The People’s House Sydney Opera House at 50
1 July - 12 November 2023
Museum of Sydney and Sydney Opera House | Experience
This year, the Sydney Opera House is celebrating 50 outstanding years in the cultural and social life of Sydney and the nation. The free exhibition, The People’s House: Sydney Opera House at 50, at the Museum of Sydney and the Sydney Opera House, commemorates five decades of extraordinary performances and unforgettable moments and celebrates this architectural marvel that has become Sydney’s great civic space and ‘the people’s house’.
Relive the magic of past performances and events and discover the remarkable stories that have shaped the Opera House, from its very first year to now. See extraordinary costumes, posters and programs, rare archival records, architectural drawings, and photographs, and enjoy interactive experiences.
The Opera House will showcase a collection onsite of archival posters and photographs from 1973 and the early 2000s in Bennelong Passage and the Box Office Lounge as part of the exhibition. Join us on the People's House Tour to see the whole collection.
Tour dates and times
| Date | Time | MHNSW Up Late program |
| Thursday 13 July | 5pm | Live music performance |
| Thursday 20 July | 5pm | Live talk |
| Thursday 27 July | 5pm | Live talk |
| Thursday 3 Aug | 5pm | Live talk |
| Thursday 10 Aug | 5pm | Live music performance |
| Thursday 17 Aug | 5pm | Live talk |
| Thursday 24 Aug | 5pm | Live talk |
| Thursday 31 Aug | 5pm | Live talk |
| Thursday 7 Sept | 5pm | - |
| Thursday 14 Sept | 5pm | Live music performance |
| Thursday 21 Sept | 5pm | Museum closes at 5pm |
| Thursday 28 Sept | 5pm | Museum closes at 5pm |
All tours will start at 5pm from the Box Office and electively finish at the Museum of Sydney for a live talk or music performance.
The shuttle bus will not operate on Thursday 7, 21 and 28 September.
Exhibition dates and times
The People’s House: Sydney Opera House at 50 is a free exhibition open daily at the Museum of Sydney, from 10am-5pm.
The exhibition continues in the Opera House's Bennelong Passage and Box Office Lounge, open daily.
|
Ticket |
Price |
|
Adult |
$25 |
|
Concession* |
$20 |
|
Child^ |
$20 |
* Concessions are available to holders of an Australian Seniors Card, Australian Pensioners, Full-time students aged 16+.
^ Child 5 to 15 years of age. Children under 5 years are free of charge. Children aged 15 and under must be accompanied at all times.
All tickets include a drink and canapé in the Box Office Lounge, a shuttle bus to the The People's House Exhibition at the Museum of Sydney and registration to the Museum's corresponding talks and live music sessions.
Tour in English
Run time
This experience runs for approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes.
This time is from when one of our guides meets guests at the Box Office, by the Information Desk, through to meeting the shuttle bus to take you to Museum of Sydney.
What to know before you go
We stage lots of live performances, so venues are subject to availability at the time of your tour.
You’ll be on your feet for a guided tour, there are over 300 stairs, so flat comfortable shoes are recommended. Your feet will thank you!
If you have mobility concerns, you may wish to take a Mobility Access Tour.
We can’t store suitcases or large bags, however you can contact the nearest storage facility at circularquay@baggagestorage.com.au
Videoing is not allowed.
There are plenty of photo opportunities. Your tour guide will advise you if photos are not to be taken at any point.
Also on this page
The People’s House Tour
Thursdays, 13 Jul - 28 Sept 2023
The Sydney Opera House has been the subject of photographs, documentaries, video interviews and news bulletins for over fifty years. Relive the magic of past performances and events through a collection of posters and photographs from 1973 and the early 2000s that reflect the extraordinary variety of local and international productions staged at the Opera House. The Exhibition will be on display in Bennelong Passage and the Box Office Lounge.
The People's House Tour will guide you through the spaces and venues of the Opera House as your tour guide touches on the history and magical stories from the past fifty years and how the Opera House came to be, before ending at the Box Office Lounge to view the nostalgic exhibition with a drink and canapé.
An exhibition produced by Museums of History NSW in partnership with the Sydney Opera House and in collaboration with design and technology company Art Processors. This project is proudly supported by the NSW Government through the Blockbusters Funding initiative and the Culture Up Late program.
