Sydney Opera House
was formally recognized as one of the most outstanding places on Earth with its
inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the World Heritage Convention on 28 June 2007.
The expert report by
the International Council on Monuments and Sites to the World Heritage
Committee states, "Sydney Opera
House stands by itself as one of the indisputable masterpieces of human
creativity, not only in the 20th century but in the history of humankind."
At the time of
listing it was 50 years since JørnUtzon was announced as the competition winner
(January 1957) and 33 years since Sydney Opera House was officially opened
(October 1973). It is the youngest cultural site to ever be included on the
World Heritage List and one of only two cultural sites to be listed during the
lifetime of its architect, JørnUtzon (1918-2008).