75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPENING OF THE SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE

18 March 2007

19 March 2007 marks the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Despite friendly rivalry between our state capitals, the Bridge has become one of Australia's most recognisable icons and something all Australians view with pride.

From its inception, the planning and construction of the Bridge has captured our imagination; indeed there are reports that half the population of Sydney turned out for the official opening.

Today the Bridge is a “must see” destination for thousands of tourists from around Australia and overseas.

As I said in my Australia Day Address, if our country is to continue to prosper in an increasingly competitive and challenging world, we should aspire to be a Nation of Excellence, the Global Example.

There can be no better example of what we can achieve as a nation than the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Let us take inspiration from the innovation, dedication and courage of all those who worked on the Bridge to bring this magnificent dream into reality.