On October 19, we issue a special 'W' denomination stamp to mark the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Sydney Opera House.

In doing so, we honour Peter Rice (1923-1992), a brilliant Irish structural engineer who was central to the creation of this iconic building and one of the world’s most recognisable landmarks. Born in Dublin, Rice grew up in Dundalk and studied at Queen’s University Belfast and Imperial College London. He would go on to be associated with other famous buildings such as the Centre Pompidou in Paris and Lloyds of London.

As resident site engineer on the Sydney Opera House project, Rice brought his immense mathematical and artistic skills to bear to ensure that the construction of this remarkable building was successfully completed.

David Rooney’s atmospheric illustrations on the stamp and First Day Cover are inspired by the artist’s personal experience of the building. The acoustic soundwaves that are reflected on the water take inspiration from the artwork of the Australian First Nations people that lived in the coastal Sydney District. The illustration on the FDC depicts Peter Rice at work on the site.

Image of the Sydney Opera House used with the permission of Sydney Opera House Trust 2023.
 

Product code 2312W