THE original builder’s draught of the Sydney Harbour bridge is going up for auction after hanging at a Darlington company for decades.
The builder’s draught was produced for Teesside company Dorman Long, which constructed the bridge in 1932.
The painting has been given an estimate of between £2,000 and £4,000
After hanging in the Dorman Long headquarters for many years, it was moved to Cleveland Bridge, in Darlington, in 1982 when the companies amalgamated.
And it has found its way to auction following the liquidation sale of Cleveland Bridge assets, which was held after the company collapsed last year.
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The auction is being held by Newcastle-based firm Anderson and Garland on March 29.
Julian Thomson, managing director of Anderson and Garland, said “it’s a great honour to have such an important piece of history for sale at our Auction House.
“The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the most instantly recognisable landmarks in the world, and to have the original draughts, the first visualisation of the structure ever produced is absolutely wonderful.”
The watercolour, which was signed and dated in 1924, was produced by Cyril Arthur Farey for Doman Long as a perspectives and visual mock up for the bridge.
In January 2020, the original builder’s draughts of the Tyne Bridge, produced by the same artist, again for Dorman Long were sold at Anderson and Garland for the hammer price of £1,850.
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The painting is lot 196 in the March country house and fine interior auction, which takes place over two days.
It will be up for auction just after 1pm on March 29 and will be livestreamed at andersonandgarland.com.
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