Rhonda Bolden was just five years old when she first laid eyes on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
From there, the duo would hop on a ferry to Manly and it was during her first ride that her fascination with the city\u2019s iconic bridge began.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember asking my father how they built the bridge from one side to the other without it falling in and he said, \u2018they joined the arches together in the middle\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just couldn\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rhonda\u2019s love for the bridge continued throughout her childhood but after moving to the Blue Mountains with her late husband Ron, \u201cit wasn\u2019t significant in my mind\u201d. <\/p>\n
That was, until 1988 when she was asked to organise a bicentennial memorial memorabilia display for a fair at her local church.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was when my interest was renewed,\u201d 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. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy mother-in-law gave me the Sydney Morning Herald supplement from the opening day and the official opening program,\u201d Rhonda said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was at the bottom of a suitcase in the shed full of historical stuff. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was just like a click in the head. I said to her, \u2018can I keep these?\u2019 and it became the first item in my collection.\u201d<\/p>\n
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 \u2013 all of which are now hung up in the BridgeMuseum at The Rocks. <\/p>\n
\u201cI am in my 80th year and I didn\u2019t want to stress my kids out with having it all in their houses,\u201d she laughed.<\/p>\n
So she kindly donated her entire collection to the museum.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went with my son to see if for the first time and I was very teary but also very proud,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
Ali Cassim, head of marketing, product and digital at the museum, said Rhonda\u2019s collection is incredibly important to the BridgeMuseum because it helps bring the human side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge story to life.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the bridge itself is an extraordinary feat of engineering, it\u2019s the personal stories, memories and objects connected to it that really create an emotional connection for visitors,\u201d Ali told news.com.au.<\/p>\n
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 <\/p>\n
the bridge\u2019s story that might otherwise have been lost.<\/p>\n
The bridge was built between 1923 and 1932 and Rhonda\u2019s items offer a fascinating glimpse into how people have celebrated, remembered and connected with the bridge across different generations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey help paint a picture not just of the bridge itself, but of Sydney\u2019s history and identity,\u201d Ali added.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cVisitors 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,\u201d Ali explained. <\/p>\n
BridgeMuseum and BridgeClimb are designed to complement one another. <\/p>\n
BridgeClimb is about experiencing the bridge itself, while BridgeMuseum is about understanding the stories behind it. <\/p>\n
Together, they offer visitors a richer and more meaningful connection to this Australian icon.<\/p>\n