The Sydney Harbour Bridge was opened on 19 March 1932.

While reading through the newspaper stories about the grand opening, though, our eyes were caught by this shocking report (published on the day before the bridge opened) about the plan to throw the Premier of New South Wales into the river.

Clearly, this was a very strange, Antipodean variation on the traditional method of opening a bridge by simply cutting a ribbon.

Thankfully, it never happened, and the bridge was opened without any major incident.

However, the plan to thrown the Premier from the bridge is very interesting and offers a fascinating insight into the politics of the times.

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Nottingham Evening Post – Friday 18 March 1932

Image © Northcliffe Media Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000321/19320318/054/0011