Pyrmont Bridge

About

The Pyrmont Bridge, a heritage-listed swing bridge across Cockle Bay, is located in Darling Harbour, part of Port Jackson, west of the central business district in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. Opened in 1902, the bridge initially carried motor vehicle traffic via the Pyrmont Bridge Road between the central business district and Pyrmont. Since 1981 the bridge has carried pedestrian and bicycle traffic only, as motor vehicles were diverted to adjacent freeway overpasses. The bridge was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 28 June 2002, the centenary of its opening. The Jimmy Barnes' 1985 song "I'd Die to be with You Tonight" was filmed on the Bridge, with it in the swing-out configuration.

The first Pyrmont Bridge was opened on 17 March 1858, and was a wooden pile bridge with an iron centre 'swing panel' to allow ships to pass. In the first two weeks 20,000 pedestrians paid the one penny toll. It was also crossed by " 932 carts and drays, 43 gigs, 17 carriages and 125 horse and rider. " When the NSW government bought the bridge for £ 52,500 from the Pyrmont Bridge Company in 1884, they abolished the toll.

The wooden Pyrmont Bridge vanished with the construction in 1902 of a new steel bridge which took 33 months to build and was completed in time to accommodate Sydney's first cars. In 1891, competitive designs were invited for a new bridge on the south side of the old structure, but due to the economic depression no further action was taken until 1894, when, after prolonged inquiry and the consideration of about twenty six schemes, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works decided in favour of a design for a steel bridge with a swing span of 16 metres (54 ft), affording two 21 metres (70 ft) clear fairways, submitted by the Department of Public Works (PWD).

The foundations stone of the new bridge was laid by Edward William O'Sullivan, State Minister for Works, on 6 September 1899; and the bridge opened for traffic on 28 June 1902, by Harry Rawson, Governor of New South Wales. Powered by electricity from the Ultimo Powerhouse, the swing bridge could be opened and closed in 45 seconds. Percy Allan, PWD Engineer-in-Chief of bridge design, designed the Pyrmont Bridge and over 550 bridges.

As part of the construction of the Western Distributor project, the eastern abutment of Pyrmont Bridge was demolished and redirected in 1980, with City-bound traffic crossing the bridge temporarily funnelled onto a northbound viaduct to enter the city or access the Harbour Bridge via King Street, while the viaduct across the southern end of Cockle Bay was being constructed. Just a year later, the Western Distributor viaduct to King Street was completed across the eastern end of Pyrmont Bridge, the temporary access ramp from the bridge to the viaduct was removed, and the bridge was permanently closed to traffic. The Government ordered the bridge to be demolished, but later revoked this decision. In 1984, the Darling Harbour Authority was formed with the task of redeveloping Darling Harbour. The Pyrmont Bridge was restored, with the swing span in full working order, and incorporated as a pedestrian bridge in the redevelopment of Darling Harbour. An elevated pedestrian walkway was constructed across the Western Distributor viaduct to link the eastern end of the bridge to Market Street at surface level. A section of the Monorail was built across the bridge at this time. The Pyrmont Bridge was re-opened to pedestrian traffic in 1988.

Following the end of the monorail's 25 years of operation in July 2013, the monorail track was removed from the bridge. Some changes that had been made to the bridge during the construction of the monorail were then reversed, including the conversion of the electrical braking system back to a hand-operated system, and the relocation of the control cab to the middle of the bridge.

After the removal of the monorail, the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority began discussing plans to give the bridge a facelift to coincide with Darling Harbour's $2.5b redevelopment. The SHFA commissioned a design brief to look at options for future enhancements including furniture, lighting and pop-up cafes. "Pyrmont Bridge will remain open and accessible to the public...Any future use proposals must not impact on the bridge's surviving historic fabric, or its technological significance, or prevent the continued use as an open swing span bridge". The NSW Government will invest in a $23m renewal of heritage-listed Pyrmont Bridge. The project is part of a $73m commitment over the next four years to protect heritage assets along Sydney Harbour foreshore. The projets include $15m to replace ferry wharves in Cockle Bay and $20m to refurbish public spaces at Campbell's Cove at the Rocks and Darling Harbour.

The foundation stone for the new bridge was laid on 6 December 1899 by E. W. O'Sullivan and the bridge was opened for traffic on 28 June 1902 by the Governor of New South Wales, Harry Rawson. The bridge was designed under the engineering supervision of Percy Allan. The bridge had one of the largest swing spans in the world at the time of its construction and it was one of the first to be powered by electricity. Allan also designed the similar Glebe Island Swing Bridge, completed in 1903.

