Sydney Harbour Bridge 90th Birthday
NSW will step back in time to celebrate the Sydney Harbour Bridge 90th anniversary on 19 March 2022 with vintage train, ferry and bus rides, spectacular projections on the Bridge pylons, and community events.
Sydney’s famous bridge opened to the public on 19 March 1932. On that day, an estimated one million people crossed the bridge on trains, trams, cars, on foot and on horses.
The ground-breaking infrastructure was the vision of engineer John Bradfield. He believed the Sydney Harbour Bridge should be more than a road across the harbour. Bradfield advocated for a design that would unite communities, boost the economy and future-proof the city.
In the early days, the Sydney Harbour Bridge earned the nickname the 'Iron Lung' because it supported the city’s economy and provided work through the Depression. Today this vital and beautiful bridge is one of the world’s most-recognised landmarks and a symbol of Australian ingenuity.
Sydney Harbour Bridge light show
From Thursday 17 March - Sunday 20 March the Sydney Harbour Bridge will come alive with a spectacular display of light.
Nearly 50,000 brilliant LED pixels will illuminate the upper and lower arches and road deck on both eastern and western faces from 8pm to 11pm. This will be the first time in almost a decade the Sydney Harbour Bridge’s western face has lit up.
The eastern pylons will emblazon with a tribute to the bridge’s history and place in Australia.
The display will pay respects to the traditional custodians of the lands on which the bridge was built, the Gadigal and Cammeraygal people. It will celebrate Bradfield’s vision and tenacity to build a bridge of this scale, the stages of construction, its ongoing maintenance and how this game-changing piece of infrastructure continues to unite Sydney.
Self-guided walking tour and community event
On Saturday March 19 the city will transform into a retro street party. Between Town Hall and Campbells Cove revellers will encounter swing dancers, caricature artists, acoustic buskers, and theatrical performances breathing life into Sydney’s streets and lanes.
On the self-guided walking tour, families can soak up Sydney’s history and Bradfield’s architecture as they wander through the free pop-up gallery on their way to The Rocks and the Bridge Pylons.
At 87 metres above sea level, the Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout is one of the best places to catch the action. The three-level museum contains fascinating artefacts detailing the lives of the brave workers who built the bridge in the 1920s and early 30s.
Tickets to enter the Pylon Lookout and Museum on March 19 are limited. Book tickets.
Campbells Cove Community Hub
Head to Campbells Cove Community Hub between 10am to 1pm to catch the free family entertainment hosted by Play School's Luke Caroll at the children’s stage. Kids can meet Bananas in Pyjamas and watch them perform live. Apple the Magician will perform 1930s escape artists tricks and families can challenge each other playing 1930s games such as hopscotch, ring toss and capture the flag.
From 2pm, a full line up of Australian Aria Award Winners including Christine Anu, Tex Perkins, James Morrison and Bjorn Again will rock the crowd with a walk ‘through the decades’ playing music from the 1930s to today.
Heritage return ferries will operate approximately every half hour from Campbells Cove to Luna Park.
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BridgeClimb discounts
In celebration of the Sydney Harbour Bridge 90th anniversary, BridgeClimb will offer $90 off day climbs with a few special surprises thrown in.
To book this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, simply select any day climb on Saturday March 19, 2022.
Book your 90th anniversary Bridge Climb now!
Heritage train experiences - SOLD OUT
In an historic moment never to be repeated, the famous 3801 steam train will travel from Central Station to the main deck of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, where it will pause to meet a vintage electric train set F1.
Tickets for this historic journey have now sold out. However, Sydneysiders can purchase $10 tickets to ride the vintage electric train set F1 as it operates non-stop loops across the Sydney Harbour Bridge from 10am - 4pm.
One of the carriages on this train, C-3426 was the leading car on the first electric train to cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932.