The Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous buildings in Australia. Its roof looks like giant white sails sitting on the edge of Sydney Harbour. It is a place where people go to see concerts, plays, and dance performances. The building is so special that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A Unique Design

A Danish architect named Jorn Utzon designed the Sydney Opera House in 1957. His design was chosen from over 230 entries in a contest. The roof is made up of over one million tiles that were made in Sweden. The building took 16 years to finish, much longer than anyone expected. It finally opened in 1973.

What Happens Inside

The Sydney Opera House has several performance halls inside. The biggest one can hold over 2,600 people. About 1,500 performances take place there every year. People can see operas, concerts, ballets, and plays. There are also restaurants, a library, and rehearsal rooms inside the building.

Fun Facts

• The roof tiles are self-cleaning. Rain washes the dirt right off them.
• The Sydney Opera House uses enough electricity each year to power a small town.
• Over 10 million people visit the Sydney Opera House every year.

Did You Know?

Jorn Utzon, the architect, never got to see his finished building in person. He left Australia during construction after a disagreement and never returned.