Sydney Opera House

The complex consists of a series of interlocking shell-shaped roof structures covered with over one million Swedish ceramic tiles, rising 67 meters above sea level on Bennelong Point, while the interior contains multiple performance halls, restaurants and public spaces spread across the waterfront site.

Construction began in 1959 following an international competition won by Danish architect Jørn Utzon in 1957, who departed the project in 1966 amid disputes with government officials, after which an Australian team completed the interior work until Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the venue in 1973, with UNESCO inscribing the site as World Heritage in 2007.

The complex serves as the primary home for Opera Australia, the Australian Ballet, Sydney Theatre Company and Sydney Symphony Orchestra, presenting over 1,500 performances annually to approximately 1.2 million attendees from across the nation and internationally.

Visitors reach the site via Circular Quay using trains, ferries or buses, while the building opens daily from 9am to 5pm for self-guided exploration, with one-hour guided tours available in eight languages and performance tickets ranging from 40 to several hundred dollars depending on the event and seating.

Utzon discovered the geometric solution for the shells in 1961 when he realized all segments could come from a single sphere with a 75-meter radius. This insight allowed the production of 2194 identical precast concrete ribs and resolved the structural problem that had blocked progress for years.

Location: City of Sydney

Inception: 1973

Architects: Jørn Utzon, Peter Hall

Official opening: October 20, 1973

Architectural style: expressionist architecture

Capacity: 5738

Elevation above the sea: 15 m

Height: 67 m

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Address: 2 Circular Quay East, Sydney NSW

Phone: +61292507111

Website: https://sydneyoperahouse.com

GPS coordinates: -33.85706,151.21490

Latest update: December 2, 2025 21:46