battye wrote:
Couldn't find the Sydney Harbour Bridge, oh well, hopefully Sydney will get represented by the Opera House.
Battye...The Opera House has made the big time!!
Opera House Makes World Heritage List
Thu Jun 28, 2007
The United Nations (UN) has added the Sydney Opera House to the World Heritage list of culturally significant sites.
The harbourside landmark has won the approval of around 800 delegates at a World Heritage committee meeting in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The formal World Heritage nomination, inspection and assessment process may have taken almost as long as its construction, but delegates from 21 countries wasted little time giving the Opera House their tick of approval.
It takes its place on the register among more than 800 sites of outstanding cultural and natural significance, including China's Great Wall and India's Taj Mahal.
Prime Minister John Howard said in a statement he was delighted the Opera House has been included on the list.
"The Opera House, and its setting at Bennelong Point on Sydney Harbour, is an iconic and treasured place, not just for Australians but also internationally," he said.
"The Sydney Opera House, as an outstanding example of 20th century architecture, is a testament to the daring of architect Jorn Utzon, and to those who brought about his vision.
"It is also, of course, testament to the openness of the people of Sydney and Australia, and an enduring legacy for our place in the world."
Federal Minister for the Environment Malcolm Turnbull says it is a great tribute to the building.
"This puts the Sydney Opera House on a par with the pyramids of Egypt and the Taj Mahal," he said.
The Opposition's environment spokesman, Peter Garrett, has also welcomed the Opera House heritage listing, but says the Federal Government should now nominate other natural sites for recognition.
"It's a fantastic building, it shows what we're capable of when we harness creativity in our built environment," he said.
"But we believe it's critical that further World Heritage nominations follow for the natural environment, in particular Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, which has long been a prime candidate for listing."
New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma has told Parliament the building has been acknowledged as a daring piece of architecture.
Australia now has 17 world heritage listed sites, ranging from the Great Barrier Reef and Tasmania's south-west wilderness, to Melbourne's Royal Exhibition Buildings.
The Sydney Opera House is the youngest building to achieve World Heritage listing.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007 ... 964906.htm
7 days 10 hours left to cast your vote!!
http://www.new7wonders.com/
