This morning I was privileged to be able to attend the memorial to architect Jorn Utzon, the designer of the Sydney Opera House. This was, appropriately, held in the Concert Hall in the Opera House, and was attended by many members of the Opera House family.

These included those organisations for whom the Opera House is home, including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Opera Australia, and the Sydney Theatre Company. Dignitaries included the Governor, Marie Bashir, the Premier of NSW, Nathan Rees, and the Federal Minister for the Arts, Peter Garret.

And of course the Utzon family was represented with two of Jorn’s children, Jan and Lin.

Listening to the speeches being made gave one a few moments to reflect upon this amazing building: how often is it that a building captures the imagination of not just a city, and not just a nation, but the whole world? The Sydney Opera House is an instantly recognisable landmark that is known throughout the whole world, and has come to represent an icon for the city of Sydney.

That Utzon was able to create the design for this building well over fifty years ago, and the fact that this building so beautifully complements its harbourside location, is a tribute to the vision of this man.

I can recall reading newspaper stories about the Opera House when I was much younger. The building was under construction, and it was mired in controversy. “White Elephant” screamed the newspaper headlines of the day.

White Elephant? Nothing could be further from the truth: this building is in constant use, and is a point of focus for pretty well every tourist that visits Sydney. It is an arts centre, a performance space, a place of learning and inspiration, a place to visit, and a sculpture to admire from both near and far.

And it is loved.

Jorn Utzon, I thank you for your vision, and your gift to Sydney.