The Coathanger, as the Bridge is affectionately known, was officially opened on 19 March 1932 by the Premier of New South Wales, Jack Lang.

Unofficially, the ribbon had been severed earlier by Captain Francis de Groot, a right-wing militant who believed that a member of the British Royal family should have had the honour of cutting the ribbon. The ribbon was promptly retied, and the ceremony proceeded without further incident.

During the years before the Bridge connected the 2 parts of Sydney, travel across the harbour was tedious. One either had the choice of taking an over 50-kilometre trip by land, or crossing the harbour in an increasingly overworked ferry service.

Completed in the midst of the Great Depression, it provided a massive boost to the economy and spirit of Australia. Today, it serves as a vital connection between the Central Business District and North Shore, as well as being a major tourist attraction and social focal point for Sydneysiders.