Sydney Opera House Turns 50 - Newspaper preview features (1973)

With the Sydney Opera House turning fifty on October 20, my next two entries will focus on its official opening by Queen Elizabeth II on that day in 1973.

This week will focus on selected material from newspapers in the days leading up to the opening. Next week will be a selection of newspaper clippings relating to opening day itself.

Newspapers published special features, supplements and wrap-arounds.

The Daily Telegraph - 19 October 1973

Wrap around with a photograph of the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney skyline rising behind it.

The Daily Telegraph - 20 October 1973

Front page

The clipping below contains two photos of decorations at Circular Quay, including special lighting being draped from office blocks at East Circular Quay.

 

The Sun - 11 October 1973

Page 1

Special Souvenir Cover. 

 

The Sun - 17 October 1973

Map of festivities and features for opening day.

The Sun - 19 October 1973

The article below reports that the city was to have its biggest day of celebrations in its history as Sydney siders gathered on the shores of Sydney Harbour to take part in the festivities. 

Source: Anon. 1973. "It's party night in Sydney!". The Sun, October 19: 7. 

The Sydney Morning Herald - 15 October 1973 

A souvenir supplement was published. Some clippings are featured. 

2000: Sydney: The Cheap Manhattan

When I was younger, I remember reading a reference to Sydneys as "little Manhattan" which I believed referred to our skyline. Sydney streets can also easily resemble streets in New York, especially Lower Manhattan where narrow streets bend, surrounded by tall buildings.

Two decades ago, Sydney was not just attracting Hollywood blockbusters, but also American advertisers. With the Australian Dollar averaging around $US 0.58 cents, American advertising agencies could stretch their dollar further.

Access to local actors and props meant any part of Sydney could be turned into an American city with great ease.

Below is an article as published in The Daily Telegraph in June 2000.

Source: Skelsey, M. 2000. "The Cheap Apple: Budget Sydney lures ad makers". The Daily Telegraph, June 13: 5. 

Even in recent years, Sydney has been featured in American commercials, even if they feature in just  split second shots. One commercial by Opdivo in 2016 featured Sydney in its entirety, though cars drove on the right hand side of the road.