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The bridge built by J Bradfield. Image by from .

Top 10 Sensational Facts about John Bradfield

John Bradfield, in full John Job Crew Bradfield, (born  1867, Sandgate, Queensland, Australia鈥攄ied 1943). The Australian engineer is 鈥渢he father of modern Sydney.鈥�

Bradfield led the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the underground railway system. The projects greatly aided the growth of the city. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is among the city鈥檚 most famous landmarks.

In his youth, he received many medals and honors throughout his graduation and post-graduation. He had the knowledge and the ability to create marvels in the field of construction.

The government appreciated his designs and schemes and he devoted more than four decades of his life working for them.

Furthermore, Bradfield was involved in several different engineering projects. These included the construction of two dams in New South Wales. Read on for the top 10 sensational facts about John Bradfield.

1.  John Bradfield Designed the Sydney Bridge

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The crowning glory of John鈥檚 vision for Sydney was the construction of a bridge that would connect the two sides of the harbour. Providing connections for both private vehicles and his electric train line.

Construction took eight years. It was during the depression and it employed thousands of men who would otherwise have struggled to find work.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge was an engineering masterpiece, the longest single-span steel arch bridge in the world.

It became a beacon of hope, a visible and powerful symbol for the people of Sydney in difficult times. it revolutionized the city and bringing it into the modern age.

He earned the respect of people through his ability to transform imagination into a real-world entity and a symbol of excellence.

2.  He Created Designs for the Underground Railway System in Sydney鈥檚 CBD

John Bradfield designed Railways. Image by Abesty from

John Bradfield created designs for the underground railway system in Sydney鈥檚 central business district, known today as the City Circle.

Railways proved to be Bradfield鈥檚, great love. He believed that a well-designed and well-constructed electric railway system would be essential to an expanding modern metropolis like 1920s Sydney. Further, he believed that public transportation should be beautiful, efficient and affordable for all people.

At the heart of John鈥檚 vision was an underground electric rail network for the city of Sydney 鈥� what Sydneysiders now know as the City Circle.

His design was based on major international subway systems like those in New York and London. Electric trains running through the city could now link directly with the suburbs, previously largely served by slower trams and buses.

3. John Bradfield Academic Talent Shone from a Young Age

Bradfield in the office. Image by Fairfax Corporation from

John Bradfield shone from a young age. As a boy he was hard-working and academically gifted, excelling at school in Ipswich, Queensland, in the late 19th century.

He was awarded a scholarship to attend Ipswich Grammar School, where he was named dux and won the chemistry medal.

Another scholarship enabled him to move to Sydney to study at the University of Sydney, where he earned a degree in engineering along with the university medal.

4. John Bradfield is an Alumni of the University of Sydney

The University of Sydney, John Bradfield’s Alma Mater. Image by from

Bradfield attended the University of Sydney, where he earned a degree in mathematics in 1886.

In 1889 he completed a bachelor鈥檚 degree in civil engineering at St. Andrew鈥檚 College (a residential college of the University of Sydney).

He subsequently served as a draftsman for Queensland Railways and in 1891 joined the New South Wales Public Works Department.

In 1895 Bradfield founded the Sydney University Engineering Society, for which he later served as president (1902鈥�03 and 1919鈥�20). The following year he finished a master鈥檚 degree in engineering at Sydney.

5. The University of Sydney awarded the first PhD in Engineering to Bradfield

John Bradfield, tipping his hat . Image by Fairfax Corporation from

Sir John Bradfield is arguably one of the University of Sydney’s most famous alumni. He oversaw the design and construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge while working at the NSW Department of Public Works.

An early graduate of the University of Sydney, Bradfield studied both a Bachelor and Master of Engineering, receiving the University medal for his work.

In 1924 he received the University’s first doctorate of science in engineering, for a thesis entitled ‘The city and suburban electric railways and the Sydney Harbour Bridge’.

He maintained close links with the University throughout his career, as a trustee of Wesley College from 1917-43, a councillor of the Women’s College from 1931 and a member of the University Club.

6. John Bradfield has a Highway named for Him

Bradfield Highway. Image by John Robert McPherson from

Everyone in Australia knows John Bradfield. He designed the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Brisbane鈥檚 Story Bridge to be one of the country鈥檚 greatest engineers.

The Bradfield Highway is a highway in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. At 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) long it is one of the shortest highways in Australia.

As a government-appointed civil engineer, Bradfield oversaw the tendering process for the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

As the NSW Public Works Department chief engineer had oversight of the bridge design and construction.

Amid some controversy, Bradfield was also considered to be the co-designer of the bridge’s arch design, along with Dorman Long and Sir Ralph Freeman.

7. John Bradfield Received many Awards

John Bradfield plaque at the 1915 Third Bremer River Rail Bridge. Image by Kgbo from

In 1933, he was awarded the 鈥楶eter Nicole Russell Memorial Medal鈥� by the 鈥業nstitution of Engineers, Australia鈥� which he founded in 1919.

He was appointed as a companion to the 鈥極rder of St. Michael and St. George in 1933.

He was honored with many awards, including the Telford Gold Medal of the Institution of Civil Engineers, London, in 1934.

In 2007, he was awarded the Queensland Institute of Engineers Lifetime Achievement award.

8. John Bradfield鈥檚 Son is an Engineer too

His youngest son, Keith Noel Everal, also an engineer in the Department of Civil Aviation was responsible for modifying the Alexandra Canal in Sydney.

Keith Noel Everal Bradfield was born on 25 December 1910 in Gordon, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, the youngest child of civil engineer and creator of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Story Bridge, John Bradfield, and Edith Jenkins.

Also known as K. N. E. Bradfield, was an Australian civil and aviation engineer, public servant and diplomat, who served two terms as Australia’s Permanent Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Bradfield is one of four Australian recipients of the ICAO Edward Warner Award, civil aviation’s highest honour (alongside Don Anderson, Brian O’Keeffe and David Warren).

9. He was one of the Founders of the Sydney University Engineering Society

He was one of the founders of 鈥楾he Sydney University Engineering Society鈥� in 1895 and served as its President from 1902鈥�1903 and 1919鈥�1920.

The Sydney University Engineering Society, associated with the University of Sydney, was founded in 1895.

In 1919 it was one of twelve Australian professional engineering associations which amalgamated to form the Institution of Engineers, Australia.

Its members transferred to the new Institution as foundation Associate Members.

10.  John Bradfield started his career as a Draftsman

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After university, Bradfield briefly moved to Brisbane to work. In 1889, John Bradfield was employed by Queensland Railway Department where he worked as a draftsman, a position he held well until 1891.

In 1891, John became an employee of the New South Wales Public Works Department, still as a draftsman. 

A draftsman, or drafter, is a professional who is skilled in generating technical drawings. A draftsman may specialize in various areas such as architecture, mechanical systems or civil engineering or in working with certain materials, like electrical circuits, concrete, or steel.

They may produce technical drawings for manufacturing as well. The role and responsibilities of a draftsman vary significantly from one job to the next.

John鈥檚 lifelong commitment to his profession, and his progressive thinking, helped to shape the Sydney we know today, establishing our integrated public transport system.

The next time you come down the wide, busy sweep of the Bradfield Highway and across the Harbour Bridge, spare a thought for the man whose vision of Sydney was as large as his lifelong thirst for knowledge.