Awkward wallflowers the world over in dire need of Christmas party small talk fodder can now add ‘I just bought a 12x12cm tile on the tallest sail of the Sydney Opera House next to Hugh Jackman!’ to their flashcard conversational repertoire of Failsafe Cool Stories [subheadings: Things I Bought Recently; Jackman, Hugh – stories about] provided they’ve cash to burn, after The Opera House today launched a fund-raising restoration initiative ‘Own Our House.’ In other words, this is the closest most young Australians will ever get to actually owning a house.
Naming rights to one of the 125,000 tiles are now available for purchase online, and newly-minted tile owners will be able “to see the view from their tile via a virtual 3D model of the world heritage-listed landmark and personalise it with a photograph and message,” according to the AFR.
A matte ‘snow’ tile will set you back $400; a shiny ‘ice’ tile goes for $100; a place as a venerated tile owner above the Concert Hall alongside ‘housemates’ Jackman and his wife Deborah Lee Furness, actor Jack Thompson, folk beard Josh Pyke, human weave Delta Goodrem, kitchen hand Matt Moran, and musicians Glen Hansard, The Frames and Diesel, who have also bought tiles, is priceless. Josh Pyke is going to put a picture of the Opera House on his Opera House tile. It’s literally yours to do with what you will; you could even put a picture of a twerk on it, or a doge – the world is your oyster [coloured tile]!
Proceeds from sales of the tiles will form the seed funding of a decade-long renewal of the iconic building, which this year turned forty, as well as contributing to increasing public access through free events, digital innovation and new education initiatives. Necessary upgrades to the building are estimated to cost up to $1 billion.
Sydney Opera House chief executive Louise Herron hopes to raise $15 million through the Own Our House campaign, saying, “It’s the people’s house, we want to let people come inside and get a sense of ownership. We hope people will take it up and think it’s a good Christmas present to give away.”
You can buy a piece of history or the chance to be Delta Goodrem’s ‘housemate’ without all the moulting and the passive aggressive post-it notes on literally everything here.
Photo: Lisa Maree Williams via Getty
