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Amazing Vintage Photos Show the Sydney Opera House While It Was Being Built From 1957–1973

ahieu01 November 2, 2024

The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, the facility formally opened on 20 October 1973 after a gestation beginning with Utzon’s 1957 selection as winner of an international design competition.

The Fort Macquarie Tram Depot, occupying the site at the time of these plans, was demolished in 1958 and construction began in March 1959. The Sydney Opera House was built in three stages: stage I (1959–1963) consisted of building the upper podium; stage II (1963–1967) the construction of the outer shells; stage III (1967–1973) interior design and construction.

1952. The tram shed at Bennelong Point Circular Quay before the Sydney Opera House was built.

Jan. 3, 1957. Judges review entries in the design competition for the new Sydney Opera House.

Dec. 30, 1958. The tram shed at Bennelong Point is demolished to make way for the construction of the Opera House.

Sept. 1, 1959. The site of the Opera House is prepared for construction.

June 20, 1960. Tradesmen working on the construction of the Sydney Opera House live in caravans on-site at Bennelong Point.

c. 1961. The ocean liner “Canberra” passes the construction work on the Sydney Opera House.

Dec. 10, 1963. More than four years in, construction proceeds at a glacial pace.

c. 1961. By 1961, construction was running 47 weeks behind schedule.

Dec. 10, 1963. The opera house begins to take shape after four years of work.

1965. Architect Jørn Utzon in front of the Sydney Opera House, eight years after his designed was selected and six years into construction.

c. 1965

Oct. 22, 1966. While the exterior of the Opera House was mostly completed in 1966, the interiors had to be significantly redesigned after Utzon’s resignation.

July 24, 1966

March 3, 1966. Students protest and march from Sydney Opera House to Parliament House in Sydney after the resignation of architect Jørn Utzon.

March 8, 1966. Architect Jørn Utzon after a press conference with a scale model of the Sydney Opera House.

January 1968. Part of the shells which form the roof of the Sydney Opera House, still under construction after 10 years of work.

Feb. 4, 1972. Minister for Public Works Davis Hughes and Premier Robert Askin tour the concert hall of the Sydney Opera House during construction. Hughes had forced Utzon’s resignation five years earlier.

Oct. 20, 1973. Sir Roden and Lady Cutler, and Sir Robert and Lady Askin with Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at the opening of the Opera House.