An orginal buidler painting of the Sydney Harbour Bridge sells for a 'record price' in an auction after 90 years of it opening.

A draught painting for Teeside company Dorman Long of Sydney Harbour Bridge sells at auction for £26,000 in Newcastle after 90 years of its opening.

 

The original watercolour draught produced for the building company, as they were contracted to build the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which took 8 years to complete.

The breath-taking artists impression produced by Cyril Arthur Farey, which is signed and dated 1924 was inherited by the Cleveland Bridge Engineering Co after a merger with Dorman Long in 1982.

After the liquidation of Cleveland Bridge Engineering a few months ago, it was acquired by the vender for £700, who then decided to offer it at auction.

On the day of it being put up for auction, auctioneer claims it was 'an intense bidding battle on the telephones'.

Finally, the hammer came down and it sold for a staggering price of £26,000.

Julian Thomson, Anderson & Garland Managing Director said “We’re delighted with this result today, it proved, yet again, that in the hands of our unrivalled specialist team, together with our great marketing department, record prices can be achieved.  The presale interest from across the world was phenomenal. Not only is this a visually stunning picture but a unique piece of history too. The piece finally sold to a buyer from Australia, which is fantastic, especially as the bridge celebrated its 90th anniversary this month.”