Australian Arts Company creates eighth wonder on North East England’s Tyne River!

Aussies are taking over Newcastle Gateshead’s River Tyne in North East England with Australian company Bambuco beginning construction of an eighth bridge across the River Tyne; using 20 tonnes of bamboo……yes bamboo!

The spectacular bridge will be Bambuco’s most ambitious project to date with the bridge being constructed entirely by hand by a skilled team of mostly Australian riggers displaying amazing agility and nerve.

The temporary suspension bridge, spanning over 100-metres from the Law Courts in Newcastle across to HMS Calliope in Gateshead, will take shape over the coming weeks as part of NewcastleGateshead’s world-class festivals and events programme.

The ambitious project was a dream of the late Bambuco founder, Simon Barley, who passed away last year.

On a visit to NewcastleGateshead, he was impressed by its seven bridges, each a major feat of engineering, the way the bridges join together the communities of Gateshead and Newcastle, and the wider region. 

The aim of Bambuco is for the bridge to become part of the iconic riverscape for a brief moment in time, but for its image to remain in the memory of all who see it.

“The construction process itself will be a real spectacle, as our riggers construct the 25-metre-high towers and then join them with a suspension-style bridge made up of around 800 individual pieces of bamboo, some up to 11 meters long, 20-25cm in diameter and weighing up to 35kg per bamboo stick” said Damian Auton, Bambuco team member.

“The construction of this bridge is not just a physical challenge for us, but an emotional challenge as the whole team is determined to make Simon’s amazing vision become reality” he added.

Bambuco’s breathtaking bridge will stand in great company next to Britain’s’ replica of the Sydney Harbour Bridge – The Tyne Bridge, further reinforcing the Aussie impact in North East England. The bridge will also act as a great location to commemorate the imagination and life work of Simon Barley with an exhibition being held at the nearby Sage Gateshed Gallery displaying Simon’s past creations.

While the bridge itself is a major engineering feat, the Australian company is very environmentally conscience and ensures that after the bridge is dismantled the Bamboo will not go to waste.

“Because this type of bamboo is unique we are very conscience not to waste this precious natural product, so we are recycling some bamboo from a project in France to build the bridge in Newcastle.”  “The rest of the bamboo is supplied from a sustainable source in China.”

“Once the bridge has been dismantled we will be using some of the bamboo for future projects and then passing on the rest of the bamboo to local nurseries and public gardens so people in the community can add a unique and creative flair to their gardens” concluded Damian.

This temporary bridge will put the international spotlight on Newcastle’s breathtaking riverscape and its completion will mark the start of SummerTyne festival.

It is one example of how Newcastle will be showing the world why they are a vibrant and cultural place to live and visit.

Spectators will be able to ask riggers questions during the build and find out more at exhibitions in the viewing box at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and the Concourse of The Sage Gateshead. In the final week, a series of music installations on the bridge itself further entertain visitors. 

Celebrations on July 18 to mark the bridge’s completion will include hundreds of flaming firepots, the performance of specially-commissioned music played with bamboo instruments, and a symbolic meeting between riggers in the middle of the bridge.

The building of the bamboo bridge also coincides with the eightieth anniversary of the Tyne Bridge.

To watch the progress of the eight bridge and for more information on the SummerTyne Festival visit www.NewcastleGateshead.com.

For more information on Bambuco visit www.bambuco.com.au

A Report by The Mole