Sydney Harbour Bridge completed during the Great Depression

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district and the North Shore.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge construction started in 1924 and took 1400 men eight years to build at a cost of £42 million. Six million hand-operated rivets and 53,000 tonnes of steel were used in its construction.  It was officially opened on 19 March 1932 in the midst of the Great Depression.

Before Paul Hogan (from the movie Crocodile Dundee) became famous,
he worked on the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a painter.

Construction of Sydney Harbour Bridge

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Captain Francis De Groot, a member of the proto-fascist New Guard organisation,
preempted the bridge’s official opening, riding up on horseback and slashing
the ribbon with his sword. De Groot was dragged from his horse by police
and later convicted of offensive behaviour. 

Jack Lang cutting the ribbon