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Pyrmont Bridge
PYRMONT BRIDGE - A SYMBOL OF AUSTRALIA'S INDUSTRIAL HISTORY
Pyrmont Bridge in Darling Harbour is the world's oldest surviving electrically operated swingspan bridge. The current swingspan bridge opened in 1902 and replaced the first Pyrmont Bridge which began operating in 1857. The swingspan allows access for vessels that are too tall to travel under the bridge. In 1902, Darling Harbour was Sydney's industrial heart and served as the gateway to a bustling hub of warehouses, railway yards and international shipping.
The bridge provided the main transport route between the city and Sydney's growing western suburbs. Pyrmont Bridge was designed by engineer Percy Allan who was renowned for his ‘common sense' approach to engineering. Each of the 583 bridges Allan designed during his career was characterised by its economical use of materials, easy construction and maintenance. Pyrmont Bridge consists of a steel truss swingspan with timber truss approach spans. Timber was used because of the high cost of iron and steel and government insistence on using local ironbark to reduce costs. Using electricity to operate the swingspan was considered advanced at the time as almost all swing bridges were operated by winches, steam or hydraulic power. The electrification of Sydney's trams provided Allan with the power and equipment he required. The Ultimo Power House, now the Powerhouse Museum, was nearby, and tram motors, modified with appropriate gearing, were suitable to drive the swingspan.
During the 1900s, the growth of international trade saw the introduction of large container ships and the southern end of Darling Harbour became less commercially viable as a trading port. The area gradually fell into decline, freight services were moved and the railway goods yards were closed in 1984. When Darling Harbour was redeveloped as a leisure, entertainment and commercial precinct in 1988, Pyrmont Bridge's swingspan was restored and a new addition, the Monorail, was built above it. Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, which manages Pyrmont Bridge, has undertaken further remediation work in the past 20 years. This has included measures to prevent the swingspan jamming during hot weather and maintenance of the sand filled concrete encasements which protect the timber pile from marine borers. Having undergone major restoration, centenary celebrations in 2002 and more than 600,000 openings in its lifetime, the bridge is a key piece of engineering heritage for everyone to enjoy. A plaque at the bridge's west end commemorates Institution of Engineers Australia.
FACTS AND FIGURES
- Length: 369 metres.
- The construction of Pyrmont Bridge cost £112,500.
- Fourteen spans make up the bridge.
- Australian ironbark timber is used on 12 spans, while the two central spans, which swing, are constructed from steel.
- The swingspan weighs 1,000 tonnes and is supported on a base made from concrete and local sandstone. The base is filled with mass concrete and weighs 6,800 tonnes. It is 13 metres in diameter and 19 metres deep. The water is 6.5 metres deep and the base extends a further 10 metres below the sea floor.
- Pyrmont Bridge takes approximately 60 seconds to open completely to 83 degrees. It has to be opened for vessels between 7 and 14 metres in height. For taller ships, the Monorail beam also needs to be opened with the swingspan.
- Pyrmont Bridge is driven by the original two 50 Hp 600 volt DC General Electric type 57 electric motors. Manual drum-type General Electric tramway controllers are used to drive the motors for the swingspan and gates.
- Power to operate the bridge was originally drawn from Ultimo Power House (now the Powerhouse Museum).
- As a young engineer, J.J.C. Bradfield (who designed the Sydney Harbour Bridge) helped design the sandstone abutment walls at each end of Pyrmont Bridge.
SIGNIFICANT DATES
1857 First Pyrmont Bridge opens on 17 March.
1899 Construction starts on new bridge on 6 September.
1902 New electric swingspan Pyrmont Bridge opens on 28 June.
1907 Pyrmont Bridge is acclaimed as a marvel of modern engineering at the international conference of the Institution of Civil Engineers (London).
1981 Pyrmont Bridge closes to all pedestrian and vehicular traffic on 7 August.
1984 Southern Darling Harbour (Cockle Bay) shipping and railway terminals close. Plans are launched to redevelop Darling Harbour into a major leisure, entertainment and commercial destination.
1988 Darling Harbour redevelopment is completed and the precinct opens to the public. Pyrmont Bridge reopens to pedestrians, connecting the city with Pyrmont and Ultimo, and the Monorail is built.
2002 Pyrmont Bridge celebrates its 100th anniversary.
2007 Remaining shipping wharves at Darling Harbour are closed.
Today More than 5 million pedestrians cross the bridge each year.
BRIDGE OPENINGS
10.30am, 12 noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm
Saturdays, Sundays and most public holidays (weather permitting). The bridge also opens at other times as required for shipping.
Note: Maintenance works are scheduled to be undertaken on Pyrmont Bridge from 6-24 September 2010 and there will be no bridge openings during this time.
TOURS
Group visits to the Pyrmont Bridge Control Cabin, including an informative question and answer session with the bridge operator, can be booked through the bridge operator on (02) 9299 7541.
Pyrmont Bridge is managed by Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
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