5 Surprising Facts About the Sydney Opera House

The First Performance Pre-Opening

In 1960 — a full 13 years before the building officially opened — American singer and civil-rights activist Paul Robeson climbed scaffolding at the construction site and sang to lunch-break workers. The song was “Ol’ Man River”, unaccompanied, so as not to breach performance-contract rules.

Official Opening by Royalty

On October 20, 1973, the Opera House was formally inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II. In her speech she acknowledged the many engineering challenges faced during construction, comparing its journey to that of the pyramids, and expressed hope that the building would endure for centuries. Not long after, the site became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A Net for Unexpected Guests

During a performance of Boris Godunov in the 1980s — which featured live birds — a chicken wandered off stage and landed in the orchestra pit. To prevent similar incidents, a safety net was installed above the pit in one of the theatres.

Fine Dining Under Iconic Roofs

The Opera House isn’t just about grand performance halls; it also houses one of Australia’s premier restaurants, Bennelong, tucked under the distinctive sail-like roof structure. With ocean views and fine cuisine, it adds another dimension to the visitor experience.

A Record-Holding Instrument

Inside the Concert Hall sits the “Grand Organ,” comprised of over 10,000 individual pipes (10,154 to be exact). It stands among the largest mechanical musical instruments in the world and was significantly over-budget — originally estimated at 400,000 AUD, but ended up costing more than one million.

Why These Facts Matter

These lesser-known details help deepen our appreciation of the Sydney Opera House. Beyond its instantly recognizable silhouette, the building represents: