Rhonda Bolden was just five years old when she first laid eyes on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The now almost 80-year-old vividly remembers when she jumped on a train from the western suburbs of Sydney where she once lived to Circular Quay with her father.
From there, the duo would hop on a ferry to Manly and it was during her first ride that her fascination with the city’s iconic bridge began.
“I remember asking my father how they built the bridge from one side to the other without it falling in and he said, ‘they joined the arches together in the middle’.
“I just couldn’t get my head around it and every time I was in Sydney, I just wanted to go to Circular Quay so I could see the bridge. There was something about it that just captured my imagination.”
Rhonda’s love for the bridge continued throughout her childhood but after moving to the Blue Mountains with her late husband Ron, “it wasn’t significant in my mind”.
That was, until 1988 when she was asked to organise a bicentennial memorial memorabilia display for a fair at her local church.
“That was when my interest was renewed,” she told news.com.au, adding it was the start of her extensive collection that has now been donated to the Sydney Harbour Bridge Museum.
“My mother-in-law gave me the Sydney Morning Herald supplement from the opening day and the official opening program,” Rhonda said.
“It was at the bottom of a suitcase in the shed full of historical stuff.
“It was just like a click in the head. I said to her, ‘can I keep these?’ and it became the first item in my collection.”
Over the years, Rhonda has collected all types of items from china, medals, stamps, needle work, and newspaper clippings and a blue print of how it was built – all of which are now hung up in the BridgeMuseum at The Rocks.
“I am in my 80th year and I didn’t want to stress my kids out with having it all in their houses,” she laughed.
So she kindly donated her entire collection to the museum.
“I went with my son to see if for the first time and I was very teary but also very proud,” she said.
Ali Cassim, head of marketing, product and digital at the museum, said Rhonda’s collection is incredibly important to the BridgeMuseum because it helps bring the human side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge story to life.
“While the bridge itself is an extraordinary feat of engineering, it’s the personal stories, memories and objects connected to it that really create an emotional connection for visitors,” Ali told news.com.au.
Rhonda has spent decades collecting and preserving pieces of Sydney Harbour Bridge history, and Ali said her generosity in sharing that collection means visitors can experience a side of
the bridge’s story that might otherwise have been lost.
The bridge was built between 1923 and 1932 and Rhonda’s items offer a fascinating glimpse into how people have celebrated, remembered and connected with the bridge across different generations.
“They help paint a picture not just of the bridge itself, but of Sydney’s history and identity,” Ali added.
The museum is spread across three levels of the South-East Pylon where guests journey through more than 90 years of history, exploring immersive exhibits, interactive experiences, artefacts and untold stories that reveal the bridge from entirely new perspectives.
“Visitors can discover the extraordinary engineering achievement behind its construction, hear the stories of the workers who built it, explore its role in shaping Sydney and gain insights into its significance for First Nations peoples and the wider community,” Ali explained.
BridgeMuseum and BridgeClimb are designed to complement one another.
BridgeClimb is about experiencing the bridge itself, while BridgeMuseum is about understanding the stories behind it.
Together, they offer visitors a richer and more meaningful connection to this Australian icon.
Read related topics:Sydney