The boards have been well trodden, the seats and foyers worn and torn. Now it’s time for a facelift for some of Australia’s great performing arts venues, shaped by 21st-century sensibilities, including inclusivity and accessibility. Steve Dow surveys some recent renovations and the changes ahead.

Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Simone Young conducts Mahler 2 as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra reopens the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, 2022. Photo © Daniel Boud

In July 2022, the Concert Hall at the Sydney Opera House reopened after a two-year, $150 million renovation. It was the last phase in the New South Wales Government’s “decade of renewal” at the landmark venue, accounting for half of the...