On 19 March 1932, Sydney threw one of the greatest parties in its history; the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. In the depths of the Great Depression, the bridge had given work and hope to thousands. Then, just before the ribbon was cut, a man on horseback charged forward and slashed it with his sword. He was Francis de Groot of the New Guard, a far-right group with plans to seize power by force. What followed was one of the most dramatic years in Australian politics. Could Police Commissioner Bill Mackay stop them? What would Premier Jack Lang do? And why did Governor Sir Philip Game take the extraordinary step of dismissing an elected premier? Meanwhile, everyday Australians had plenty else on their minds; Bodyline cricket, the loss of Phar Lap, the birth of the ABC and the rather embarrassing Emu War.

Join fellow Sydneysiders for a lively, story-filled look at a year when our city's future hung in the balance. Bring your curiosity, your questions and perhaps your own family's memories of the Depression years. As the bridge nears its 95th birthday, 1932 still has plenty to teach us about democracy, community and hard times.

DELIVERY MODE

Face to face

COURSE OUTLINE

• Sydney Harbour Bridge
• Depression 
• 19 March: Bridge opening
• New Guard
• Sacking the Premier
• Phar Lap, Bodyline, the ABC, and the Emu War

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Recount the major events of 1932 and assess their significance
• Explain the underlying social divisions and threats
• Describe the key individuals directing those events and their achievements