SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE

Sydney Harbour Bridge

While Sydney Harbour Bridge served as the city's symbol of history, it could've been built differently. Arterra Interactive recollects and remembers the what-could-have-been designs of the bridge through bringing these designs to life. And the iconic bridge has been significant and essential to most of our animations and storytelling projects for over 20 years.

Eight episodes. Six modeled designs. 800 hours of production. And a team dedicated to animating and celebrating the Sydney Harbour Bridge and its journey.

 

7 News Media Coverage

 

The Designs

Steel Cantilever Bridge - Norman Selfe
Engineer Norman Selfe proposed a bridge from Dawes Point to Mcmahons Point, a design praised by the selection board for its structural lines and graceful outline.

Triple Arch Bridge - Norman Selfe
Another Selfe’s famous bridge design is the three separate looping arches.

McClintic Marshall
The McClintic Marshall proposed several tenders incorporating cantilever bridges, suspension bridges, and an arch bridge on their tender submissions, and our team animated one from their five designs.

English Electric Company of Australia
The English Electric Company of Australia proposed a 0.49km suspension bridge combining suspension and cantilever principles designed by Robinson and Steinman.

Dorman Long & Co
Dorman Long & Co, the creators of the Harbour Bridge, submitted seven tenders for the Sydney Harbour Bridge competition. And Arterra Interactive visualised one of their alternate designs — a cantilever bridge with a centre span of 0.49 km (1,600 feet).

Francis Ernest Stowe's 1922 Design
Francis Ernest Stowe’s 1922 design was a three-way structure connecting Balmain, Millers Point, and Balls Head with the central tower on Goat Island.

P.E. Henderson Design
Engineer Peter Henderson proposed a simple design approach in 1857, which originated from a plan to connect the Harbour's North and South shores. He designed the bridge linking Dawes' Point to Milsom's Point with two masonry towers at either end and a flat strip of iron across the top.