McPherson's Pty Ltd. photographs of the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge

PXA 7733

fonds

1925-1932

Graphic Materials, Photographs

9677593

1 album (94 photographs) - 23 x 35 cm

McPherson's Pty Ltd. was founded as an iron merchant business in 1860 by Thomas McPherson, and by 1870 was known as Thomas McPherson and Sons. He left the business to his sons, Thomas and William Murray, and following his brother's death in 1888, William became the sole proprietor in 1913. Between 1929 and 1932, the company supplied five million rivets for the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. William died on 26 July 1932 in Hawthorn, Victoria.

Source:
Australian Dictionary of Biography. "Sir William Murray McPherson". Accessed 12 February 2024. https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mcpherson-sir-william-murray-7440

The album belonged to the donor's father-in-law who worked for McPherson Pty Ltd. and was compiled prior to the company's restructure in the 1970s.

Album of 94 photographic prints of the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge by McPherson's Pty Ltd., the company which provided the five million rivets for the bridge's construction. The photographs show the laying of the foundation stone in March 1925 and various riveting machines and activities throughout the period of construction until the bridge's completion in January 1932. Persons identified by captions and annotations include Sir Dudley de Chair, Governor of New South Wales; John Bradfield; Ralph Freeman; Lawrence Ennis; Ernest Buttenshaw; Thomas Rainsford Bavin, Premier; Mr. Leitchfield and A. Martin. Also pictured are Dorman Long & Co, the British steel producer who worked on the bridge, and the English cricket team posed on the South pylon.

Also included are two pages from the Sydney Calendar Magazine for March/April 1982 with an article "In Focus, The Golden Bridge, 1932 - 1982"; and a rundown of "Particulars of the Sydney Harbour Bridge", both the typewritten original and a photocopy.

Out of copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Album stamped several times on inside covers "McPherson's Pty. Ltd. 51-65 Bathurst St. Sydney".

Dates taken from photograph captions and annotations.