Sydney Opera House
Location: Australia

Panoramic view of the Sydney Opera House
by Christian Mehlführer, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:MC_Sydney_Opera_House.jpg, used under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5


Sydney Opera House, at Bennelong Point, Sydney Harbour, is one of the most distinctive and famous buildings ever constructed in the 20th century. Bennelong Point is a headland, originally just a tidal island, that was originally called Tubowghule in its aboriginal name, but was renamed Bennelong after the aborigine Bennelong, who had his house there. From Bennelong Point, one can get a great view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Although the Sydney Opera House was conceptualised in the late 1940s, it was only completed in 1973, at a cost of A$102 million, way above the original estimate of $7 million. The design was submitted by a Danish architect, Jørn Utzon.

The Sydney Opera House contains five theatres, five rehearsal studios, two main halls, and four restaurants, among others. The Concert Hall, which seats 2679, has the world's largest mechanical tracker action organ, with over 10,000 pipes. The structure looks like white sails against the Sydney Harbour, although the Swedish-made tiles were actually matte-cream. It takes over a million pieces of the tiles to clad the Sydney Opera House.

Where in the world is Sydney Opera House?

How to go to Sydney Opera House?

There are buses, trains and ferries to Circular Quay, from where the Sydney Opera House is just a 5 to 7 minute walk away. Parking at the Sydney Opera House is managed by Wilson Parking, www.wilsonparking.com.au.

Sydney Buses
Transport Infoline: 131 500
TTY: 1800 637 500
Fax: 61 2 8202 2111
Web: sydneybuses.nsw.gov.au

CityRail
Transport Infoline: 131 500
TTY: 1800 637 500
Fax: 61 2 8202 2111
Web: cityrail.info

Sydney Ferries
Transport Infoline: 131 500
TTY: 1800 637 500
Fax: 61 2 8202 2111
Web: sydneyferries.info

Accommodation

Looking for a hotel room in Sydney? Try Sydney Hotels
For budget accommodation in Sydney, try Budget Accommodation Guide.

Sydney Opera House Gallery

Sydney Opera House at sunset, with the last rays of sunlight shadowed by the Sydney Harbour Bridge
by Diliff, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Sydney_opera_house_sunset.jpg, used under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5



Sydney Opera House
by Greg O'Beirne, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:SydneyOperaHouse4_gobeirne.jpg, used under GNU Free Documentation License



Sydney Opera House at night
by Adam J.W.C., http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Sydneyoperahouse.JPG, used under GNU Free Documentation License



Details in the interior of the Sydney Opera House
by Leithcote/Antony Oliver, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Detalle_interior_%C3%B3pera_Sydney.jpg, used under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0