Sydney Opera House

Sydney's most iconic building grew out of a campaign by Eugene Goossens, conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, for a large venue to be built. Three decades later, after conflict and drama with the architect Jørn Utzon, and long delays, the Opera House opened on Bennelong Point.

Considered 'the devil's work' by some and 'poetry, spoken with exquisite economy of words' by others, the Sydney Opera House quickly came to define a city, while its author drifted slowly into obscurity. Myths about Utzon and his influences abound: Was the Opera House inspired by sails, sea shells or oranges? Was Utzon a sculptor or an architect? And how on earth did Sydney snare this rare beauty?