Railways and Tramways of Australia

An Australian icon

Sydney Harbour Bridge was officially opened on 19 March 1932.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of Australia’s icons and is recognised around the world. It connects the central business district on the southern side of Sydney Harbour with Milsons Point and North Sydney on the northern side.

The bridge is 1149 metres long. Its arch has a span of 503 metres and its top is 134 metres above mean sea level, making it the tallest steel arch span bridge in the world.

Construction of the bridge commenced in 1923, with work proceeding from both ends. It was officially opened by New South Wales Premier Jack Lang. Prior to the opening, Captain Francis de Groot, a member of an organisation called the New Guard, which was opposed to Lang, rode up on a horse and slashed the ribbon with his sword. De Groot was soon taken away by police. The ribbon was re-tied and then officially cut by Lang.

An official train crossed the bridge led by power car C3426. The train was decorated with flowers and bunting. Regular train services across the bridge commenced the following day. Car C3426 is preserved as part of Set F1, an historic electric train set.

Two railway tracks are laid across the bridge on the western side. Trains crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge negotiate steep gradients as they climb and then descend to the other side. Frequent services operate.

In addition to the railway tracks on the western side of the bridge, from its opening there were also two tracks on the eastern side, which were used by trams. The tram lines were closed in 1958.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge has been an Australian icon since 1932.

Bibliography

‘First train’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 21 March 1932, p. 12.

‘New Guardsman severs ribbon before official ceremony: sensational incident on the bridge’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 21 March 1932, p. 15.

‘Sydney Harbour Bridge: fascinating facts & your iconic climbing adventure’, BridgeClimb Sydney, www.bridgeclimb.com/explore/the-bridge,

     accessed 11 March 2026.

A train and a tram approach Milsons Point Station with the Sydney Harbour Bridge behind, 1 January 1935. Photo: Royal Australian Historical Society, Flickr collection.