Auckland Harbour Bridge opening
Maker and role
Edgar Steer, Cameraman
Production date
30 May 1959
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Object detail
Accession number
WAV-2020-9.2
Maker
Production period
Description
8mm Kodachrome safety cinefilm of the public opening and civic parade of the Auckland Harbour Bridge over the Waitematā harbour on the 30th May 1959.
Film is duration 0:21:28 colour at 250 feet, and is a amateur home film captured by Edgar Steer as a hobby film maker and includes:
0:00:0 Crowd and Steer's family crossing the harbour bridge on foot; including close ups of family members and children on the bridge; looking over side of the bridge; Bridge Control transport vehicle with crowds; boats passing underneath the bridge viewed from above; aircraft flying over bridge.
0:03:58 shows a bonfire at night with group of people.
0:04:020 shots of bridge captured from Westhaven side; parachutes over bridge; ships and boats in harbour under bridge and near port; aircraft flyover including flying boat; lowering and raising of flag; Harbour Bridge toll booths in operation; close up of plaque on bridge; interior of toll booths including close up of equipments; queues of cars and buses on the bridge; bridge control transport vehicles in operation; buses using toll booths; filmed from car travelling over the bridge; steam and sail boats near dock on Westhaven marina.
0:09:30 docking, departing and boarding of the Devonport Steam Ferry; interior cabin of the Devonport Steam Ferry with captain at helm
0:10:04 Auckland Harbour Bridge opening parade filmed from crowd lining Quay Street of floats including cars; motorcycles; floats from department stores; Castrol Oil; NZ Forest Service; New Zealand Railways float; Winstone Motors with a Tiriti o te Waitangi float; fire engines; Monarch float; Scotts Lemonade; Coca-Cola float; Four Square; Heards; W.E. Anderson Limited; Farmers; Milne and Choice; Henry's Dry Cleaning; NZ Road Makers Ltd; The New Zealand Insurance Company Limited; Bycrofts; Auckland Gas Company Limited; Hellabys Prime Meats; Whakatane float; Sea Cadets; Milford Surf Club; Armed Forces.
0:21:20 film of a car pulled over by Bridge control on the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
The Auckland Harbour Bridge construction began in 1955 and took four years, being opened by Governor General, Lord Cobham, on May 30 1959.
Originally from Nelson, Steer captured this film during construction of the bridge during time that he was the owner of a wooden toy manufacturing business in Onehunga. Steer captured the film using a 8mm camera, and likely had the film developed in Australia.
Film is duration 0:21:28 colour at 250 feet, and is a amateur home film captured by Edgar Steer as a hobby film maker and includes:
0:00:0 Crowd and Steer's family crossing the harbour bridge on foot; including close ups of family members and children on the bridge; looking over side of the bridge; Bridge Control transport vehicle with crowds; boats passing underneath the bridge viewed from above; aircraft flying over bridge.
0:03:58 shows a bonfire at night with group of people.
0:04:020 shots of bridge captured from Westhaven side; parachutes over bridge; ships and boats in harbour under bridge and near port; aircraft flyover including flying boat; lowering and raising of flag; Harbour Bridge toll booths in operation; close up of plaque on bridge; interior of toll booths including close up of equipments; queues of cars and buses on the bridge; bridge control transport vehicles in operation; buses using toll booths; filmed from car travelling over the bridge; steam and sail boats near dock on Westhaven marina.
0:09:30 docking, departing and boarding of the Devonport Steam Ferry; interior cabin of the Devonport Steam Ferry with captain at helm
0:10:04 Auckland Harbour Bridge opening parade filmed from crowd lining Quay Street of floats including cars; motorcycles; floats from department stores; Castrol Oil; NZ Forest Service; New Zealand Railways float; Winstone Motors with a Tiriti o te Waitangi float; fire engines; Monarch float; Scotts Lemonade; Coca-Cola float; Four Square; Heards; W.E. Anderson Limited; Farmers; Milne and Choice; Henry's Dry Cleaning; NZ Road Makers Ltd; The New Zealand Insurance Company Limited; Bycrofts; Auckland Gas Company Limited; Hellabys Prime Meats; Whakatane float; Sea Cadets; Milford Surf Club; Armed Forces.
0:21:20 film of a car pulled over by Bridge control on the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
The Auckland Harbour Bridge construction began in 1955 and took four years, being opened by Governor General, Lord Cobham, on May 30 1959.
Originally from Nelson, Steer captured this film during construction of the bridge during time that he was the owner of a wooden toy manufacturing business in Onehunga. Steer captured the film using a 8mm camera, and likely had the film developed in Australia.
Signature/Marks and Type
Auckland Harbour Bridge Opening 2 Hand-written
Construction Auckland Harbour Bridge Typed
Harbour Bridge No.2. Typed
Construction Auckland Harbour Bridge Typed
Harbour Bridge No.2. Typed
Media/Materials
Physical description
1 film reel : colour ; 8mm, 250 feet
Credit line
Edgar Steer. 30 May 1959. Auckland Harbour Bridge opening, WAV-2020-9.2. Walsh Memorial Library, The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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