The shire's matchstick man Norm Grundy has decided to celebrate the 88th anniversary of the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge today with a very special tribute.
Norm, 84, is providing his matchstick model of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to be on permanent display in the lobby of the BridgeClimb Sydney offices.
It will be the first time his harbour bridge model has been on display in public for many years.
Norm built the model in 1980 using 75,000 matchsticks, taking an estimated 1,000 hours, based on copies of the original drawings.
It was to be the first of many matchstick models the former carpenter and building foreman has made.
His model of the Sydney Opera House is made up of 50,000 matchsticks, St Mary's Cathedral 75,000 matchsticks, Queen Victoria Building 88,600 matchsticks and St Andrew's Cathedral 89,000 matchsticks.
"I had to give up making models because I ran out of space," Norm said.
"I also felt it was time to catch up with my gardening. Plus I go tenpin bowling and to the gym. I'm about to turn 85 and I go to keep fit."
Each of his matchstick models is based on the building's original plans.
"In 1979 I got a copy of the Bridge's original plans from the Department of Main Roads. I got the plans for Sydney town Hall from a bloke I knew on the council. I wouldn't be able to get the drawings now with the security these days."
Norm said he hopes he models help people to appreciate the original buildings. His models of St Mary's Cathedral and St Andrew's Cathedral are on permanent display in those buildings.
"There's a lot of character in the buildings I've picked. I did it because I appreciate the intricacy of the designs and I hope other people will as well. They are all beautiful buildings."
