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Nexus: Controversy surrounding the Sydney Opera House

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Sydney Opera House
Nexus: Controversy surrounding the Sydney Opera House

SUBJECTS:  History

YEARS:  9–10


The Sydney Opera House is considered the 'eighth wonder of the world'.

Although recognised as a major landmark today, its construction was controversial.

In 1966, the building's Danish designer and chief architect, Jorn Utzon, was forced to withdraw from his position.

In this clip listen to Jorn Utzon and discover why he never returned to the Sydney Opera House the site of his greatest achievement.


Things to think about

  1. 1.Do politicians have a right to interfere in the work of creative people like artists and architects? As the designer of the Sydney Opera House, Jorn Utzon had the support of Joseph Cahill's NSW Labor government. But the Liberal-Country Party Coalition won power in NSW in 1965, and it continually criticised Utzon's work as chief architect, withheld money he was owed and forced his resignation in February 1966.
  2. 2.What does the reporter mean by saying that the Sydney Opera House became 'a political target'? Some reasons are given in this clip for Utzon's withdrawal as chief architect. How do opinions between people depicted in this clip differ, and why might this be? To discover just why Utzon withdrew as chief architect, what other sources could you consult?
  3. 3.When it harassed Jorn Utzon over costs and delays and forced him to leave the project, the NSW Liberal-Country Party government was supported by many Australians who had little interest in the arts and saw such a building project as a waste of public money. Discuss how differently Australians regard the Sydney Opera House today.
  4. 4.

    This clip uses a combination of words, images and music to make a clear case in support of Utzon. Find comments from the 1960s that show how sections of the mass media ridiculed the Sydney Opera House and Utzon at that time. What conclusions can you draw about changes in Australian popular attitudes, beliefs and values and reasons for such changes?


Copyright

Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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History Education