Monday 6 September 2010

Pyrmont Bridge, control tower and gate

 This control tower and gate are located on the Pyrmont Bridge, a swing bridge over Cockle Bay in Darling Harbour. The bridge was designed by Percy Allan and opened to traffic in 1902. It was one of the largest spanning swing bridges in the world and one of the first to be powered by electricity. It was closed to traffic in the 1980s when freeways south of Cockle Bay were built but reopened as a pedestrian bridge with the redevelopment of Darling Harbour in 1988. The bridge also carries an elevated monorail which travels between the central business district  and Darling Harbour. The monorail track rests on a pivot that allows the track to remain stationary while the bridge swings underneath, so that the monorails can continue to cross even when the bridge is opened for large boats and yachts.

34 comments:

  1. Questa struttura color verde mi piace molto.
    Ci si può salire sopra ?
    Buona serata.

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  2. I love this. The heritage colours made a comeback in the eighties which is a good thing.

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  3. The architecture of the control tower is most interesting with its details and slate roof. To say that they "don't make them like that anymore" is an understatement. I am so glad that this little building has been maintained for generations.

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  4. That is very interesting. They just made a little building and then lifted it up on ornamental iron legs. What else would you do if you had no precedents to follow?

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  5. Pyrmont Bridge still opens!! I had no idea. I thought the height of vehicles to go under had simply been fixed once the monorail went across. I will watch for a while next time I go across. Thank you for this. I need to pay more attention.

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  6. All these lovely historical remnants of Sydney are fascinating. I continue to enjoy reading your blog daily.

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  7. A lovely piece of history in amongst all the new developments of that area.

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  8. Great subject for a blog - I would love to see inside

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  9. I think it was once powered with power from the tram system with tram like controls to operate the swing.

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  10. I always liked that little building. Very surprised Julie wasn't aware the bridge still opened.

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  11. No clock ever could count and control life and time as beautiful !
    Please have a good new week.

    daily athens

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  12. Rosadimaggio63, the bridge is for pedestrians, but the control tower is not open to the public. It's only used by the person operating the swing bridge, whenever it opens.

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  13. I thought "Victorian" the second I saw your photo of the control tower, it so beautiful. The colors give it added charm, of course. Lovely subtle yellow, very mellow. I'm glad to see it's been so well maintained. Here in Canada, too many cities get rid of their heritage buildings, especially in the west. Countries with short histories like yours and ours really need reminders like this, so people know the 21st century isn't all there is.
    Kay

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  14. Beautiful structure and interesting info!

    Spice Up Your Life for mellow yellow.

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  15. Fabulously unique little building! Is it the only one of its kind in OZ??

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  16. Red Nomad OZ, I know there's another swing bridge in Sydney called the Glebe Island Bridge but I'm not sure if its control tower is still there.

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  17. a touch of vintage and all looks so romantic :)

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  18. I love it, having driven over that bridge hundreds of times.

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  19. I love that little building! and you have nicely captured the character of it.
    ~Dianne~

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  20. Cute and interesting tower. Happy MYM!

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  21. Jim, the Glebe Island Bridge is in a permanently open position. I went through it on Saturday. I will email you a photo.

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  22. A bridge that opens is always interesting. The control tower looks very well maintained. Always nice to see things of this sort preserved.

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  23. What a lovely structure and a piece of your local history which should be preserved!


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  24. Thanks, Julie. I had trouble opening that file but managed to track down one of my old shots of the Glebe Island Bridge and can confirm that it has a similar control tower too.

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  25. Good the city fathers preserve old things. But I hope you don't get an earthquake like in Christchurch. It is such a heartache to see old historical buildings having to be pulled down.

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  26. I forgot to ask if you are happy with your new Government?

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  27. Ann, It's always sad to see heritage buildings pulled down and particularly terrible following an earthquake. We will probably have some very interesting times ahead with a minority government.

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  28. That control tower is a delightful piece of whimsy, glad they decided to preserve the bridge and give it a new purpose.

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  29. This little control tower always makes me smile ... something about it being high above the crowd and historic ... perhaps it reminds me of a tree house.

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