The combination of height, complexity of construction techniques and, by today's standards, limited safety provisions presented many construction challenges for the workers, the unions, Dorman, Long and the government. Building the bridge provided employment for men whose skills covered a range of specialities, including rigger, quarryman, carpenter, dogman, ironworker, painter, stonemason, boilermaker, crane driver, plumber and more.

It is not surprising that such difficult and dangerous work prompted a large number of strikes over awards and rates of pay. A series of stoppages and threatened stoppages, particularly in the late 1920s, affected construction. Strike action of any group of workers often had a considerable effect on other areas of the construction. For example, the engine drivers' strike in August/September 1927 prevented the 100 stonemasons from continuing their work on the foundations in the absence of supplies from the quarries. Similarly the boilermakers' strike on 27 August 1927 brought work on both sides of the harbour to a standstill. One of the longest standing strikes during construction was an inter-union dispute between the Operative Painters' Union and the Federated Ironworkers' Assistants relating to painting of the spans, with both parties claiming expertise to do the final coats.

Most of the bridge workers did get above award wages as compensation for the dangerous and difficult conditions. Judge Beeby of the Commonwealth Arbitration Court, in granting substantial increases in wages to workmen on the arch construction of the bridge commented:

The work is unusually laborious and hazardous, and of a nature imposing nervous strain which, fortunately, men are not often asked to endure. Some of them work in confined spaces and in strained positions, whilst the work of riggers is unusually difficult and dangerous. The men are necessarily picked workmen of peculiar temperament.

Erecting member NE 14

I work for BridgeClimb as a Climb Leader. It was such a thrill to show, for a living, the beauty of her - The Bridge. It was only once I got the job that my grandfather revealed that his own father, a Swedish sailor, arrived in Sydney in the 1920's, and confident at height and good with a rope, he got a job as a rigger on the Bridge's construction. So when I climb the bridge with strangers from all over the world, or perhaps from only a suburb away from where I live, I wonder what steel my great-grandfather also walked- what he helped to put together. I have no recollections of this man. I never knew him. But I share with him the beautiful Arch.

Audrey Boyd. from Terara
Robert James Boyd. ME. Syd Uni.1876-1953. Who was chief Engineer on the Bridge Project. Educated at a small village at Terara, of some 20 pupils, then attended Nowra High School. then Syd Uni. He was employed under Dr. T. Bradfield on plans for the Syd. Harbour Bridge and also the City Circle Railway, built between 1923 and 1932. Quite an inspirational story, as he was the son of a pioneer farmer from Ireland and reached the top of his profession. If you would like more info about him from the Family History incl photo, please let me know an address I could post it to. He was my husband's uncle.

B Cooper from West Ryde
I have in my possession a shaving of steel given to me by my grandfather. His friend, Jim Cail, worked for Dorman Long during the bridge construction. Jim's wife became homesick and they returned to Middlesbrough during the depression. Although I met with Jim 1970s he is now deceased and I am still in contact with his daughter who lives in Middlesbrough. Jim told me this steel shaving was from the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Bill and Kerrie Borthwick from Guildford N.S.W
Thomas Mackay was a foreman stonemason working on the Harbour Bridge. He often told the story of laying the last granite stone on the North Pylon of the bridge. There are photos of this in the exhibition photo albums on the 15th of January 1932. He was also a proud Scot from Grenock. Arriving in the country in 1910 and joining the newly formed Highlands Society Pipeband. Tommy was the longest serving Pipemajor of the band some 52 years. Images of the Pipeband marching across the bridge in front of the Harbour Bridge workers can be seen in the exhibition films. We also have music we believe was written to be played on the day by the band. It must have been a very proud day for him as he talked of it often. Bill was to receive the benefit of his tuition in the 1960s. Our teenage son is now also a piper. Tom had a brother Bob and one son Douglas.

