The iconic Sydney Opera House's unique white sail-shaped shells is considered a masterpiece of 20th-century architecture.
It is one of the most-photographed buildings in the world.
In 2007 the Opera House was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The design and construction of the building is a long and complicated story.
As all good stories go, there were unforeseen plot twists, including technical difficulties, delays, budget overruns, political agendas plus oversized and bruised egos.