Giant cupcakes join the celebration as the Sydney Opera House turns 40

▲The sugar-coated giant cupcake is shaped like the Sydney Opera House, with singer Jimmy Barnes pictured second from the left. (Photo/From the Sydney Opera House FB fan page)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The Sydney Opera House, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Australia’s most iconic landmarks, is celebrating its 40th birthday. Organizers marked the occasion with Aboriginal dance performances, a massive cupcake, and rock singer Jimmy Barnes leading the Navy Band in a rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

▲Everyone celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Sydney Opera House. (Photo/From the Sydney Opera House FB fan page)

According to foreign media reports on the 20th, the grand celebration featured a giant cupcake topped with green candles, carried onto the stage by a fleet of lifeguards' boats. Notably, a smaller cupcake displayed icing shaped like the Sydney Opera House. The Danish architect Jørn Utzon, designer of the Sydney Opera House, along with his grandchildren, participated in the celebration. Additionally, a large crowd gathered around the Opera House to celebrate this magnificent structure, which has stood for 40 years and attracts 8.2 million visitors annually.

The Sydney Opera House took 14 years to build, costing 102 million Australian dollars (approximately 3.12 billion Taiwan dollars). It includes a concert hall, opera theater, drama theater, playhouse, and studio, hosting between 2,000 and 3,000 performances each year. In 2005, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.