Sydney Harbour Brigde
The Sydney Harbour Bridge was completed in 1932 and at that time was truly an engineering achievement and triumph. Prior to this, people had to travel between the city center on the south side of the harbor and the residential on the north side by ferry or a circuitous 20km road route, which involved five bridge crossings.
The single-span arch bridge, colloquially known as the 'Coathanger', and the railway line took eight years to build, and used up to 1,400 workers with 16 killed in accidents during construction. The arch spans 503 meters and supports the weight of the bridge deck. Today, over 150,000 vehicles cross the bridge, about 15 times more than in 1932.
Recently, climbing this bridge has become one of Sydney's new pastimes and is proving a hit with thrill seekers. Thousands of people have taken up the BridgeClimb challenge. A guided climb is available either during daylight or night.
Sydney Opera House
One of the world's greatest 20th century architecture is the Sydney Opera House. Proposed by Eugene Goossens in 1947 and conceived by Danish architect Joern Utzon, the building is a conquest of engineering skills and is a much loved symbol of Sydney's cultural life. It is not only an opera house but also a performance center, providing venues and world class facilities for dances, dramas, orchestras, films, and operas. The building also houses five restaurants and cafés, as well as gift and souvenir shops.
Today the Sydney Opera House is a renowned cultural landmark of Australia recognized by people worldwide. For those of you interested in learning more about this superb architecture, check out the official website at http://www.soh.nsw.gov.au/
Queen Victoria Building (QVB)
Claimed by many as 'the most beautiful shopping center in the world', this elaborate Romanesque building began life as a Sydney produce market. The market closed at the end of World War I and by the 1950s the building was threatened with demolition. However, an amount of A$75 million was spent in 1986 to refurbish the building into a shopping gallery with more than 190 shops. Fascinating structures such as a sculpture of Islay, a statue of Queen Victoria's dog, and a statue of the Queen herself were incorporated with the building. Inside the QVB is the Royal Clock designed in 1982 by Neil Glasser where it features part of Balmoral Castle above a copy of the four dials of Big Ben.
AMP Tower curious
The AMP Tower is the tallest public building in the whole of the Southern Hemisphere. More than a million people visit the turret each year to appreciate stunning 360 degree views of familiar Sydney landmarks. There are double-decker lifts that carry over 2,000 people per hour at a full speed of 40 seconds to ascend 76 floors to the observation deck. The shaft of the tower is designed to withstand wind speeds expected only once in 500 years, as well as unprecedented earthquakes. The turret's nine levels have a room capacity of up to 1,000 people at a time and include two revolving restaurants, a coffee shop, and an Observation Level. Above the turret is a water tank that holds up to 162,000 liters and which acts as an enormous stabilizer on extremely windy days. On top of this water tank is the 30 meter spire, which completes the total 305 meter of the AMP Tower's height.
Top of Page |