This street poster has significance as a record of a major community event -- the celebrations on Sunday 18 March 2007 marking the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Bridge. The people of Sydney made the 75th anniversary an unqualified success. In a demonstration of community spirit, 200,000 people registered by e-mail to walk across the Bridge, which was closed to traffic from 4am to 10.30pm.

Perhaps the nation's greatest building project of the twentieth century, the Bridge is a well-known symbol that has represented Sydney and Australia to the world. Its vast history has touched many lives, including those who lobbied for its creation, those displaced by its construction, those who worked and died to build it, and those who participated in its spectacular opening. Today it looms large in the daily lives of Sydney's inhabitants and many feel a personal connection to the Bridge.

Branded as 'Our Bridge', the anniversary event was meticulously planned by Executive Producer Noel Staunton and the Office of Protocol and Special Events in the New South Wales Premier's Department. They engaged Deuce Design and creative director Tony Assness to develop a graphic design concept that was applied to the banner, flags, posters, ribbon, printed material and most other items produced for the 'Our Bridge' celebration. The design gave the celebration a unique 'look and feel', heightened the sense of occasion and contributed to the remarkable spirit of community that was evident.

There were planned activities throughout the day, with various organisations and agencies providing events across Sydney Harbour. An official ceremony took place at 9am, comprising a welcome to country, the national anthem, speeches, a ribbon cutting, a pyrotechnics display and a performance of the specially composed 'Our Bridge' overture. The Governor of New South Wales, Professor Marie Bashir, cut the ribbon and the Bridge Walk began. Volunteers handed out free caps at the start of the walk, which went from north to south over the deck of the Bridge. Participants could hear a specially created soundscape, featuring highlights of news bulletins and music of the last 75 years, presented decade by decade. Spectacular windchimes hanging from the walkway completed the soundscape. A memorial plaque dedicated to the 16 workers who died during the construction of the Bridge was unveiled at Dawes Point Park.

Nightfall heightened the sense of occasion. Under the direction of Stephen Page, an Indigenous smoking ceremony was held at sunset. Several hundred members of the Indigenous community timed their walk to coincide with the smoking ceremony. Special lighting effects illuminated the Bridge as never before. The last walkers, wearing fluorescent caps containing small lights, crossed the Bridge around 9pm.

Designed by Tony Assness of Deuce Design. Printed by JC Decaux.

A sample of the street posters that were were displayed by J C Decaux in their 'Citylight' panels in bus shelters, telephone bollards, newsstands and kiosks around the city to promote the 'Our Bridge' celebrations. Donated to the Museum by the Office of Protocol and Special Events as part of a collection of objects and designs created in 2007 for the anniversary celebrations.

Street poster, 'Our Bridge', paper, designed by Tony Assness and Deuce Design, made by JC Decaux for the 75th Anniversary of Sydney Harbour Bridge, used by New South Wales Premier's Department, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2007

Large poster, designed for JC Decaux street poster supports. Design is the Celebrate Our Bridge poster design, depicting the Sydney Harbour Bridge, cupped by two hands whose arms become stylised girders, which each stand on base with 1932 and 2007 left to right; with a sunburst above the bridge, and above that a scroll 'Celebrate / Our Bridge'. The centre of the design against the water beneath the bridge, forms the shield on which is 75 written in large letters immediately above a small shield showing two clasped hands; around the edge and in the background, faint images of iconic Australian objects, flora and fauna; the scroll at the top of the design reads Celebrate Our Bridge, Sunday 18 March 2007 / ourbridge.com.au; at the bottom of the design scroll reads Sydney Harbour Bridge. Along the bottom of the poster the logos of sponsors are printed in black and white: Energy Australia, NSW Government, RTA, ABC, Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. Colours shade from blue, to purple, through mauve, pink, orange.

Designed: Assness, Tony;

Designed: Deuce Design;

Made: J C Decaux; Sydney, New South Wales; 2007

See description.

2008/36/26

1846 mm

1225 mm