Sydney Icons

The Sydney Harbour Bridge was officially opened on March 19, 1932 after the original tender was contracted in 1924. It took 1400 men eight years to build, and required 53,000 tonnes of steel and 6 million hand-driven rivets to create.

Spanning 1149 metres, with an arch span of 503 metres, it was inevitable that the bridge would earn the nickname 'The Coathanger'.

The arch of the bridge is comprised of two 28-panel arch trusses. The deck of the bridge stretches 48.8 metres wide, making it the widest long-span bridge in the world. The Sydney Harbour Bridge can rise or fall up to 18cm, depending on the temperature.

The bridge has four concrete pylons, each standing 89 metres high. The south-eastern pylon is open to the public and offers amazing views. The Pylon Lookout incorporates 200 stairs and has five distinct levels. Access is from the entry level, while level one has an artefacts display of the amazing memorabilia of the bridge. Level two has a souvenir shop and a model of the arches the day they were joined.

The mezzanine level is a tribute to the early days of the bridge, including the famous premature ribbon slashing by Captain Francis De Groot's sword at the opening ceremony. Once you ascend the lookout level, you will realise the trip was well worth it! On a clear day, it is possible to see the Blue Mountains.

Another way of exploring the Harbour Bridge is through BridgeClimb Sydney. Taking in catwalks and ladders, you can climb right up to the summit of this spectacular icon. Once you set off on your three and a half hour journey, you will be amazed at the sights and feelings you get along the way! If you have ever wanted a unique experience to treasure, or a bird's eye view of the city, this is for you.

When it comes to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, there aren't many icons more Australian. Paul Hogan (Crocodile Dundee) actually worked as a painter on the bridge before becoming an internationally recognised actor.

The Sydney Opera House is certainly an icon of Sydney and Australia. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in June 2007, cementing its identity as one of the great buildings of the world.

Created by a relatively unknown architect by the name of Jorn Utzon, this urban sculpture was born from visionary decisions and a little bit of luck! The building was financed by a lottery, as public fundraising campaigns proved fruitless. The total cost was approximately $102 million, almost 15 times the original estimate.

The Sydney Opera House is located at Bennelong Point, within close proximity to the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Overlooking Sydney Harbour, the Opera House's unique and ageless design complements the beautiful surroundings, rather than looking out of place.

The Sydney Opera House was a major construction project. The final design stage and the construction of the shells took eight years to complete, while the ceramic tiles took three years to develop. The building's construction features influences from all over the world, as developers came from overseas and a range of materials came from various locations - such as the decoratvie pink granite from Tarana and the Swedish-made tiles.

The most distinctive part of the building, the shells, are essentially all roof. The tip of the tallest shell has a height of 67.4 metres, almost half the height of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The shell concept was discovered from dissecting a hemisphere, and it is these features that make it truly unique.

Despite the name suggesting otherwise, the Sydney Opera House is actually made up of five theatres of different seating capacities. These include the Drama Theatre, Playhouse, Studio Theatre, Opera Theatre and the Concert Hall, the largest with 2,679 seats.

This amazing artistic monument is the result of an international design competition, a visionary architect, a progressive government, hundreds of workers and a very proud and receptive public.

Bondi Beach is a true cultural icon of Sydney and Australia. The name Bondi is derived from the Aboriginal word 'Boondi', meaning 'the sound of water breaking over rocks'.

Bondi Beach was added to the National Heritage List in 2008, just before the Australia Day weekend, cementing its place as the home of Aussie beach culture.

Another icon of Bondi Beach, aside from the spectacular landmark itself, is the surf lifesavers. Bondi became home to the first certified surf lifesaving club in 1907. These amazing volunteers proudly donned their red and yellow caps and put themselves in harm's way to rescue the lives of others. Today there are more than 120,000 members, and surf lifesavers have rescued more than 520,000 people.

Bondi Beach is a kilometre-long strip of amazingly golden sands, located approximately seven kilometres east of the central business district of Sydney. The northern end of the beach is the best area for swimming, while the southern end is ideal for surfing.

Every year, more than 63,000 entrants arrive at Bondi Beach, having completed the City 2 Surf fun run. At the southern end of the beach is the seawater rock pool. This famous pool is home to the Bondi Icebergs Club, famous for swimming in the colder months, when most of us are rugged up!

Whether you visit Bondi as a swimmer, surfer, jogger, sun lover or photographer, you will see why this beach area is so popular. From the moment you lay eyes on the red and yellow flags, or set foot on the warm sands, you will fall in love with Bondi Beach.

Following a land allocation of 43 acres in 1912 and a further 9 acres early in 1916, Taronga Zoo was officially opened in October 1916.

As time went on, more facilities and exhibits were added. The seal ponds, elephant temple, monkey pits, giraffe house and aquarium were some of the first to be added.

In 1967, a decision was made to include conservation, education and scientific research. New exhibits and a veterinary quarantine centre were built for education purposes.

Taronga Zoo is proactive in educating the public about many types of wildlife. The Taronga Foundation raises funds in order to develop conservation programs. These include the Elephant Conservation Trust, Asian Turtle conservation network and many others.

Taronga Zoo provides keeper talks, feedings and animal shows. The current 28 hectares house more than 2,000 animals. Through a host of environmental education programs, the zoo is committed to sharing its message of conservation.

And of course, it is not just the zoo itself that is an icon. Visitors can get up close and personal with native Australian species such as red kangaroos, koalas and kookaburras.

It is not only the longevity of Tarong Zoo that makes it an icon of Sydney. The zoo's spectacular location, overlooking Sydney Cove, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House make it a significant landmark.