The short version
A Danish architect won an international competition in 1957. Work began in 1959 on Bennelong Point, the place the Gadigal people call Tubowgule. The building opened in 1973, after a crisis that ended with the architect leaving Australia. It was paid for largely by special state lotteries.
The story did not stop at the opening. The house was renewed in stages, and in 2022 the Concert Hall reopened after a major rebuild. In 2026 a new works programme was announced.
Timeline: competition to opening
The main dates, in order.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 29 January 1957 | Jørn Utzon's entry, number 218, is announced as the winner. More than 223 entries came from 28 countries. |
| 2 March 1959 | Ceremony and start of work. The cost estimate at the time was 3.5 million pounds. |
| January 1962 | Utzon's Yellow Book documents the spherical solution for the roof shells. |
| 28 February 1966 | Utzon meets the minister, Davis Hughes. His resignation follows. |
| 19 April 1966 | A new architect team under design lead Peter Hall takes over. |
| 28 April 1966 | Utzon leaves Australia. |
| 20 October 1973 | The Opera House opens, in a ceremony with Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. |
| 1999 | Utzon is appointed again, as design consultant. |
| 2003 | Utzon receives the Pritzker Architecture Prize. |
| 2007 | The building joins the World Heritage List. |
Opera House tours
Walk through the building where this history happened. Compare length, languages and live availability before you book.
Why Utzon left
The exit was not a simple clash of taste. Utzon met the minister Davis Hughes on 28 February 1966, and his resignation followed. On 19 April 1966 a new team under Peter Hall took over the design work, and Utzon left Australia on 28 April.
Hall took over the design responsibility for the completion. That is why the shell form is Utzon's, while the finished building has a second author. Read how the shells work in our guide to the architecture of the Opera House.
Utzon came back to the project decades later. In 1999 he was appointed design consultant, and in 2003 he received the Pritzker Architecture Prize.
The sequence matters when you read older accounts. Some versions reduce it to an artistic disagreement. The dates above show a longer and more difficult process.
What it cost and who paid
All amounts are historical, not today's prices.
Budget and final cost
The original budget was AUD 7 million. The final cost reached AUD 102 million.
Lotteries
Special state lotteries paid for the building. Over the years from 1957 to 1986 there were 496 lotteries and 86.7 million tickets.
Not today's money
These are nominal figures from the 20th century. Do not compare them directly with modern building prices.
Renewal: the Concert Hall and after
The Concert Hall reopened to the public on 20 July 2022. The renewal covered the acoustics, an easier passage with lifts and the stage machinery. It is open for performances, and you can plan your evening with our guide to show tickets.
The Concert Hall work was one part of a bigger programme. The whole Decade of Renewal cost close to AUD 300 million, so do not read that figure as the price of the hall alone.
The Utzon Escalators opened to the public in February 2025, and hearing technology was added to venues in the western foyer in March 2025.
What was announced in 2026
New works, not a general closure.
On 4 August 2026 the New South Wales government announced a programme worth AUD 120 million. It covers venues including the Playhouse, the Drama Theatre and the Studio, the structure under the Northern Boardwalk and digital networks. The announcement does not describe a finished renovation or a closure of the whole house. Individual rooms and dates can change, so check the current timetable before you go.
For a behind-the-scenes look at the working house, see the Backstage Tour.
Opera House history: frequently asked questions
When did the Sydney Opera House open?
On 20 October 1973. The ceremony included Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh.
When did construction start?
With a ceremony and the start of work on 2 March 1959. The cost estimate at the time was 3.5 million pounds.
How much did it cost?
The final cost was AUD 102 million, against an original budget of AUD 7 million. These are historical amounts from the 20th century.
Why did Utzon leave?
After a meeting with the minister Davis Hughes on 28 February 1966, Utzon resigned and left Australia on 28 April 1966. It was not just an artistic disagreement.
Is the Concert Hall still closed?
No. It reopened on 20 July 2022 after a renewal of the acoustics, access and stage machinery.