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The New Gladesville Bridge (1967)

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Bridge construction

This clip chosen to be G

Clip description

An aerial shot shows the completed steel false work for the bridge in preparation for the concrete stage. A concrete box unit is delivered by barge and elevated by lifting winch to the top of the steel arch where it is trolleyed along the slope of the arch into its final position. While a solid diaphragm component is placed along the arch, an artist sketches the bridge. A surveyor ensures that the units are located in the correct position. A second aerial shot shows the progress of construction with part of the first concrete rib completed. The final concrete box is raised to complete the first rib – the 127th unit to be placed on the steel false work. The narration explains the process as it unfolds on screen.

Curator’s notes

by Poppy De Souza

The film documents each stage of construction by breaking down the activities into segments and covering it from various angles to present a comprehensive picture of what’s going on. By showing the delicacy it takes to put one concrete unit into place – there are 127 concrete units – the viewer can extrapolate the massive scale of construction. The slow, repetitive and monotonous nature of the process is also described in this way.

The narrated explanation of each stage of construction is detailed but in a way that a general audience can understand. A cheerful musical score with a cocktail lounge feel moves the film forward at a leisurely pace.

Thanks to the generosity of the rights holders, we are able to offer Bridge construction from the sponsored film The New Gladesville Bridge as a high quality video download.

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australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.

All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions.

When you access australianscreen you agree that:

  • You may retrieve materials for information only.
  • You may download materials for your personal use or for non-commercial educational purposes, but you must not publish them elsewhere or redistribute clips in any way.
  • You may embed the clip for non-commercial educational purposes including for use on a school intranet site or a school resource catalogue.
  • The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.

All other rights reserved.

ANY UNAUTHORISED USE OF MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY.

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