The Minns Government Will Announce the Investment on Tuesday, With Most Works Invisible to the Public

The Minns government will announce the investment on Tuesday, with most works invisible to the public. The announcement marks a final milestone for outgoing chief executive Louise Herron, who departs this week after 14 years to take on a Vice Chancellor's Fellow role at the University of Sydney. This funding will do wonders for the long-term future of a World Heritage masterpiece, Herron said.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the injection would help the Opera House keep pace with modern visitor and performance expectations. Key features include replacing 1970s-era theatre machinery in the Playhouse, Studio and Drama Theatre, introducing automated stage draping, risers and acoustic curtains. Work begins in 2027, focusing on reinforcing concrete piers and submerged structures of the Northern Boardwalk.

Arts Minister John Graham said the upgrades follow recent planning reforms that increased outdoor venue capacity. The Opera House welcomes 11 million precinct visitors yearly, with 1.4 million audience members at 1850 annual performances and more than 8000 people employed across the precinct. The former Coalition government contributed $234 million to the building's decade-long renewal, with the Opera House contributing more than $50 million from its own reserves.