The world-renowned Sydney Opera House situated in Sydney, Australia, is a performing arts venue located on the shoreline of Sydney Harbour. It is one of the most recognisable structures in the entire world, being one of the most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites and tourist attractions. 

If you ever plan a trip to Sydney, then a visit to this famous landmark is a must otherwise the trip is totally incomplete. This symbol of Australian culture and architecture, which is located close to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, has much to offer tourists of all ages, making it a fascinating excursion.

10 Astounding Facts About the Sydney Opera House

Although its importance with regard to architecture is undeniable, not many people are familiar with the Sydney Opera House. But today you get a peek into the heritage and history of the famed Sydney Opera House by reading these fascinating facts.

Keep reading to get to know more about this 20th-century architectural masterpiece.

1. The Sydney Opera House has a total of seven different performance venues.

The Sydney Opera House’s performance venues include the Concert Hall, the Joan Sutherland Theatre, the Drama Theatre, the Utzon Room, the Outdoor Forecourt, the Playhouse, and the Studio.

Other areas of the Sydney Opera House, such as the northern and western foyers, are also be used for small performances. Smaller performances have also taken place in the Sydney Opera House’s restaurants on occasion.

2. The Sydney Opera House’s drama theatre is one of the smallest of the seven venues.

The Drama Theatre of the Sydney Opera House is built on the north-western ground floor, beneath the Concert Hall. The Western Foyer is connected to it, and further, it is also connected to the Western Broadwalk.

This theatre accommodates a total of 544 seats. The seats are made of birch timber veneer with an accurate line of vision from all seats.

3. More than 233 designs were originally submitted for the architectural plan of the Sydney Opera House.

To make the Sydney Opera House, 200+ designs were submitted. To choose the best design amongst all to construct the building, an international competition was held in 1956 and major architectural firms from every corner of the world submitted their designs.

The design submitted by Jorn Utzon became the winner of the international design competition and it was finalized. Utzon’s design showed the building like a sculpture as it changes shapes in various directions.

4. Queen Elizabeth II inaugurated the Sydney Opera House.

The grand opening of the Sydney Opera House took place in October in the year of 1973, and Queen Elizabeth II officially inaugurated the venue and made it available for the public.

The Queen also addressed the local community and gave a speech about the importance of the Sydney Opera House and its grand opening. 

In her speech, the Queen also stated that if we give something a whirl and do it with utmost dedication then it can absolutely be achieved, and an idealistic architecture like the Sydney Opera House is the proof of that.

5. The first person to perform at the Sydney Opera House was Paul Robeson.

The very first performance that was held at the Sydney Opera House was in 1960, and the person who performed there was Paul Robeson. He sang ‘Ol’ Man River’ by climbing the scaffolding at the construction site of the Sydney Opera House.

It was noted that Paul Robeson was singing to the construction workers of the Sydney Opera House during their lunch breaks. According to the local newscasters, the construction workers were spellbound and were left in admiration of the performance.

6. The sails of the Sydney Opera House are the largest column-free chamber in the world.

The sails that make the Sydney Opera House one of the most photographed buildings in the world are also said to be the largest pillar or column-free chamber in the world. When it was constructed, the podium that holds the opera house sails also got its name as one of the largest concrete structures in the Southern Hemisphere.

7. The Sydney Opera House is regarded as one of the most photographed buildings in the world.

The Sydney Opera House became one of the most photographed buildings in the world because of the structure of its roof. The roof’s sail-shaped sails are one of the greatest attractions of the building.

The architect who framed the Sydney Opera House had in mind a design of the building that seemed like a school of huge white sharks, and that is from where the concept of the roof structure came. It seems like the white sharks on the roof of the Sydney Opera House are ready to attack their prey.

8. There are 1,056,006 roof tiles on the Sydney Opera House.

The roof of the Sydney Opera House expands to 1.62 hectares to perch over the roof structure perfectly. The Sydney Opera House sails are made of self-cleaning white and cream Swedish tiles.

The roof tiles were an important part of the structure as seen in Jorn Utzon’s original designs. It was also thought important that these roof tiles could reflect the sky as part of their overall attraction.

9. The Concert Hall’s Grand Organ is the world’s largest mechanical organ.

The Grand Organ of the Sydney Opera House, designed by an Australian organ builder named Ronald Sharp, is said to be the largest mechanical tracker action pipe organ in the world. It has around 10,000 pipes. The organ is frequently used for musical performances and for creating music for theatrical plays.

10. The state lottery provided the majority of the funding for the construction of the Sydney Opera House.

To construct the Sydney Opera House, it took around 102 million USD in total. The total cost was huge. The cost allocation was around 5.5 million USD for the construction during the first stage and for the roof shells and the building it was decided around 12.5 million USD, according to the original budget plans. The stage equipment, lighting expenses were also there which further elevated the cost of construction.

