(CNN) A controversial advertisement projected on the side of the Sydney Opera House was disrupted by a sea of lights on Tuesday evening, as protesters attempted to ruin the light show with flashlights and smartphones.

Plans to splash an advertisement for the Everest Cup horse race on the side of the UNESCO World Heritage site fiercely divided Australia's largest city in the past week.

The crowd boos as the Racing NSW lighting display begins at the #SydneyOperaHouse @abcnews pic.twitter.com/0aguCP385J — Nick Dole (@NicholasDole) October 9, 2018

Hundreds of protestors shouting "our house" gathered outside the Opera House late on Tuesday, carrying banners and torches ahead of the light show which began shortly before 8 p.m. (5 a.m. ET).

Loud boos broke out when the side of the building lit up with the advertisement for the upcoming race and bright white lights from the protestors' flashlights partially disrupted the light show.