Dawes Point, c. 1927
Oil painting Presented by L Parker, 1949 Reproduced with the kind permission of Vision Australia ML 437
Oil painting Presented by L Parker, 1949 Reproduced with the kind permission of Vision Australia ML 437
Work
is shown progressing on the southern pylons and approaches for the Sydney
Harbour Bridge. It final cost was in excess of £10 million, a significant sum
at that time. Perhaps even more compelling are the figures unchanged by
inflation. These include the physical: 122 000 m3 of rock
excavation, 95
000 m3 of concrete, 53 000 tonnes of steelwork, 17 000 m3
of granite facing for the pylons, six million rivets, 272 000 litres of paint;
and the human cost of 800 displaced families (their homes were demolished
without compensation) and 16 deaths. In over eight years of construction 1400
workers were employed.