Other Facts About the Sydney Opera House

• The concrete ceilings of the Sydney Opera House are shaped differently depending on the location. The roof structure of the building is one such example. It was designed in such a way that it remains the centre of attraction but doesn’t completely steal the spotlight from the Sydney Harbour and its surroundings.

• The Opera House sits on Bennelong Point. Bennelong was an Aboriginal who was befriended by Governor Macquarie. The modest structure where Bennelong resided previously stood on the promontory, which was given its name in honour of one of the two Aboriginal people who acted as intermediaries between the locals and Australia’s first British immigrants.

• Each night, dazzling lights are used to illuminate the Sydney Opera House. The building’s sails are illuminated with tens of thousands of vividly coloured lights in the forms and pictures of shapes and images once the sun has fallen. The theme of its lighting varies with the displayed images according to the season of the year. The building, when illuminated, is a sight for the sore eyes.

• At 67 metres above sea level, the Sydney Opera House’s tallest roof shell is located. Imagine the height of a 22-story skyscraper and you will get the idea. The sails of the building can be viewed by the general public via a virtual reality experience. Visitors may use a VR headset to observe the Sydney Opera House’s surroundings from the top of the building.

• The construction of the building required the hiring of almost 10,000 people. The Sydney Opera House’s design, however, proved to be more challenging to execute than anticipated, which caused years-long delay in the building timeline. A total of 16 construction workers are reported to have perished throughout the project’s development up until its completion in 1973 due to unintentional falls at work.

• There is an opera composed about the Sydney Opera House as well. Written by Alan John and premiered on October 1995, the name of the opera is The Eight Wonder and it tells the history of the building. This opera’s plot also included actors playing political, architectural, and engineering roles, along with a conductor, who helped convey the narrative of how the Sydney Opera House was created and introduced to the world.

• The Sydney Opera House’s sails each cost about 100,000 USD. Each of the sails was constructed using three French-made tower cranes, as per the original construction designs of the building. Each sail was customised to meet the requirements for the design of the building, which came to a total of $100,000 USD for each sail.

• Fireworks are ignited annually along Sydney Harbour on the first day of the New Year. New Year’s Eve celebrations are traditionally centred around Sydney Harbour and the area around the Sydney Opera House. A coordinated soundtrack is played every year while the fireworks are lit from the Sydney Opera House and many other places, with a new theme each year.

• The Sydney Opera House has hosted performances by some of the most well-known performers in the world. There were shows done by musical and dramatic productions and it also includes appearances by superstars like The Drones, Paul Kelly, The National, and many others.

• The Sydney Opera House building project was initially expected to take 4 years to complete, but it actually took 16 years. During that period, the project was to be overseen by a temporary executive committee. But the project was pushed back since none of the committee members had any prior expertise in the area.

• The largest venue at the Sydney Opera House is the Concert Hall. It is the main theatre of the building with more than 2500 seats. One of the venue’s most distinctive characteristics is the hall’s tall vaulted ceiling which makes the right atmosphere during concerts.

• Arnold Schwarzenegger won his Mr. Olympia title at the Sydney Opera House. The event occurred in 1980 at the Concert Hall and the bodybuilder won his final bodybuilding award there.

• The cooling system at the Sydney Opera House makes use of the seawater from the surrounding harbor. Through 35 km of subterranean pipes, this cooling system distributes the cold water from the neighbourhood harbour. The building’s heating and cooling systems utilise this water as a cooling fluid.

• Every year, the Sydney Opera House illuminates its sails in crimson for the Lunar New Year. Lunar lanterns, mandarin tours of the structure, and other amenities fill up the building at this time of the year.

• In the New 7 Wonders of the World campaign, the Sydney Opera House was also a finalist. The beauty of the architecture and design of this building helped it to get its position as the finalist. It is also regarded as the Eight Wonder by its own opera song.

• Latecomers to a performance at the Sydney Opera House are permitted in during the scheduled programme breaks. Security at the Sydney Opera House prohibits latecomers from entering the theatre while a performance is taking place in order to prevent disruptions.

The Architect of The Sydney Opera House

Danish architect Jorn Utzon was the brains behind this magnificent structure. His drawings helped him land the job overseeing the project and £5000 for being chosen from more than 230 submissions.

Jorn departed his position as chief architect shortly after the NSW government ceased paying him because the project ran over its budget and schedule. Utzon never came back to see the building finished, and although work has started to correct this recently, most of the inside and the final constructions still do not meet his original design criteria.

Utzon followed his design philosophies while creating the Sydney Opera House’s design. One example is the Sydney Opera House’s sculptural roof, which was created in such a way as to draw attention to the harbour around it while emphasising the massive bulk of the plateau below it.

