The design competition for the Sydney Opera House was launched in 1955.
New South Wales Premier Joseph Cahill announced the international competition on 13 September 1955. The brief called for two major halls: one seating about 3,000 people and another seating about 1,200, with spaces suitable for opera, concerts, theatre, lectures and ballet.
The competition attracted 233 entries from architects in 32 countries. Danish architect Jørn Utzon’s proposal was selected by the jury, and the result was announced in January 1957. That later date is a common mix-up: 1955 marks the competition’s launch, while 1957 marks Utzon’s selection as winner.
Construction began in 1959, and the completed building was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October 1973. The long gap between the competition and opening reflects the project’s unprecedented engineering challenges, political disputes, delays and huge cost increases.