Merlin Entertainments has confirmed that a new AU$14m (£8.9m, EUR10.2m, US$14.5m) Madame Tussauds attraction is to open its doors in Sydney, Australia, in May 2012.

The 1,800sq m (19,375sq ft) attraction is the 13th Madame Tussauds-branded venue and the fourth in Asia Pacific behind Hong Kong; Shanghai, China; and Bangkok, Thailand. Madame Tussauds Sydney will accompany four other Sydney attractions bought by Merlin earlier this year - including Sydney Aquarium and Oceanworld Manly.

Merlin will also operate the soon-to-relaunch Wild Life Sydney and Sydney Tower Eye and Skywalk, with Madame Tussauds expected to add a "new dimension" to Darling Harbour. Glenn Earlam, midway managing director at Merlin, said: "When we acquired the four existing top attractions in the city, we believed that they had great potential for development, and that is already proving the case.

"Madame Tussauds is the obvious one of our global brands to bring here first, and we believe will not only be very complementary to our other attractions but also add a new dimension to Darling Harbour."