Spanning the decades: Gladesville Bridge marks 50 years since opening across Parramatta River

By Lisa Visentin
Updated October 3 2014 - 6:18am, first published October 2 2014 - 5:14am
Happy Birthday: The Gladesville Bridge marks the 50th anniversary of its opening on October 1st. Photo: Quentin Jones
Happy Birthday: The Gladesville Bridge marks the 50th anniversary of its opening on October 1st. Photo: Quentin Jones
Fond memories: Bronwyn Best and Helen White revisit the Gladesville Bridge. Photo: Janie Barrett
Fond memories: Bronwyn Best and Helen White revisit the Gladesville Bridge. Photo: Janie Barrett
Helen Best (front row, third from left), who was part of a guard of honour when the bridge opened.
Helen Best (front row, third from left), who was part of a guard of honour when the bridge opened.
Helen Best (front row, third from left), who was part of a guard of honour when the bridge opened.
Helen Best (front row, third from left), who was part of a guard of honour when the bridge opened.
The bridge under construction in 1961 Photo: George Lipman
The bridge under construction in 1961 Photo: George Lipman
Helen Best (front row, third from left), who was part of a guard of honour when the bridge opened.
Helen Best (front row, third from left), who was part of a guard of honour when the bridge opened.
Helen Best (front row, third from left), who was part of a guard of honour when the bridge opened.
Helen Best (front row, third from left), who was part of a guard of honour when the bridge opened.

When Helen White was a schoolgirl at Riverside Girls High in 1964, she and a few friends would sneak down to the Parramatta River at lunchtime and watch construction of the grand concrete arches of the Gladesville Bridge.