6 designs for the Sydney harbour bridge that didn't make it re-imagined. Nicknamed ‘the coat hanger’ because of it sweeping design, the sydney harbour bridge stands today 134 meters tall, the world’s tallest steel arch bridge and one of Australia‘s most iconic landmarks. 

But what about the designs that didn’t make the cut? to mark 96 years since its construction started, a series of digital renders envisioned by Neomam for budgetdirect show what the iconic landmark could have looked like if a government judging panel had chosen differently.

The 6 rejected entries include a bridge crossing into balmain, a cantilevered design made of concrete and another with multiple arches.

Norman Selfe’s design (Above):

Australian engineer and naval architect Norman Selfe proposed a design featuring separate arches in 1902.

His design was actually accepted by the new south wales authorities, but an economic slowdown resulted in a change of government, and the new group in parliament rejected the whole project. selfe went on to be one of the nation’s most well-regarded urban planners, and the suburb of normanhurst on sydney’s north shore was named after him.

Ernest Stowe’s design (Below):

Francis Ernest Stowe submitted the most radical design in 1922, two years before dorman long’s design was accepted.

The design links balls head, miller’s point and balmain, meeting in the middle with a central tower on goat island. the central tower was designed to double as a war memorial, with goat island renamed ANZAC isle.

The designer argued his proposal was a cheap and efficient design to implement. he also added that it would prevent construction damage to the north shore. the bizarre three-way structure was narrowly rejected by the government.

To have a look at other rejected Sydney Harbour Bridge proposals CLICK HERE