Bill Imeson from Salisbury, England
My father worked for Dorman, Long & Co, and was in Sydney throughout the building of the bridge. He was the steel stockholder, and co-ordinated supplies of steel from Middlesbrough. He was also involved with organising visits of various dignitaries to visit the construction of the bridge. I have a solid silver cigarette box he received (inscribed with his name) to commemorate the opening of the bridge, and also a pice of the supporting cable, also inscribed with his name. In addition, I have many old photos and various letters and testimonials.

Brett Rosenthal from Annandale, Sydney
My grandfather Wilfred Rosenthal was one of the many labourers that worked on the bridge. My father had died when I was very young. But prior to the death of my grandmother, she told me that my father Douglas, was taken over the bridge by my grandfather and I was told that he was the first child to cross the bridge. Whether this crossing was prior to the official opening or not I do not know. Brett Rosenthal January 2007

Colin Butcher from Revesby NSW
My mother was a tram conductor at North Sydney depot,she was regulary rostered on trams that crossed the harbour bridge to the terminus at Wynyard.Her worst nightmare was changing the trolly pole over in the tunnel.

Danielle Boughton from Bilpin
My great grandfather Samuel Boughton was the leading chainman during construction of the bridge. Apprently he was in charge of measurements and often had to go back to the brigde at night time to check how much the steel had expanded or contracted. I've also been told that he considered himself lucky to have such a good job at the time, when there were so many unfortunate others out of work. We have a photo of him with one foot either side of the gap just before the arch was joined - with no harness or any safety equipment in sight!

Deborah Doolan from Panania NSW
My great-grandfather Tom Burdon was a ships rigger from Newcastle upon Tyne County Durham England, he came to Sydney in 1927 a widower with three of his four children and worked on the bridge. During his work he fell off the Northern pylon, he survived but never worked again.

Erik Olofsson from Chittaway Point
I recently visited the Bridging Sydney exhibition and was thrilled when I came across a 'photo of my father (rigger on bridge 1928 - 1932 payrole No 221 ) at work on the bridge, I have the 'photo in my father's bridge collection. The caption read scorce unknown, workmen adjusting nuts on jack used for releasing cables. understatement? actually the cameraman had captured part of the ongoing procedure of the cable release from the north side, as the bottom chords were brought together. Technically the cables wern't released, they wrere slackened off, which allowed the arch to come together. Those workers involved in the joining of the arch were each given a soverign acompanied by a letter of appretiation (signed by Mr L Ennis ) both of which are still in my fathers collection, along with 'photos that my father took with an old box camera.

Evangeline Doust from Girraween, Sydney
My great grandfather Richard Frith was a student accountant who was good at maths and was asked to assist his professor in checking the calculations for part of The Harbour Bridge.My grandmother, Richard's daughter was also born the year The Habour Bridge was finished.

Gavin Gracie from Collaroy
My father James Gracie was a foreman on the Northern Arm of the Harbour Bridge during construction. He was a steelworker in Glasgow as a young man prior to arriving in Australia in 1912. He felt very privileged to have this job during in the depression. My Mother and I were present at the opening and sat in a wooden stand on the eastern side. I have a photograph of Dad standing on the top of the northern arch just prior to the two spans being joined. Dad always wore a collar and tie, homburg hat and a white boiler suit.

Graham Pennay from Greenwell Point
My uncle, Robert Lumsden, worked on the steelwork construction of The Sydney Harbour Bridge. He came to Australia from England early last century. He worked, I think, in ship building yards in England. We were talking one day about the work that he did and he told this story. The boss asked the men to rivet two pieces of steel together, after the rivet was fastened the boss said that "this was the first rivet fastened for the new Sydney Harbour Bridge" He went on to say at they used to throw bright red hot rivets to each other and catch them with the tongs they used to handle them with.

Hannah Wilde from UK
My grandfather, Sydney Wilde, came to NSW in the 1920s to join his father, who had already emmigrated here following the death of Sydney's mother. Sydney spent his teenage years in here, and apparently worked as a rivet catcher on the Harbour Bridge before returning to Hyde in the UK. He worked as an engineer in the north of England for R. Adams and sons. I, too, am now a temporary resident and keen to research Sydney's story...the city, the man and the Bridge.