In addition, the Sydney Opera House’s roof tiles are separated into several sections that are arranged in a manner resembling the form of leaves. The Sydney Opera House’s final design is, overall, in keeping with the neighbourhood it is situated in, which heightens the allure of the spot.

The Structure of The Sydney Opera House

In addition to the five theatres, rehearsal spaces, two major halls, four restaurants, six bars, and a gift store, the Opera House also has a souvenir shop. The basement and inside of the shell together include close to 1000 rooms.

There are a variety of events one may attend, including talks, exhibits, eisteddfods, theatre, musicals, symphony, cabaret, and classical ballet performances.

Performance Venues And Facilities 

Numerous performing spaces are part of the Sydney Opera House. This includes the Concert Hall, Joan Sutherland Theatre, Drama Theatre, Playhouse, Studio, Utzon room, a recording studio, outdoor forecourt and others.

The Concert Hall houses more than 2600 seats. Numerous concerts by different presenters are held in the hall. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra also performs in the Concert Hall. The largest mechanical tracker action pipe organ, the Sydney Opera House Grand Organ is kept in this hall only.

The Joan Sutherland Theatre, formerly known as the Opera Theatre until 17 October 2012, is a proscenium theatre. It houses more than 1500 seats. The Opera Australia and the Australian Ballet were born in this theatre.

The Drama Theatre is also a proscenium theatre that houses more than 500 seats. It is the hub of the Sydney Theatre Company and other than that the theatre is also used for dance and dramatic performances.

The Playhouse is a small end-stage theatre comprising almost 400 seats and it has no proscenium. The studio is a simple room with a capacity of 400 people. The Utzon room is mainly used for gatherings, business events, and other small events as it has very less capacity. The outdoor forecourt is an outdoor venue that can be used for a range of big outdoor performances or events held by communities, etc.

There are also numerous other facilities in the building excluding the venues for performances. These facilities include a recording studio, retail shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars including the Opera Bar and Opera Kitchen.

Explore the Sydney Opera House

If you want to explore the building in a more detailed way and know about it then paid guided tours are an option. A guided tour unlocks many possibilities for knowing the building better and visiting the places which are not frequented by the visitors, such as the backstage. Along with being accessible in various other languages besides English, audio guides are also an option for people who like to take their time and set the pace of their visits.

If a tour guide is chosen, the average cost of a tour of the Sydney Opera House is 42 USD per person, and it lasts an hour. Some tour packages allow tourists to browse gift stores and buy souvenirs for themselves or their loved ones, as well as to eat at one of the Sydney Opera House’s restaurants.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Sydney Opera House famous for?

The Sydney Opera House stands as one of the most photographed buildings in the world, and its roof structure is one of the iconic things that make the opera house famous. Its roof is made up of a succession of sparkling white shells in the shape of sailing ships.

2. How much did the Sydney Opera House cost?

The projected construction cost for the Opera House was originally estimated at 7 million USD, but the actual cost ultimately stretched to 102 million USD, not counting improvements and expansions that took place after 1973.

Because of the Sydney Opera House’s complex design, the construction timeline was delayed by many years, necessitating a higher construction expenditure for the structure. The majority of that amount was covered by a State Lottery award.

3. What is the Sydney Opera House used for?

The 2,679-seat Concert Hall, the Opera House’s largest performance space, is used for pop music events, choir concerts, and symphony concerts. Ballet, opera, and other dance events are presented in the Opera Theatre, which has a capacity of slightly over 1500.

Three theatres with various dimensions and layouts are also available for stage plays, movie screenings, and smaller musical acts. Outdoor performances take place at the Forecourt, which is located on the complex’s southeast side. In addition, the structure includes dining establishments and a recording studio.

4. What is the Sydney Opera House built on?

The Opera House is located on Bennelong Point, a peninsula on the southern side of the harbour immediately east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The modest structure where Bennelong resided previously stood on the promontory, which was given its name in honour of one of the two Aboriginal people who acted as intermediaries between the locals and Australia’s first British immigrants.

5. When was the Sydney Opera House designed?

In 1956, Jorn Utzon, a Danish architect, entered his proposal for the Opera House in an international competition organised by the government of New South Wales. The design called for a structure with two rooms. Utzon’s design was selected as the winning submission by the jury in January 1957, it was revealed.

6. When was the Sydney Opera House built and how long did it take?

The facility was designed in an unusual way, which led to a number of issues during construction. The construction began in 1959. The Opera House was initially scheduled to open on Australia Day, which is on January 26, 1963, however, the project ran into multiple delays due to cost overruns and structural engineering challenges.

Public opinion temporarily shifted against the proposal as it became divisive. The Opera House ultimately held its official inauguration on October 20, 1973, following the completion of construction that lasted until September 1973.

Also read: Famous Festival of Australia You Must Experience

Last Updated on May 7, 2024 by Kaushiki Mahato