The Sydney Opera House: the story of an icon
The rich indigenous history of Bennelong Point is presented together with the impact of European settlement producing military forts and a key tramway hub. A brief overview of the Sydney Opera House structure is provided, noting in particular the famous sails.
The event includes a description of the inventive design and construction methods, revealing the intricate Australian craftsmanship and innovative techniques that went into one of the most recognizable structures in the world.
About the Speakers
Structural Engineer, Arup
Senior Lecturer in Architectural Construction, UNSW
Bill graduated from Sydney University in 1976. After a career in the building industry, he moved into history and archives in 2010 as manager of the Railway Resource Centre. In 2013 he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for service to people with disability, recognising more than 35 years of work with the engineering-based charity Technical Aid to the Disabled. Bill is Deputy Chairman of Engineering Heritage Sydney. He has had several books published looking at rail infrastructure in NSW. In 2019 his book, The Hawkesbury River Railway Bridges, received the Colin Crisp Award from Engineers Heritage Australia. His current pre-occupation is Sydney’s Transport Revolution, a sub-section of the Engineers Heritage Australia website which looks in detail at the Sydney Harbour Bridge construction between 1922 and 1932.