Eat & drink
Bennelong Point has been a place for feasting and celebrating for millennia. So it's only natural that here at the Opera House, the entertainment jumps from the stage and onto the plate.
Other information
Getting here
The Sydney Opera House Car Park, operated by Wilson Parking, is open and available to use. Wilson Parking offer discounted parking if you book ahead. Please see their website for details.
Please check the Transport NSW website for the latest advice and information on travel and COVID-19 safety measures. You can catch public transport (bus, train, ferry) to Circular Quay and enjoy a six min walk to the Opera House.
Covid-safe information
The health and wellbeing of everyone attending the Opera House is our top priority. We’re committed to making your experience safe, comfortable and enjoyable, with a number of measures in place including regular cleaning of high-touch areas, air conditioning systems that maximise ventilation, and hand sanitiser stations positioned in all paths of travel. We encourage you to wear a mask in indoor settings or when physical distancing can’t be maintained, and please stay home if you feel unwell. If you need to discuss your ticketing or booking options, contact our Box Office team on 02 9250 7777.
Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of everyone on site, and we are closely following NSW Health guidelines and advice. The Sydney Opera House is registered as a COVID Safe business with the NSW Government. For detailed information about our COVID-19 safety measures and what’s required of you when visiting, please see our plan your visit page.
Face masks are strongly recommended for all patrons while inside our theatres and foyers, including during the performance. Please bring your own mask.
As you move around the Opera House, practise physical distancing (1.5 metres whenever possible) and follow the guidance provided by our staff and signage.
Within venues, always take your allocated seat.
For detailed information about our COVID-19 safety measures and what’s required of you, please see our plan your visit page.
The Sydney Opera House no longer requires patrons to show that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Face masks are strongly recommended for all patrons while inside our theatres and foyers, including during the performance. Please bring your own mask.
Contact information is required when making a booking with us and upon arrival at the Opera House, as set out in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events and our Customer Privacy Statement.
As the ticket purchaser, you are responsible for recording the contact details of your guests. Contact information will only be used for the purposes of contact tracing, if required, and will be deleted at least 28 days after your event.
Frequently asked questions
It’s a great idea to arrive early, grab a drink and soak up the view. Please arrive 15 minutes before your tour to allow sufficient time to cloak any large bags.
This should allow enough time for the mandatory visual inspections and/or cloaking of bags and personal belongings by Opera House staff before starting your tour.
Where possible, please leave bags at home. If you bring a bag, those larger than A4 size will need to be cloaked before you can go on the tour. We're unable to store suitcases or large bags as we have limited cloaking facilities.
The tour meeting point is at the Information Desk next to the Box Office, with entry under the Covered Concourse.
If you are going to be late for your tour please call our Reservations team on 02 9250 7250 for assistance.
Where possible, please do not bring bags to the Sydney Opera House. Bags larger than A4 size will need to be cloaked before you can go on the tour. However we can’t store suitcases or large bags as our cloaking facilities are extremely limited.
Cameras are allowed on the tour and there are plenty of photo opportunities throughout the entire tour. Your tour guide will advise you whilst on tour if photographs are not to be taken inside any venues. Please note there is no video filming on the tour.
Mobile phones are permitted on the tour however please ensure they are switched off or on silent for the duration of the tour.
You will have the opportunity to visit some of the Opera House’s many venues and theatres on this tour.
Please note that as we are a busy performing arts centre, venues and theatres are subject to availability at the time of your tour.
You can make a booking for up to 11 people though our maximum capacity per tour is 25 people. For capacity reasons the booking must be made by calling 02 9250 7250. Our Reservations team will assist with your reservation.
We encourage you to purchase your tour in advance online or via the phone where you’ll receive an eTicket. Please bring this with you and present it upon check-in at the Welcome Centre located on the Lower Concourse of the Opera House.
The Opera House is currently undertaking critical maintenance works across the site to address water leakage issues affecting the Lower Concourse. These necessary maintenance upgrades are required to mitigate long-term water damage to the Opera House building and its structure. These works will not impact your visit, it's business as usual!
Do ensure that you arrive at the Sydney Opera House at least 15 minutes before your tour to allow sufficient time to cloak any bags and personal belongings.
Yes, the shuttle bus to the Museum of History is included in the ticket, however it is not mandatory and you are welcome to finish the tour at the Opera House.
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