Which Australian landmark was formally opened in Sydney in 1973 after a 14-year construction project?

The Sydney Opera House was formally opened in Sydney in 1973 after a 14-year construction project.

Danish architect Jørn Utzon won the international design competition in 1957 with a dramatic concept of sail-like shells beside Sydney Harbour. Construction began in 1959, but engineering challenges, design changes, and rising costs delayed completion far beyond the original plan.

Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the building on 20 October 1973. The first performance inside the completed Opera House was Prokofiev’s opera War and Peace, presented in the Joan Sutherland Theatre.

The building is not just one auditorium: it contains multiple performance venues, including the Concert Hall, Joan Sutherland Theatre, Drama Theatre, Playhouse, and Studio. A common mix-up is confusing its opening date with the date construction began. The Opera House became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.