The iconic white sails seen from Sydney Harbour are a mesmerising sight to many who visit the ‘Land Down Under’. The sculptural elegance of the Sydney Opera House, which fuses ancient and modern influence, made it one of the most recognisable buildings of the 20th century, and it still stands at the harbour in all its architectural glory.
Built to “help mould a better and more enlightened community”, in the words of New South Wales (NSW) Labour Party Premier Joseph Cahill in 1954, the Sydney Opera House has hosted many of the world’s greatest artists and performers, and has been a meeting place for matters of local and international significance since opening in 1973.
How was this magnificent structure made? In 1952, Cahill announced the government’s intention of putting Sydney on the world map by creating an opera house. Following this, the NSW government announced an international competition in January 1956, attracting over 220 entries from 32 countries...
