bradfield

Four days before opening.

You're right, BobMeade, thanks for adding that note. On looking at a larger version it is JJC Bradfield.

Good spotting BobMeade! That immediately makes the picture more interesting, to see the engineer almost alone on his bridge and highway.

This photograph comes from the "Sydney Harbour Bridge Photographic Albums" (State Records series no. 12685 ) which came to State Records from the Bradfield family in 1968. Bradfield appears in many of the photos from that album in front of construction he had initiated or designed. He had much of which to be proud.

This photograph also appears on facing page 110 of the book Heart of The Rocks of Old Sydney by Isadore Brodsky (1965, Old Sydney Free Press, Neutral Bay) There it bears the caption: "A big man and a big bridge. The picture was taken four days before the official opening of the bridge on March 19 1932. Dr Bradfield emerges as a significant figure." [ Trove identifier for the book : trove.nla.gov.au/work/21306689 ]

So who are the others ? The guy in the middle looks familiar.

There is a wharf pile just to the left of Dr Bradfield, so this photo would most probably have been taken at the wharf adjacent to the workshops at Milsons Point. Now Milsons Point wharf/Luna Park. It was from this wharf that most steel was delivered or moved out from the adjacent workshops and barged out to be hoisted.

Same occasion www.flickr.com/photos/powerhouse_museum/8283751164/

It would be interesting to try to identify the 'gardeners' - the gentleman with the gray moustache looks a little like Dr Bradfield ... but that's just a guess. Come on, this should test us!

John Cowper Good idea! I've replaced this with a larger version. I think you've picked JJC Bradfield. From this photo below we know that (third along) the woman is Mrs Davidson.
AB

Well the gentleman either behind her or to her right may well be the Minister. Would they have involved people from the Town Hall - ie the Lord Mayor, Lady Mayoress, or the Town Clerk and his wife perhaps?

The article by Dr Bradfield in the SMH Supplement of 19/3/1932 (under "Lighting Arrangements") mentions - "The parklets are planted with silky oaks, red bottle brush, ficus hillii, with a Moreton Bay ash, a distinctive eucalypt in each for shade, also two rosemary bushes, planted by Rosemary Game and Rosemary Budge." trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/28034317 I wonder if those are the Rosemarys? Rosemary Game was the wife of the NSW Governor, but I am not sure who Rosemary Budge was.

Museums of History NSW - State Archives Collection Have you got any other pictures of this event - or other activities with the same cast? John