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Looking up at many clear perspex discs hanging from the ceiling of the Concert Hall.

Take History Home The doughnuts from the Concert Hall are up for auction

3 – 21 November 2023

The Concert Hall’s decommissioned acoustic reflectors, affectionately known as the ‘doughnuts’ were loved by performers, audiences and staff since the Opera House opened in 1973.

Now, nine originating from the mid-1990s – 2009 are available to buy via an online auction running until Tuesday 21 November 2023.

I love them because they remind me of the whole drama of the place and are symbolic of that time and era of Sydney

Willy Hall, son of Opera House architect Peter Hall

About the doughnuts

The acoustic reflectors or ‘doughnuts’ as they’re commonly referred to, were hung in the Opera House’s Concert Hall since its opening in 1973. From Arnold Schwarzenegger to the London Symphony Orchestra to Nick Cave, they have reflected the sounds of hundreds of famous artists and public figures. Replaced a few times between their original manufacture and 2009, they were then decommissioned in 2020 to make way for new acoustic technology as part of the Opera House’s Decade of Renewal.

Now, nine of the ‘doughnuts’ originating from the 1990s – 2009 are available to buy via an online auction hosted by Leonard Joel. This provides the unique opportunity to take home a significant item in the Opera House’s history.

For questions about the auction, please contact Leonard Joel's Sydney office at sydney@leonardjoel.com.au and for questions about the viewing or Concert Hall Doughnuts please contact the Philanthropy Team at philanthropy@sydneyoperahouse.com

Frequently asked questions

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