history and , together with the subsequent festivities, will leave a deep impression on the minds of the children ... more particularly as they will play such an important part in the Pageantry and Church Thanksgiving Services.' The program included sporting competitions, art exhibitions, balls and surf carnivals. Some 52,000 school children walked over the bridge three days vefore the opening. and over a million people crossed the bridge in the first 24 hours after opening. The official opening attracted thousands of specatators. An estimated 750,000 lined the city streets along the path of the pageant and gathered on Observatory Hill. Governor Sir Philip Game opened the official proceedings at 10 am with a congratulatory message from King George V. The Premier, the Hon JT Lang, made a speech but before he could cut the ribbon, Captain de Groot of the New Guard rode up and slashed it exclaiming 'in the name of the decent and loyal citizens of New South Wales I declare this bridge open!' The ribbon was retied and Lang opened the Bridge. The official party then motored to the northern side of the bridge where the Mayor of North Sydney cut another ribbon. A two kilometre long Historic Pageant with 27 floats, military bands, war veterans and boy scouts proceeded across the Bridge. The pageant was led by the Young Australia League Band followed by 656 specially selected children from regional NSW schools, 100 bridge workers and a 'party of 25 picked Aborigines'. Once this was complete the public were allowed to stream across. On 21 March 1932 the 'Daily Telegraph' reported that 'over 1,000,000 people in trains, trams, vehicles and on foot crossed the newly opened Harbour Bridge during the first 24 hours'. In the evening a Venetian Carnival of illuminated boats concluded with a 20 minute firework display. The day the Sydney Harbour Bridge opened became an important marker in many people's lives and even ephemeral reminders such as this program were treasured. Caroline Mackaness (ed), 'Bridging Sydney', Historic Houses Trust, 2006
Language
  • English
Identifier
  • 162119
  • 6446
  • 98/​2/​30-6/​1

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