About
Undoubtedly an iconic Sydney landmark, the Sydney Opera House is recognised by people around the world as a symbol of Sydney. Showcasing cutting edge shows including opera, theatre ,jazz, and concerts, the Sydney Opera House is undoubtedly one of the most famous and renowned venues in the world, having welcomed the likes of Michael Buble, Thin Lizzy, Joan Sutherland, Sammy Daivd Jnr and world-class opera and ballet performances.
A UNESCO world heritage site, the Sydney Opera House is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country and is visited by more than eight million people every year and almost 350,000 visitors enjoy going on guided tours. One of its most astonishing and recognisable features is its stunning architecture. Designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon, the Sydney Opera House is made up of several performance venues including Concert Halls, Joan Sutherland Theatres, Drama Theatres, Playhouses, Studio and the Utzon Room.
Capacity and Seating
The Sydney Opera House is divided into several rooms:
- Concert Hall: home to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Concert Hall has a capacity of 2,679 seats and features the Sydney Opera House Grand Organ.
- Joan Sutherland Theatre: this room has a capacity of 1,507 seats and it is a proscenium theatre, where Opera Australia and the Australian Website.
- Drama Theatre: a smaller auditorium, Sydney Opera House has a capacity of 544 seats.
- Playhouse: the non-proscenium end-stage theatre has a capacity of 398 seats.
- Studio: this small room is a flexible space with 280 permanent seats and it can have a maxim capacity of 400 seats.
How to Get There
Located on the Circular Quay, Sydney Opera House address is: Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia. You can get there by:
- Train: T3, T4, and T8.
- Bus: lines 115, 293, 304, 343, 333, 373X, 396X, 374X, and 165X.
- Ferry: taking a six-minute walk to Circular Quay.
- Car park: there is a car park available which is owned by Wilson Parking and is located at 2 Macquarie Street. This car park is open 24 hours, 7 days a week, and has undercover access to the Sydney Opera House Lower Concourse.
Access
If you have any access requirements, you can email bookings@sydneyoperahouse.com or call the Box Office 61 2 9250 7777.
Getting there
Drop-Off Bus: for those trying to access the Sydney Opera House, there is a drop-off system in place. Opera House staff are available to arrange transfers to the building with the wheelchair accessible shuttle service.
Courtesy Bus: there is a free wheelchair accessible Courtesy Bus which operates between the Circular Quay and the street level entrance which is located on the Sydney Opera House Western foyer. There is limited seating available and it must be booked on a first come, first served basis.
Inside the Sydney Opera House
The whole of the Sydney Opera House is fully accessible; the site, building and experiences that it offers are accessible to all people. The Sydney Opera House provides an array of access services, performances and programmes for people with disabilities.
There is a public lift in the Sydney Opera House on the Harbour Bridge side of the building. It connects to the three main levels: the Lower Concourse, Street Level and the Main Box Office Level.
History
The design for the Sydney Opera House began in the 1940s, when Eugene Goossens, the Director of the NSW State Conservatorium of Music, lobbied for a suitable venue that can be used for large-scale theatrical productions. In the build up to the Sydney Opera House being built, a design competition was launched in 1955 and in 1957 the winner was announced; Jorn Ultzon, a Danish architect, who received the Pritzker Architecture Prize.
The construction of the Sydney Opera House began on 2 March 1959 and Ultzon frequently travelled to Australia until he moved in with his family to Sydney. However, the Minister of Works, David Hughes, began questioning Utzon’s designs, schedules and cost estimates in 1965. The Sydney Opera House has since become one of the most iconic buildings in Australia and the world.
