The original appeal fund raised about $900,000 and the rest of the $102 million that the Opera House ended up costing came from the profits of the lottery. When it became obvious that the fund would not even raise the $7 million the Opera House was first estimated to cost, Mr Cahill introduced the Opera House Lotteries. He also set up an appeal fund to raise money for the building. The Premier of the day, Joseph Cahill, was enthusiastic about the idea and it was he who set up the committee which got the project under way. However, apart from occasional public announcements and exhortation from Goosens, nothing happened for seven more years.įinally, late in 1954, the State Government of New South Wales, finding itself increasingly embarrassed by its own inaction, became involved in a moderately supportive manner.

The idea was hardly revolutionary indeed the post-war Labour government had given lip service to the concept as part of its reconstruction and redevelopment programs. Upon accepting his position, Goosens told reporters that his plans included the creation of a concert hall suitable for opera as well as orchestral performances. The appointment of Sir Eugene Goosens to the posts of Chief Conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Director of the NSW Conservatorium of Music in 1947 brought into Sydney's musical life a focal point for the need to create a better venue for the performing arts. Orchestral concerts were given in its Town Hall, and staging opera was almost impossible due to the lack of suitable stages. Prior to the Sydney Opera House, Sydney had no adequate dedicated music venue.

I got that from Wikipedia and Wikianswers, 233 entries from 32 countries made way for an interesting story that continues today. The Sydney Opera House was built due to the demand for a bigger theatrical space in Sydney.Planning began in the 1940s and in 1955, a competition was held to find the most impressive architectural design.

When was the sydney opera house built