Q: why is the harbour bridge so important to Australia
A: Although it does connect two different sides of Sydney, I don't think that would be very significant for tourists visiting who would like to visit harbour foreshore and see the bridge. While It is very significant for Sydney sider's who reply on the bridge to get about the CBD and North Shore, To visiting tourists a bridge that simply connects two sides of a city would be no different to many bridges all over the world. I think simply the look of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House as well as the surrounding harbour foreshore is what makes it so popular for tourists, its a really beautiful site thus why most Sydney postcards have some sort of picture of the bridge. Especially at night, the view is stunning especially from Mrs. Macquarie's Point or Circular Quay. Sydney has also been named the "New Years Eve Capital Of The World" and as most of Sydney's new years eve celebrations and fireworks display revolves around the Harbour Bridge, I'm sure that would make it allot more popular for visiting tourists. The fact that so many people overseas would like to visit Sydney to see the Harbour Bridge and also maybe do the bridge climb or etc, its what would make the bridge much more of an icon... I guess because when allot of people think of Australia they automatically think of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Therefore, in allot of ways the bridge symbolises Australia and thus makes it such an important icon.