Photographs, news and home movie footage capture the excitement of the opening of the Sydney Opera House on 20 October 1973.
WARNING: This article may contain names, images or voices of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
One million people turned out to watch Queen Elizabeth II open Jørn Utzon's Sydney Opera House on 20 October 1973 and many more watched from their lounge rooms.
There had been a massive build-up, with dramas and controversy behind the scenes. The public had watched the House take shape over the 14 years since the ground was first broken at Bennelong Point.
Our curated collection commemorates the opening, as well as exploring the construction and controversy surrounding the building, today recognised as one of the architectural masterpieces of the 20th century. Here we share a few different viewpoints of the historic ceremony.
This excerpt from Queen at the Opera House 1973 shows Queen Elizabeth II, a helicopter fly-past, marching bands and a procession of military personnel and people in national costume.
Aboriginal actor Ben Blakeney OAM (1937–2003), one of Bennelong's descendents, welcomes people to the site from the top of the building's tallest sail. Here a narrator recounts his oration: 'I am Bennelong. And my spirit, and the spirit of my people lives. And their dance, their music and their drama and their laughter also remains.'
WARNING: This video may contain names, images or voices of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Excerpt from Queen at the Opera House 1973. NFSA title: 24981.
The Commonwealth Film Unit (later called Film Australia) chronicled the site's metamorphosis from 1959 to 1973 in its Colour Diary films (number 28 and 41) and The Fifth Facade (1973).
This gallery of photographs showing ordinary people enjoying the day is a selection from the NFSA's Film Australia Collection.
To view: Scroll through the photos using the arrow symbols below. You can select a photograph to see the full image.
Some of the one million people who gathered to watch Queen Elizabeth II officially open the Sydney Opera House. Film Australia Collection, The Fifth Facade (1973). © NFSA. All Rights Reserved.
The Opera House's North face on opening day. The Fifth Facade, 1971 - Film Australia Collection © NFSA. All rights reserved.
The sails of the Opera House were festooned with ribbons. The Fifth Facade, 1971 - Film Australia Collection © NFSA. All rights reserved.
A brass band gets ready to play at the opening. The Fifth Facade, 1971 - Film Australia Collection © NFSA. All rights reserved.
Boy Scouts enjoy the festivities at the Opera House opening. The Fifth Facade, 1971 - Film Australia Collection © NFSA. All rights reserved.
Queen Elizabeth II makes her way through the crowds. The Fifth Facade, 1971 - Film Australia Collection © NFSA. All rights reserved.
People in national costume gather for the procession at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House. The Fifth Facade, 1971 - Film Australia Collection © NFSA. All rights reserved.
As well as broadcast and film material of events, the NFSA also collects home movies.
This silent home movie was filmed by amateur cinematographer George Browne.
Excerpt from George Browne's home movie of the opening of the Sydney Opera House (1973). NFSA title: 307534.
Explore the Sydney Opera House curated collection to discover memorable performances and watch some of the building's famous friends pay a visit, including Oprah Winfrey, Jackie Chan and Pope John Paul II.
Stream The Fifth Facade (1973, 28 minutes), about the construction of the Sydney Opera House, on NFSA Player.
The Sydney Opera House was officially opened on 20 October 1973 – 14 years after construction began.
See Sydney in all its shiny magnificence, from Australia's first recorded moving image filmed at Prince Alfred Park in 1896 to contemporary colour footage.
'The Coathanger', as the bridge is affectionately known, opened on 19 March 1932.
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia acknowledges Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and gives respect to their Elders both past and present.