John Marshall from Stirling, Scotland
My great uncle James Meichan came over from Glasgow with his brother to help construct the bridge but unfortunately my family has no photos. The bridge workers picture in the museum (provided by the Road authorities) will likely have both Meichan brothers in it but without a list of who is in the photo I could not be certain.

Joy Staples (nee Flood) from East Hills
My connection with the Sydney Harbour Bridge began before I was born. I was born on the 8th of September, 1933, and in April of that year my father, Charles Albert Flood, who had been unemployed, like many men during the Depression years, sought help from the Returned Sailors and Soldiers League of Australia, to find a job. They contacted a Captain Donaldson at the Main Roads Board who arranged for my father to begin work as an

Margaret Cousins from Picnic Point Sydney
My Grandfather John Cleland was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1884. Became an Iron Moulder Journeyman(tradesman). Married in Glasgow, 1905. They had William & a daughter, Margaret who died before her 2nd birthday of scarlet fever. John & his family immigrated to New Zealand. He worked as a railway fettler firstly, living with Amelia (wife) and William in a tent, trackside for 6 months. Later he secured a job as moulder in a foundry. Two more children were born in NZ, Marion & John jnr. They all moved to Sydney, Australia approx. 1921. Another son was born after their arrival in Australia, Thomas. Sometime after arriving in Sydney John began to work for a company in Alexandria which subcontracted to Lawrence & Hanson Electrical Company of Kent Street Sydney, and made the moulds and lights designed by the Dept. Of Public Works, who designed the lanterns for the Harbour Bridge. There were many different types all in the Art Deco style: Four very large prisms using approx. 36 globes, with brackets attaching them to the walls of the rail approaches at Milsons Point near Bradfield Park, each side of a road underpass. Large lanterns atop reinforced concrete standards on northern approach roadways, Lanterns atop poles at the Bridge Staircases, and hundreds of smaller ones suspended from cantilever girders above the roadways, tramway and railway on the bridge deck itself. These were removed between 1958 - 1968 and replaced with lighting befitting today's lighting demands. John went on to work at Cockatoo Island where he made a variety of things including an enamelled pedestal bathroom basin for my parents home. During the Second World War an American battle ship lost its propeller in the Coral Sea sometime between 1943 & 1945, was towed into Cockatoo Island, Sydney. John's employers were faced with a dilemma, as a propeller of that size had never been made in Sydney to that date, and the prospect of attaining one from the US was remote. John succeeded in convincing his superiors that he could make a new propeller. Job done the ship returned to battle. John and Amelia lost son William in his youth. Marion married Leslie Gordon Cuthbert, they had Jean, John, twins Marie & Betty (olympian). John jnr. Married Florence Ellen and they had Francis, James, William, Margaret (me) and Richard. Thomas went to NZ met and married Patricia and had Donald, Martin and Bruce all still in NZ.

Neville John RAY from Kirrawee
My father, Ernest Albert Ray worked as a Marker-off on the south side of the Bridge. I have an album of photos, pay packet, certificate of workmanship

Patricia Frost from Warminster, Wilts,UK
I feel very proud to have visited this museum today, 25 Jan 07 as during the 1930's my Grandfather, Mr Fred Cantello had helped to construct some of the steelwork for the bridge. He worked for an engineering company, Spencers of Melksham Ltd, Wilts. who had, probably along with many other companies, been sub-contracted to carry out work by the main contractor. I remember him telling me of this when I was a child in the 1950's

Trevor Mastello from Toukley
I was five years old when I walked along the bridge with my father, Frank Mastello, on the opening day. My elder sister and younger brother also walked the bridge on the 19th of March, 1932. I can remember the huge crush of people. He was a ganger of a concreting crew, he worked on the bridge from start to finish.To celebrate the 75th Anniversary we are walking across the Harbour Bridge and we are also having a Mastello family reunion.

William Kirchen from Surrey Hills
Aboriginal member of the stolen generation and spent his childhood in the homes.General worker on the bridge.Proud to tell his children that he worked on such a famous part of Sydney.