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The Sydney Opera House Official Opening Committee was responsible for overall policy governing the official opening of the Sydney Opera House and associated activities, including finance.
The Committee was inaugurated on 28 February 1972 following a meeting of Cabinet. President of the Committee was the Premier of NSW, the Hon. Sir Robert Askin, the Hon. G F Freudenstein, MLA, Minister for Conservation, and for Cultural Activities was appointed Chairman (1), and Sir Phillip Baxter, Chairman of the Sydney Opera House Trust, was appointed Deputy Chairman.(2)
On 20 March 1972 the Committee established the Sydney Opera House Official Opening Citizens Committee, with the Hon. Sir Asher Joel MLC as Chairman. This Committee was responsible for planning activities associated with the official opening, and also for arranging a festival of events for the two weeks following.(3) A number of supplementary committees were formed to deal with specific activities, including a Decorations and Illuminations Committee, a Sydney Harbour Carnival Committee, a Tourism and Accommodation Committee, a Promotions and Hospitality Committee, and a Women's Festival Committee.(4)
On 20 October 1973 the Sydney Opera House was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II, with the Committee finalising it's responsibilities on 3 November 1973 as the official opening festivities drew to a close.
FOOTNOTES:
(1) Sydney Opera House Official Opening Committee : Final Report, October 20-November 3 1973, (SRNSW Ref: 3/4522, p.4)
(2) Trustees of the Sydney Opera House report for the year ended 30 June 1972 in the Joint Volumes of the Parliamentary Papers of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly of New South Wales, 1972-73, Vol 5, p.139
(3) ibid, p.140.
(4) Sydney Opera House Official Opening Committee: Final Report, loc.cit.
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