Raxworthy, Richard
The unreasonable man: the life and works of J.J.C. Bradfield.
Sydney: Hale & Iremonger, c1989.

Bradfield, John Job Crew
Bradfield Scheme for "Watering The Inland" Meteorological Aspects.
Commonwealth Of Australia Meteorological Bureau, Bulletin No. 34. 1945. Issued under the Direction of H. N. Warren, Director of Meteorological Services.

As a result of Bradfield's life-long interest in irrigation schemes for Australia's inland districts, he prepared a plan to irrigate the western districts of Queensland and part of Central Australia, by damming the Burdekin and other rivers on the coastal side of the Great Dividing Range in North Queensland and transmit the water by tunnel to the streams on the western side of the mountains. He believed the scheme would provide 20,000 square miles of water surfaces and many thousands of square miles of irrigated settlement in inland Queensland as well he envisaged that the waters would refill Lakes Eyre and Frome.

Bradfield, John Job Crew
Electric Tramway. The Spit to Manly, N.S.W.
London: Institution of Civil Engineers, 1915.

J. J. C. Bradfield 's copy. Call Number: Bradfield 13.

In 1914 Bradfield was sent to Great Britain, Europe and North America to study modern practice in underground railway and long span bridge construction.

New South Wales. Department of Public Works. Steam ferry punt, Georges River, N.S.W. 1894.

As part of his job in the Department of Public Works, Bradfield was required to design sewerage and storm water systems for Sydney and elsewhere, as well as roads and bridges. He was also involved in the design of punts and ferries including the steam punt at Tom Ugly's Point on the George River which he designed in 1894. At the time, he also re-designed the standard hand punt, particularly the system of gearing by which it was wound along the chain, saving 15% in the cost of the 97 punts then in use by the government throughout the colony.

J. J. C. Bradfield's copy. Call Number: Bradfield 66.

The 3 foot six inch gap
The weight of steel was lowered into position by means of hydraulic jacks at the rate of a few centimetres per day.

Cables and end posts
Four sets of 128 cables were attached to end posts, two on each side of the harbour. Each cable was 7 cm (two and 0.75 inches) thick and was fitted with a steel socket pin in an end connection 25 cm (10 inches) in diameter. A set of 128 cables could take a strain of 14,000 tons resulting in a total load of 56,000 tons.

First hanger being lifted into position
This weighed some 37 tons and was 58.52 metres (192 feet) in length. To lift this into place a special cradle had to be made and the time taken from lifting it from the punt to pinning in position was only 25 minutes.

Commencement of construction of the arch
View of the southern side of the arch after the construction of the pylons.

View from the bridge
City skyline from the creeper crane, nearly 152 metres above the high water mark.

The Bridge. Deck level. 5th September 1930
View showing the provision made for four railway lines, six vehicle lanes and two pedestrian walkways. These are 52.43 metres (172 feet) above the high water mark.

Bracing jacks
Hydraulic bracing jacks in operation in the top chord. These jacks exerted a pressure of 1,000 tons each and were used to allow the insertion of steel packing before the chord was finally sealed.

Hand pump
A hand hydraulic pump used to feed the jacks with a pressure of 1,000 pounds to the square inch.

Work punts
Two work punts viewed from the Bridge, 5th September 1930.

Top Chord
This shows the closing of the gap on the top chord. Half a section of the chord has just been placed in position and the hoisting gear is still attached.

Southern arch
An aerial view of the southern pylons and arch taken by Milton Kent aerial photos.