The Sydney Opera House Opens

Setting the scene

Danish architect Jørn Utzon won an international competition in 1957 with sail-like shells that challenged engineers for years. Cost overruns and political disputes led Utzon to resign in 1966 before seeing completion.

What happened

Queen Elizabeth II opened the Sydney Opera House on October 20, 1973, on Bennelong Point overlooking Sydney Harbour. The complex includes multiple performance halls and hosts more than 1,500 shows annually.

Why it still matters

UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site in 2007, praising Utzon's design as a masterpiece of twentieth-century architecture. Memorable detail: the roof's 'sails' are covered with 1,056,006 glossy white and cream Swedish tiles, custom-made to withstand salt air.

Background

Jørn Utzon's design became a UNESCO icon.