Sydney Sights

"An architectural masterpiece and Australia's foremost tourist attraction, the Sydney Opera House is one of the busiest performing arts centers in the world. All forms of performing arts are represented. Around 3,000 events and performances are staged each year, attracting audiences of around two million. Over 300,000 people take a guided tour of the complex annually.

Opera House Timeline

In the early 1950's, Eugene Goosens and other prominent citizens pressure the NSW government to build a center for the performing arts.
1954 - Bennelong Point selected as the site for the proposed building
1955 - International Competition announced, drawing 233 entries from 32 countries around the world
1957 - The winner, Danish architect Jorn Utzon, arrives in Australia.
1959 - Foundation stone laid and work commenced. Sydney Opera House Lottery commenced to supplement fund raising.
1963 - Podium completed and roof vaults commenced.
1966 - Tension between Utzon and the new government (in 1965) leads to Utzon's departure. A team of Australian architects redesigned the interiors after an extensive review of the proposed function of the building. I don't think Utzon has ever returned.
1967 - Roof vaults completed and glass walls, interiors, promenade and approaches commenced.
1973 - September 28th - The Australian Opera's production of Prokofiev's War and Peace is the first to be staged in the building. The building was fully paid for by the lottery less than two years later.

The roofs are made up of 2194 pre-cast concrete sections. These sections weigh up to 15.5 tons each. They are held together by 350 kilometers of tensioned steel cable. The roofs weigh 27,230 tons.
The roofs are covered with over 1,056,000 ceramic tiles from Sweden arranged in 4,253 pre-cast lids.
The entire building weighs 161,0ooo tons. It is supported on 580 concrete piers sunk up to 25 meters below sea level. The roofs are supported on 32 concrete columns up to 2.5 square meters.
There are 6,225 square meters of glass, made in France, enclosing the foyer spaces and other areas of the building. About 2,000 panes in 700 sizes were installed.
The Concert Hall Grand Organ was designed and built locally by an Australian, Ronald Sharp, between 1969 and 1979. It is the largest mechanical tracker action organ in the world, comprising 10,500 pipes and six keyboards - five manual and one pedal.