Sydney Harbour Bridge by night
Photo (detail) by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0
In 1928, the arches of the Bridge were still two years from meeting, but already this massive undertaking was a sign of confidence for a hopeful future, one worthy of such a mighty public work.
In A Distant Prospect its slow but inexorable progress symbolises the hope of a better future for Lucy.
‘’Twill be grand when that bridge is built, will it not, Luighseach?’ he
observed in his gentle way. ‘They’ll be building the arch soon. Think
how easy it will be to cross the harbour after that. Do you know it took
the Sothebys over an hour to travel today in that car of theirs? Well,
soon there’ll be a Jacob’s ladder stretching from one shore to the other.
If only we could get to Heaven the same way,’ he sighed.
‘’Tis Heaven’s but a prayer away is it not, Da?’
‘Aye,’ he nodded, and gave me a kiss on the forehead.
As the bridge takes shape, some elements begin to resolve in Lucy’s life. The world’s tallest (134 metre, 440 foot) single arch steel bridge, it begins to feature in views from all directions in Sydney, as in this moment late in the story.
Off we drove to South Head, and together we walked to the cliff. We
gazed out over the ocean, which was brilliantly blue and glittering with
the summer sun, and held our hats against the sea breeze. Behind us, the
bridge was awaiting another piece of arch.
‘Do you remember that hot summer’s day when first we sailed through
them heads there?’ said Daid.
‘I do, Da.’
The 1930 cover painting by Grace Cossington Smith depicts the arches reaching ever closer, with a halo-like white light above them capturing the same hope, now become more poignant and vital amidst the struggles of the Great Depression.
Sydney Harbour Bridge by night
Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0