The Pyrmont Bridge is 369 metres (1,211 ft) long and cost £ 112,500 to build. The bridge is made up of 14 spans with Australian ironbark timber used on 12 spans, while the two central spans, which swing, are constructed from steel. The swingspan weighs 1,000 tonnes (1,100 short tons) and is supported on a base made from concrete and Hawkesbury Sandstone. The base is filled with mass concrete and weighs 6,800 tonnes (7,500 short tons). The swingspan is 13 metres (43 ft) in diameter and 19 metres (62 ft) deep. The water is 6.5 metres (21 ft) deep and the base extends a further 10 metres (33 ft) below the sea floor.

Pyrmont Bridge takes approximately 60 seconds to open completely to 83 degrees. It has to be opened for vessels more than 7 metres (23 ft) high. Vessels/barges up to 21.5 metres (71 ft) wide can pass through the channel once the Bridge has been opened. Pyrmont Bridge is driven by the original two 50 horsepower (37 kW) 600 V 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 the Ultimo Power House (now the Powerhouse Museum ). As a young engineer, J. J. C. Bradfield helped design the sandstone abutment walls at each end of Pyrmont Bridge.

In 1981 the Wran government ordered the bridge to be demolished, but later revoked this decision. The bridge was closed to vehicular traffic on 7 August 1981, the traffic having been diverted over the Western Distributor freeway structures built further south of Cockle Bay, and it was then re-opened as a pedestrian bridge as part of the re-development of Darling Harbour as a recreational pedestrian precinct. The swing bridge remains in operation, and opens to a schedule managed by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority.

In 1992 Engineers Australia recognised the bridge as a National Engineering Landmark.

As built, the bridge had stone abutments on both ends, the western end connecting it to Union Street and the eastern end connecting it to Market Street. In 1980, most of the eastern abutment was demolished as part of the construction of the Western Distributor. [ citation needed ] A section connected to the bridge remains, and the isolated easternmost plinth and lamppost can still be seen near the corner of Market Street and Sussex Street. In 1980, the eastern end of the bridge was initially connected via a ramp to the viaduct leading north to King Street, but this was demolished in 1981 when the rest of the viaduct was completed around the southern end of Cockle Bay. [ citation needed ] Only a narrow pedestrian and cycle path still connects the eastern end of the bridge to the viaduct and to King Street. A separate pedestrian bridge was constructed over the Western Distributor roadway to connect the eastern end of the bridge to Market Street at surface level. [ citation needed ]

Between 1988 and 2013, the bridge carried the elevated Sydney Monorail, which travelled between Darling Harbour and the Sydney central business district. The monorail track rested on a pivot that allowed the track to remain stationary while the bridge swung underneath. The pivot allowed the monorail to continue to cross the bridge even when the bridge was opened. The construction of the monorail led to some changes to the bridge, including the electrification of the previously hand-operated brakes used to control the bridge's swing, and the relocation of the control cab six metres away from the middle of the bridge (so that the control cab would not hit the monorail track when the bridge is open).

Upon the closure of the Monorail in June 2013 the hydraulic lifting rams and support infrastructure were removed, and the control cab was relocated to its original position in the middle of the bridge.

As built, the bridge had stone abutments on both ends, the western end connecting it to Union Street and the eastern end connecting it to Market Street. In 1980, most of the eastern abutment was demolished as part of the construction of the Western Distributor. [ citation needed ] A section connected to the bridge remains, and the isolated easternmost plinth and lamppost can still be seen near the corner of Market Street and Sussex Street. In 1980, the eastern end of the bridge was initially connected via a ramp to the viaduct leading north to King Street, but this was demolished in 1981 when the rest of the viaduct was completed around the southern end of Cockle Bay. [ citation needed ] Only a narrow pedestrian and cycle path still connects the eastern end of the bridge to the viaduct and to King Street. A separate pedestrian bridge was constructed over the Western Distributor roadway to connect the eastern end of the bridge to Market Street at surface level. [ citation needed ]

Between 1988 and 2013, the bridge carried the elevated Sydney Monorail, which travelled between Darling Harbour and the Sydney central business district. The monorail track rested on a pivot that allowed the track to remain stationary while the bridge swung underneath. The pivot allowed the monorail to continue to cross the bridge even when the bridge was opened. The construction of the monorail led to some changes to the bridge, including the electrification of the previously hand-operated brakes used to control the bridge's swing, and the relocation of the control cab six metres away from the middle of the bridge (so that the control cab would not hit the monorail track when the bridge is open).

Upon the closure of the Monorail in June 2013 the hydraulic lifting rams and support infrastructure were removed, and the control cab was relocated to its original position in the middle of the bridge.

As at 24 July 2001, Pyrmont Bridge is an item of State heritage significance for its aesthetic, historical and scientific cultural values. An essential link between the city and the inner western suburbs, Pyrmont Bridge is closely associated with the economic and social development of Sydney at the end of the 19th century.

Pyrmont Bridge is closely associated with Percy Allan, PWD Engineer-in-Chief of bridge design, who was responsible for the introduction of American timber bridge practice to NSW and designed over 500 bridges in NSW. The quality of the carved stonework of the piers and portals added to the aesthetic appeal of the bridge.