The Furniture Salesman Who Stole Australia's Biggest Ribbon Cutting on Horseback With a Sword

On March 19, 1932, the Sydney Harbour Bridge opened to the public in what should have been a dignified ceremony befitting Australia's most ambitious engineering project—but instead became one of history's most gloriously bizarre political protests. New South Wales Premier Jack Lang was mere moments from cutting the ceremonial ribbon when a man in military uniform galloped forward on horseback, drew his sword with theatrical flair, and slashed the ribbon himself, declaring the bridge open "in the name of the decent and respectable people of New South Wales." The interloper was Francis de Groot, an Irish-born furniture dealer and member of the far-right paramilitary New Guard, who was absolutely incensed that a Labor premier—rather than a representative of the Crown or at least someone he considered sufficiently conservative—was performing the honors. De Groot had purchased his cavalry officer's uniform specifically for this stunt, despite having no military rank whatsoever. Officials hastily arrested de Groot, retied the ribbon, and Lang cut it again properly, though one imagines with considerably less enthusiasm. De Groot was charged with offensive behavior and fined £5, plus £4 for the cost of the ribbon. His psychiatric evaluation determined he was sane, which somehow makes the entire affair even more delightfully absurd. The bridge itself, having been upstaged by a costumed furniture salesman on a horse, went on to become Australia's most iconic structure, while de Groot became a footnote—albeit an unforgettable one—in the annals of overzealous political theater.