Sydney Bridge Climb: Weddings, celebrities and 20 years of amazing moments
One of Australia’s most iconic landmarks is headed for a major shake-up, with the announcement that the Sydney Harbour Bridge will no longer be home to BridgeClimb Sydney.
For 20 years, the company has guided climbers up the 1332 steps to the summit, 134 metres above Sydney Harbour. But now the reins will be handed over to Hammons Holdings, which owns Scenic World in the Blue Mountains.
Ahead of the new operator taking over in October we look back at the first 20 years of Sydney Harbour Bridge climbs.
Celebrity climbers
The bridge climb has been a major drawcard for celebrities, with A-listers like Oprah, Katy Perry, Hugh Jackman, Will Smith, Luke Evans, Ben Stiller and Gigi Hadid making the climb.
Other celebrities to climb the bridge included Titanic director James Cameron and his wife, Sam Smith, David Hasselhoff, James Blunt and Sir Ian McKellan.
TV stars have flocked to the bridge in groups, including the casts of Game of Thrones and Modern Family.
The bridge was even visited by Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews on their honeymoon as well as Olympic champion Usain Bolt.
High-altitude weddings
For couples who want to tie the knot at a unique venue, BridgeClimb has offered weddings for the past 10 years.
Scottish couple Stephen Tierney and Claire Tullan were the first to seal their marriage on the landmark on June 3, 2008.
Earlier this year on March 1, the bridge welcomed its first gay wedding. Warren Orlandi and Pauly Phillips climbed the bridge before dawn to say ‘I do’ in front of family and friends.
Wedding parties are allowed 14 climbers in total, including the couple, guests, celebrant and photographer.
Most frequent climber
Four million people have scaled the bridge since BridgeClimb opened on October 1, 1998, including one climber who was 100 years old.
The title of the bridge’s most frequent climber belongs to 89-year-old Lloyd Poulton, who has reached the summit 125 times.
His achievement has even earned him a gold step at BridgeClimb HQ.
Events
The iconic climb has been at the centre of countless events in Sydney, including Anzac Day services, Vivid festival celebrations, and annual occasions like Valentine’s Day, Australia Day and Christmas.
At this year’s Vivid Sydney, which ends on Saturday, BridgeClimb decked out the top of the bridge with a multi-coloured dance floor and provided climbers with flashing vests.
Accidents
While no one has died on while on the BridgeClimb, climbers have been prone to medical mishaps during their climbs.
In 2011, a 19-year-old climber fainted, causing a land closure on the bridge. Several days later, an elderly man and a young woman also fainted on the ascent.
In 2014, a 56-year-old man collapsed when he began suffering chest pains about a quarter of the way up the bridge. It triggered a delicate rescue operation.
Celebrations
In 2016 International Yoga Day was celebrated on the bridge when BridgeClimb Sydney joined forced with the Hindu Council of Australia to host a yoga session at the top of the bridge.
At different times the bridge has also been home to the Maori war dance, the Haka and a Tai Chi event.
The top of the bridge has also hosted a traditional Chinese New Year lion dance event in 2013.
Facts you may not know
You can’t climb the bridge drunk. Your blood-alcohol reading must be below 0.05 (same as driving as a car). Each climber is breath tested before they can proceed.
The Bridgeclimb has seen more than 5000 marriage proposals.
There are approximately six million rivets in the bridge. If every second rivet holding the arch was removed, the bridge would still stand.
Children as young as eight can climb the bridge, as long as they are fit and healthy. But they must be accompanied by an adult until they are 15 years of age.
You can burn 500 calories or 2100 kilojoules doing the climb.
