Television reporter Gabrielle Boyle (L) poses with a wax figure of actress Marilyn Monroe (R), on the opening day of the new Madame Tussauds exhibition in Sydney on April 16, 2012. It has taken a staggering 56,000 hours of work and over 1,750 kg of Japanese and bee's wax to create the collection of over 70 figures now on display at the attraction, the first of its kind to land on Australian shores.- AFP Photo

SYDNEY: Waxworks museum Madame Tussauds opened a branch in Sydney on Monday with Australian personalities Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman sharing the stage with Barack Obama and Lady Gaga.

The world-famous London attraction set up shop in tourist precinct Darling Harbour after 56,000 hours of work creating the 70 figures on display.

“Madame Tussauds is synonymous with history, heritage and fine artistry and we're so excited that we can finally welcome such an iconic attraction to Sydney,” said general manager Hywel Mathais.

A visitor (R) pretends to talk on a phone alongside a wax figure of US President Barack Obama (L), on the opening day of the new Madame Tussauds exhibition in Sydney on April 16, 2012. - AFP Photo

He said it took 60 artists about 800 hours to create a single figure.

“I've got a dedicated team who literally spend all the time re-touching, making it perfect, keeping it 100 per cent right,” Mathias said.

Other waxworks featured in Sydney include Hollywood A-listers Leonardo DiCaprio and Angelina Jolie, TV host Oprah Winfrey, Queen Elizabeth II as well as iconic Australians Elle Macpherson and “Crocodile Dundee” star Paul Hogan.

Madame Tussauds first opened its doors more than 200 years ago in London and has since expanded across the globe.

Visitor Jessica Kiraly (R) sits next to a wax figure of US talk show host Oprah Winfrey (L), on the opening day of the new Madame Tussauds exhibition in Sydney on April 16, 2012. - AFP Photo