MEDIA RELEASE
Launch of new Welcome Centre honours
Opera House’s cultural heritage
– Minister for the Environment, the Hon Greg Hunt MP officially opens Opera House Welcome Centre –
– Sydney schoolchildren the first to enjoy new visitor experience –
Sydney – Wednesday, 9 December, 2015: Australia’s most famous building and number one tourist attraction
today unveiled a state-of-the-art Welcome Centre where visitors can explore the Opera House’s rich cultural and
architectural heritage and vibrant contemporary programming.
The Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for the Environment, officially opened the Welcome Centre, the first project to be
completed as part of Stage 1 of the Opera House’s Renewal program. Stage 1 comprises a suite of works to renew
the state, national and World Heritage-listed building for future generations of artists, audiences and visitors.
Located on the Opera House’s Lower Concourse, the Welcome Centre incorporates heritage interpretation of the
site and digital content showcasing the performances inside, along with a retail store, tour meeting point, cloaking
and ticketing area. The aim is to provide an information and orientation hub for the 8.2 million visitors who visit
the precinct each year.
A Welcome Plinth is also being installed at the entrance to the site, incorporating a specially recorded
Acknowledgement of Country soundscape. The bronze plinth – due for completion in early 2016 – will mark the
beginning of the Opera House’s new visitor journey and celebrate the Indigenous heritage and cultural significance
of Bennelong Point.
Minister for the Environment, the Hon Greg Hunt MP said: “The Opera House is one of Australia’s most significant
cultural icons, so it is important that its history and heritage are understood and valued by all Australians and
protected for future generations. The new Welcome Centre will transform the way visitors experience the Opera
House and all that it represents both as an architectural masterpiece and as one of the world’s busiest performing
arts centres.”
The Minister was joined by Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron AM and local schoolchildren from Crown Street
Public school to celebrate today’s opening. The students were among the first people to try out the new facility,
before they were guided on a tour of discovery inside the world-famous Opera House.
Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron AM said: “This new Welcome Centre invites people to explore the Opera
House’s cultural significance and discover the incredible artistic experiences that are shared here by millions of
people each year – from contemporary music and intriguing speakers to the very best of classical arts and creative
shows for children and families.
“The Opera House has become the symbol of modern Australia. It’s great to see visitors discovering this wonderful
story in a whole new way through the Welcome Centre’s innovative interpretative displays. The next generation is
really embracing Australia’s cultural heritage. All of us play a vital role in preserving and progressing it. That is why
the Opera House prioritised the Welcome Centre project as part of our broader Renewal program. We want people
to feel even more welcome here at Bennelong Point, a meeting place for thousands of years.”
The Welcome Centre has been jointly funded by the Commonwealth Government’s Your Community Heritage
Program, private philanthropy and the Opera House. Further support from Opera House Principal Partner Samsung
has enabled the production of interpretative video content that is displayed across 12 digital screens on the
northern wall of the Welcome Centre.
MEDIA RELEASE
As well as showcasing the diversity of the Opera House’s artistic programming, the digital content tells the story of
significant moments past and present, culminating in a social media feed curating images through
#sydneyoperahouse. The aim is to encourage deeper engagement with the millions of visitors who have made the
Opera House one of Australia’s top destinations and most popular hashtags.
Philip Newton, Corporate Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Electronics Australia Pty Ltd. said:
“Technology is at the heart of this new visitor experience. Through our partnership we have been able to integrate
Samsung’s latest digital technology into the Welcome Centre – helping to engage visitors while inviting people on
the outside to see the magic that happens beneath the Opera House’s famous sails.”
As Principal Partner, Samsung will continue to play a vital role in providing the Opera House with its latest
technology as part of the broader Renewal program.
At today’s event, the Minister also unveiled a new Australian Heritage Strategy – providing national strategic
direction for heritage management across all levels of government and the community for the next ten years.
-endsFor further media information, please contact:
Jess Gooch, Communications Manager, Sydney Opera House
+61 2 9250 7428 | +61 415 403 135 | jgooch@sydneyoperahouse.com
Sydney Opera House
The Opera House is a masterpiece that belongs to all Australians. One of the world's most recognised and
celebrated buildings, it contributes significantly to the cultural life of the city. The World Heritage-listed Opera
House welcomes more than 8.2 million visitors on site every year and hosts 1,900 performances attended by 1.45
million people. It is one of the world's busiest cultural precincts.