Editing Sydney Harbour Bridge (section)

==Tourism==
{{Further|Tourism in Sydney}}

===South-east pylon===
[[File:Historic Tourist Signs for Sydney Harbour Bridge, jjron, 02.12.2010.jpg|thumb|Historic [[tourist sign]]s for the pylon lookout, from Rentoul's 'All Australian Exhibition', 1948 – 1971]]
[[File:Cat , South-East pylon, Sydney Harbour Bridge, 1951.jpg|thumb|White cat on South-East Pylon, Sydney Harbour Bridge, June 1951]]
Even during its construction, the bridge was such a prominent feature of Sydney that it would attract tourist interest. One of the ongoing [[Tourism in Sydney|tourist attractions]] of the bridge has been the south-east pylon, which is accessed via the [[#Pedestrians|pedestrian walkway]] across the bridge, and then a climb to the top of the pylon of about 200 steps.<ref name=shb-info />

Not long after the bridge's opening, commencing in 1934, Archer Whitford first converted this pylon into a tourist destination.<ref name="pl-ph34">{{cite web|title=Southeast Pylon History: 1934|url=http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/history_frs.htm|work=Pylon Lookout: Sydney Harbour Bridge|access-date=18 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218075104/http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/history_frs.htm|archive-date=18 February 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> He installed a number of attractions, including a café, a [[camera obscura]], an [[Indigenous Australians|Aboriginal]] museum, a "Mother's Nook" where visitors could write letters, and a "pashometer". The main attraction was the [[Observation deck|viewing platform]], where "charming attendants" assisted visitors to use the [[telescopes]] available,<ref name="pl-ph34" /> and a copper [[Cladding (construction)|cladding]] (still present) over the granite [[guard rail]]s identified the suburbs and landmarks of Sydney at the time.<ref name="pl-gvf">{{cite web|title=Glass View Finder|url=http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/exhibition_frs.htm|work=Pylon Lookout: Sydney Harbour Bridge|access-date=18 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218074429/http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/exhibition_frs.htm|archive-date=18 February 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

The outbreak of [[World War II]] in 1939 saw tourist activities on the bridge cease, as the military took over the four pylons and modified them to include [[parapet]]s and [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft guns]].<ref name="pl-ph39">{{cite web|title=Southeast Pylon History: 1939 – 1945|url=http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/history_frs.htm|work=Pylon Lookout: Sydney Harbour Bridge|access-date=18 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218075104/http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/history_frs.htm|archive-date=18 February 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1948, Yvonne Rentoul opened the "All Australian Exhibition" in the pylon. This contained [[diorama]]s, and displays about Australian perspectives on subjects such as farming, [[Sport in Australia|sport]], [[Transport in Australia|transport]], [[Mining in Australia|mining]], and the [[Australian Defence Force|armed forces]]. An [[orientation table]] was installed at the viewing platform, along with a wall guide and [[binoculars]]. The owner kept several white cats in a rooftop [[cattery]], which also served as an attraction, and there was a [[souvenir shop]] and [[Australia Post|postal outlet]].<ref name="pl-ph48">{{cite web|title=Southeast Pylon History: 1948|url=http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/history_frs.htm|work=Pylon Lookout: Sydney Harbour Bridge|access-date=18 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218075104/http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/history_frs.htm|archive-date=18 February 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Rentoul's lease expired in 1971, and the pylon and its lookout remained closed to the public for over a decade.<ref name="pl-ph71">{{cite web|title=Southeast Pylon History: 1971|url=http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/history_frs.htm|work=Pylon Lookout: Sydney Harbour Bridge|access-date=18 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218075104/http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/history_frs.htm|archive-date=18 February 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

The pylon was reopened in 1982, with a new exhibition celebrating the bridge's 50th anniversary.<ref name="pl-ph82">{{cite web|title=Southeast Pylon History: 1982|url=http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/history_frs.htm|work=Pylon Lookout: Sydney Harbour Bridge|access-date=18 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218075104/http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/history_frs.htm|archive-date=18 February 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1987 a "Bicentennial Exhibition" was opened to mark the [[Australian Bicentenary|200th anniversary]] of European settlement in Australia in 1988.<ref name="pl-ph87">{{cite web|title=Southeast Pylon History: 1987|url=http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/history_frs.htm|work=Pylon Lookout: Sydney Harbour Bridge|access-date=18 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218075104/http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/history_frs.htm|archive-date=18 February 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

The pylon was closed from April to November 2000 for the Roads & Traffic Authority and BridgeClimb to create a new exhibition called "Proud Arch". The exhibition focussed on Bradfield, and included a glass direction finder on the observation level, and various important heritage items.<ref name="pl-ph00">{{cite web|title=Southeast Pylon History: 2000|url=http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/history_frs.htm|work=Pylon Lookout: Sydney Harbour Bridge|access-date=18 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218075104/http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/history_frs.htm|archive-date=18 February 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

The pylon again closed for four weeks in 2003 for the installation of an exhibit called "Dangerous Works", highlighting the dangerous conditions experienced by the original construction workers on the bridge, and two [[stained glass]] feature windows in memory of the workers.<ref name="pl-ph03">{{cite web|title=Southeast Pylon History: 2003|url=http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/history_frs.htm|work=Pylon Lookout: Sydney Harbour Bridge|access-date=18 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218075104/http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/history_frs.htm|archive-date=18 February 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

===BridgeClimb===
[[File:BridgeClimb participants on Sydney Harbour Bridge.jpg|thumb|BridgeClimb participants, wearing the mandatory special jumpsuits]]
In the 1950s and 1960s, there were occasional newspaper reports of climbers who had made illegal arch traversals of the bridge by night. In 1973 [[Philippe Petit]] walked across a wire between the two pylons at the southern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Since 1998, [[BridgeClimb Sydney|BridgeClimb]]<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.bridgeclimb.com/|title=BridgeClimb|publisher=BridgeClimb|access-date=23 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227085143/http://www.bridgeclimb.com/|archive-date=27 December 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> has made it possible for tourists to legally climb the southern half of the bridge. Tours run throughout the day, from dawn to night, and are only cancelled for electrical storms or high wind.<ref name=checklist>{{cite web|title=BridgeClimb - Pre-Climb Checklist|url=http://www.bridgeclimb.com/things-you-need-to-know-to-climb/|website=[[BridgeClimb Sydney]]|access-date=20 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119193627/http://www.bridgeclimb.com/things-you-need-to-know-to-climb/|archive-date=19 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Groups of climbers are provided with protective clothing appropriate to the prevailing weather conditions, and are given an orientation briefing before climbing. During the climb, attendees are secured to the bridge by a wire lifeline. Each climb begins on the eastern side of the bridge and ascends to the top. At the summit, the group crosses to the western side of the arch for the descent. Each climb takes three-and-a-half-hours, including the preparations.<ref name=checklist/>

In December 2006, BridgeClimb<ref name="autogenerated1" /> launched an alternative to climbing the upper arches of the bridge. The Discovery Climb allows climbers to ascend the lower chord of the bridge and view its internal structure. From the apex of the lower chord, climbers ascend a staircase to a platform at the summit.<ref name="autogenerated1" />