Australian
Screen

an NFSA website

Construction of Sydney Harbour Bridge (1931)

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clip Placing the first arch rib education content clip 2, 3

This clip chosen to be G

Clip description

An 80-tonne arch rib is placed on top of the main bearing as a worker guides it into place. Another man, who appears to be on a cable phone, also supervises the work. A view back across the harbour shows the main arch steelwork, while another view from Dawes Point shows the massive main arch end post. A lifting beam is released from one of the arch members.

Sections of this clip display elements of nitrate damage down the centre of the frame.

Curator’s notes

This clip would have been filmed after 1929 when construction on the arches had commenced.