The current design retains the black steel portal frame trusses of the original 1958 structure, with major additions completed in 1988 in the Post-War International Style through the collaboration of Sydney architects Lawrence Nield and Peter Tonkin.

[7] The first wharf operations, primarily for trade and commercial purposes began in 1792, along the inner western edge of Sydney Cove, now in the vicinity of First Fleet Park and west of Circular Quay station.

The first passenger ferry wharf was built in 1879 at the southern end of the Cove, approximately where the current Circular Quay wharves are located today.

[1] The site of the Overseas Passenger Terminal remained as a place for commercial shipping and dates back to an early linear timer wharf, built by the Sydney Harbour Trust.

[1] Running parallel to Post-War immigration and tourism, the growth and development of larger passenger ships meant that the construction of a dedicated cruise and ocean liner terminal became an infrastructural necessity.

[1][13] Alongside the 500 guests in attendance, the opening was officiated by the then Deputy Premier of New South Wales, Treasurer and Minister for Lands, Jack Renshaw on 20 December 1960.

[16] After the millennium, another series of proposed changes to the OPT were unveiled in 2001 at the cost of $22 million including a re-organisation which provided outside dining, a licensed hotel and new restaurants, as well as replacement of 1988 escalators with elevators.

[17] The PCT Steering Committee also highlighted that between 2002 and 2008, cruise ship berthing had grown at an annual rate of 18%, culminating in an estimated 250,000 passengers entering from the OPT.

Despite this, the OPT remains to be the only commercial berth on the seaward (East) side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and continues to pose future operational challenges as its passenger handling capacity is due to be reached in 2016.

[22] In July 2019, two additional, custom-built walkways, carrying 5000 passengers each arrived at the OPT to support visits from future larger cruise ships.

[26] The primary design concept for the 1988 alterations project was to express the original structure freely, with the strong row of black steel portal frames visible along the waterfront.

Architecture such as this emphasised a focus on the "poetics of structure, transparency and technology" and has its roots in the era of Victorian Industrial Revolution in the United Kingdom, most prominently being the Crystal Palace (1851) designed by Joseph Paxton.

[28] The statement of significance in the New South Wales State Heritage Register for the OPT notes that the building demonstrates "an early use of concrete caisson technology as foreshore reinforcement.

In the original 1988 project, twin splayed escalators, which have since been demolished, were located at the southern end and made the circulation pattern comprehensible, providing a generous entrance area adjacent to Cadmans Cottage.

Under the proposed changes of the 2012 Architectus $25 Million masterplan, a reconsideration of the circulation and arrival/departure halls of the Overseas Passenger Terminal involved reorganising the interior spaces to "offer greater flexibility and cater for usage over the next thirty to forty years.

[2] One criticism of the two remaining extendible gangways highlighted that while "the industrial nature of the gantries contributes to the aesthetic significance of the building, the overall form and covering ... detracts from the artistic expression of the current Overseas Passenger Terminal design.

This involved a series of temporary drag anchors to be installed on the seabed around Campbell's Cove and the passenger terminal to take the ship's bow lines.

Specifically, "it is a symbolic portrayal of two episodes, the flag raising ceremony held on 26th January 1788 and the subsequent landing of the women, children, baggage and farm implements during the next ten days."

As a result of this, the Customs Hall, located within the OPT building is sometimes subject to immigration regulations and controls, managed by the Australian Border Force.

Two significant milestones were achieved in 2012, the first of which was the result of increased mooring capabilities which allowed the Queen Mary II to successfully dock on 7 March 2012.

Whilst the primary operation of the OPT is to serve as a cruise terminal infrastructure building, the 1988 and subsequent renovations have also provided for additional public recreation opportunities and spaces.

[26][41] When cruise ships are not moored at the OPT, restricted spaces along the entire waterfront promenade, is opened for public access, providing an uninterrupted walk along the water's edge from Circular Quay to Campbell's Cove.

Toward the north elevation of the structure, the 1988 additions also provided new public observation decks with unobstructed panoramic views over Circular Quay and Sydney Harbour.

[43] Also located in the OPT is the Quay Restaurant, which between 2010 and 2018 sold more than 500,000 of the cult classic "Snow Egg" dessert created by Executive Chef Peter Gilmore.

It is also common that a large number of Sydney tours for main tourist attractions leave the overseas passenger terminal during the busy months of December, January and February.