sydney harbour bridge

Stuff you may not know about the Sydney Harbour Bridge

@JudyEv (343184)

Rockingham, Australia

January 8, 2025 6:57am CST

There is a quiz show on our national TV station that screens around about the time we’re sitting down to dinner. Each evening there are four contestants who are asked questions about a subject that they’ve chosen for themselves. Tonight, one’s special subject was the Sydney Harbour Bridge and some very interesting facts came up. At least I found them so and I hope you do too. In the 1950s, an ex-servicewoman, Yvonne Rentoul, was able to lease the south-east pylon lookout. She opened the lookout to the public and housed an exhibition made up of dioramas, maps and souvenirs. She also owned several white cats which were a big tourist attraction in their own right. The cats were kept in a comfortable cattery at night and were free to roam during the day. Yvonne’s lease ended in 1971. At that time, one of the cats had never been off the bridge. There are a number of articles about the harbour bridge cats if you want to read more.

21 people like this

20 responses

@snowy22315 (183306)

• United States

8 Jan

That would have been a fact no one would have ever guessed for sure

3 people like this

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@snowy22315 (183306)

• United States

10 Jan

@JudyEv Truth is tender than fiction sometimes for sure!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (343184)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

I love all these relatively unknown stories.

1 person likes this

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@FourWalls (69833)

• United States

8 Jan

I think I’d rather see the cats, too.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (343184)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

She was apparently a very shrewd business woman.

1 person likes this

@wolfgirl569 (109377)

• Marion, Ohio

8 Jan

That's a fun way to learn about things

3 people like this

@JudyEv (343184)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

The quiz show comes up with some very obscure questions. It can be really interesting.

1 person likes this

@xFiacre (13256)

• Ireland

8 Jan

@judyev How eccentric! I’ll not share this with my eccentric wife - it’ll just encourage her in her desire for more cats.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (343184)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

Why eccentric? It was her home and why not have a cat? Did you know about Matthew Flinders' cat that went on all his exploratory voyages? That's pretty fascinating too.

@Marilynda1225 (83315)

• United States

8 Jan

Thats very interesting and ironic that one of the cats has never left the bridge. We also enjoy watching a game show while we eat dinner.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (343184)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

When it finishes, it's time for the news. At the moment, we're hearing more about the LA fires.

@Beestring (14761)

• Hong Kong

8 Jan

Interesting story. Was there anyone who took care of the cat which stayed on the bridge, say, at least fed him/her?

3 people like this

@JudyEv (343184)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

The lady lived in the pylon and had her tourist shop there. She looked after the cats herself.

1 person likes this

@shaggin (72761)

• United States

9 Jan

Wow that is interesting? Did people go on to rent it out after that or was that the first and only time? Yvonne is my favorite name.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (343184)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

When her lease ran out it was empty for a number of years but I can't find the reference at the moment. It didn't reopen as a living space.

1 person likes this

@allknowing (138657)

• India

8 Jan

Did the multiplication of the white cats happen on the bridge? (lol)

2 people like this

@JudyEv (343184)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

Yes, it seems there were cats there for a number of years.

@RebeccasFarm (90755)

• Arvada, Colorado

9 Jan

Now I never knew it Judy. Interesting.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (343184)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

I thought it was very interesting.

@Tampa_girl7 (50852)

• United States

8 Jan

What an interesting story. I will look it up. Thanks

2 people like this

@JudyEv (343184)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

You're welcome. A lot of interesting facts come out of these quiz shows.

1 person likes this

@Fleura (30636)

• United Kingdom

8 Jan

Interesting stuff! What happened to the south-east pylon after Yvonne's lease ended? And what about the other pylons?

2 people like this

@JudyEv (343184)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

There were four pylons on each corner of the bridge but only the one was lived in, as far as I can ascertain. It was reopened in 2009 after substantial renovation.

1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (183781)

• United States

9 Jan

Very interesting, especially since one of the cats had never been off the bridge. Have a good day.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (343184)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

The cats would have been a great tourist attraction.

1 person likes this

@dgobucks226 (35851)

•

9 Jan

Those cats have a "bird's eye view" from the bridge. They could probably catch a few from that height.

Seeing an all-white cat is actually quite a treat. It's the rarest coat color of the feline only 5% from what I read. I bet white tigers possess the same gene.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (343184)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

White cats (and dogs) are often deaf too.

1 person likes this

@dgobucks226 (35851)

•

6h

@JudyEv Interesting... Did not know that one!

@grenery8 (11598)

• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)

9 Jan

she did a lot but i am glad for the cats too

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (343184)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

They would have had a good life up there.

@GardenGerty (161426)

• United States

9 Jan

That is pretty cool. If you do not care for exploring the bridge you can always pet the cat.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (343184)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

And buy some souvenirs no doubt!

luisadannointed

@luisadannointed (6729)

• Philippines

8 Jan

That's a nice trivia..

1 person likes this

@rebelann (113113)

• El Paso, Texas

8 Jan

First I've ever heard of that bridge but I want to see more photos of those kitties.

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@rebelann (113113)

• El Paso, Texas

10 Jan

I will do that, thanks.

1 person likes this

@jstory07 (140623)

• Roseburg, Oregon

9 Jan

A lot of people probanly went there to see the white cats.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (343184)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

Yes, it seems the cats were a great attraction.

@RasmaSandra (81423)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

8 Jan

I would love to see those cats, I never knew this, I will find out more info on this,

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (343184)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

There is quite a bit on the internet about the cats.

1 person likes this

@Ronrybs (19706)

• London, England

8 Jan

I hope the cats were all rehoused. they must have found it strange leaving the bridge for somewhere with grass and trees!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (343184)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

I think the kittens were given away for a donation to the 'League' whatever that was. I think there were only three when the lease expired.

1 person likes this