The world's most famous roof had the world's most chaotic birth — and somehow nobody got fired.
On 20 October 1973, the Sydney Opera House was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II. From conception to completion, it had taken more than 15 years and over $100 million dollars. In the years since its completion, the Sydney Opera House has become one of the most identifiable of Australia’s icons - ranking with the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Uluru, the koala and kangaroo - and is considered by many to be among the world's great architectural masterpieces.
Cinematography
Glorious 16mm footage of 1970s Sydney that'll make you nostalgic for a city you've never visited.
Production
Made WHILE the drama was happening — pure documentary vérité before it was cool.
Director
Donald Crombie
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Jørn Utzon actually left Australia in 1966 and never returned to see his completed masterpiece — the documentary captures his absence as its own character.
This was one of the first Australian documentaries to receive international theatrical distribution, effectively exporting our architectural shame and glory simultaneously.
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