Year	Date	OPERA HOUSE HISTORY   Event
1947		Eugene Goossens, conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra calls for "a musical centre housing a big hall for a symphony orchestra, a small hall for chamber music and a fine home for an opera company".
1955	13 September	The Premier, J.J. Cahill, announces that the Government of NSW will hold an international competition for the design of "an opera house". It is to be suitable for many kinds of performing arts, with two halls, one to seat between 3000-3500 people, and the other to seat 1200. There is also to be a restaurant and two public rooms for meetings.
1957	29 January	Out of 233 entries from 32 countries, Jørn Utzon wins first prize.
1957	July	Jørn Utzon visits Sydney to discuss the proposed building.
1958	August	Demolition of the Bennelong Point Tram Depot commences.
1959	2 March	Work begins on the foundations. The work on Stage I — the building of the upper podium — is to be carried out by Civil and Civic P/L.
1959	19 October	Premier J.J. Cahill dies in office.
1963	March	Stage I completed.
1963	April	Stage II commences — Construction of the shell roofs and some subsidiary work is carried out by MR Hornibook (NSW) P/L.
1965		Newly elected Premier, Robert Askin transfers power over payments from the Opera House Committee to the Minister of Public Works, Davis Hughes.
1966	28 February	Jørn Utzon resigns.
	19 April	Replacements for Jørn Utzon announced a panel consisting of: E.H. Farmer, Government Architect Peter Hall, Design Architect D.S. Littlemore, in charge of supervision, and Lionel Todd, in charge of contract documents
	28 April	Jørn Utzon leaves Sydney.
	May 17	The Government pays Utzon's representatives $160,000 in return for 130 architectural drawings for Stage III.
	12 December	Hall, Todd and Littlemore submit "Review of Program" and suggest major changes to the use of halls.
1967	March	Stage II completed.
1972	28 February	The Premier, Sir Robert Askin, heads the Sydney Opera House Official Opening Committee.
1972	17 December	First test concert in Concert Hall with Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Bernard Heinze.
1973		Responsibility for the Opera House is given to the Sydney Opera Trust and the Minister of Cultural Activities, George Freudenstein.
1973	29 September	First public concert in Concert Hall with Birgit Nilsson singing Wagner with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under Charles Mackerras.
1973	20 October	Official opening by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
1974	May	The final cost of the Opera House is $102 million (excluding cost for the organ and car park.)
1975	31 May	Architects' Certificate of Completion.
1979	30 May	Organ finished.
1993	17 March	A car park for 1,100 cars is built under the Royal Botanic Gardens by Enacom in association with the Department of Public Works. The Car park is opened by the Premier of NSW, Mr John Fahey
1997	28 March	The Premier and Minister for the Arts, Mr Bob Carr, announced that in an endeavour to reflect the Government's commitment to open and accountable administration, all the construction records of the Opera House, irrespective of their age, were to be open to the public