Opera House

Channelnewsasia.com:

" Sydney's iconic Opera House has been placed on a National Heritage List in recognition of its status as Australia's most famous building.

The Opera House, which opened to a sceptical public in 1973, is now a must see for most visitors to Australia, with its white sails providing a backdrop for photographs, postcards and international tourist campaigns."

It took so long to build. People waited and waited and then didn't know what to make of it. Australia was full of the astounding federation buildings and the Opera House looked like it was flimsy and from another planet. Out on the harbour you get a completely different view of it. It fits in perfectly with all the other sails. Close up it is different again and you can feel how imposing it is. From the air it stands out really well, as do the dirt tracks across various parts of NSW!! It is a very distinct building. Like the new Adelaide Law Courts it was iconoclastic in its day. I believe Ken Done, who is a hugely recognizable, well distinguished but insufficiently praised Australian artist, did much to enable us to accept it as one of our icons. For many Australians they see the Opera House and think of home. There are other places which mean as much and create a sense of belonging, but now it's heritage listed, the Opera House has been given the recognition it has actually fought hard to win.