The Sydney Opera House construction was a famously fraught saga, but as the city’s landmark celebrates its 50th anniversary, former workers recall a vastly different atmosphere on site. Michael Elfick, a surveyor in his early 20s at the time, remembers the minimal safety precautions. He says workers strolled over the shells high in the sky as needed. The small 2-hectare site housed three tower cranes that swung 10-tonne lumps of concrete through the air. Elfick explains how workers had to place the concrete with great precision, standing on top of the shells to guide them into exact positions. The crane drivers faced challenges in visibility due to the rising shells, which could have led to dangerous accidents. Fortunately, no fatalities occurred during the construction of the Opera House.
The Opera House has had a long and controversial history since its opening by Queen Elizabeth on October 20, 1973. Drama surrounded the project from its conception. Construction started in 1959 to bring to life the visionary design of Danish architect Jørn Utzon. However, when a new government was elected in 1965, the minister of works challenged Utzon’s costs and schedules, eventually cutting off payments to the project. Utzon resigned a year later and never returned to see his completed design. Protests erupted, demanding Utzon’s return. Strikes also interrupted construction as workers fought for improved working conditions. Despite these challenges, work continued. Construction would start at dawn and continue well into the night. The collaborative effort of the workers created the iconic structure that stands today.
Peter Thompson, a structural engineer at Ove Arup, expresses pride on the 50th anniversary and recounts the difficulties faced by the team. The roof of the Opera House was shaped by bending a piece of Perspex and tracing the curves, without a mathematical basis. Thompson explains that three systems were integrated, and the team relied on their knowledge of three-dimensional geometry. Utzon and his architects eventually realized that the shells could be derived from the surface of a sphere, presenting a geometric solution for engineers. The design mimics billowed sails, and the thinness of the shells surprises many. The use of concrete in the construction was remarkable, with four-inch slabs forming the ribs and chevron-patterned white tile panels only adding an inch to the outside. Construction of the interior also presented challenges, with the installation of plywood panel ceilings and Gyprocking the stairs into the auditoriums. Ken Hepworth, a carpenter, reminisces about the camaraderie among the workers on site and the precise attention to detail that resulted in a perfect building.
The Sydney Opera House remains an iconic symbol of architectural excellence, showcasing the skill and dedication of the workers who contributed to its construction. The workers, including surveyors like Michael Elfick and structural engineers like Peter Thompson, take immense pride in their roles in creating this masterpiece. Despite the controversies and challenges faced, the Sydney Opera House stands as a testament to the perseverance of the team that built it.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
