Media - History of the Museum

From Palace to Powerhouse

Vibrant, modern and fully interactive, the Powerhouse Museum is far from your stereotypical museum and will this year celebrate its 125th year anniversary. The Powerhouse Museum today is Sydney’s largest and most popular museum housing an extraordinary array of treasures, objects, oddities and innovations from Australia and around the world.

With over 25 exhibitions on at any one time exploring an amazing array of phenomena there is something here for everyone. More than 250 interactives bring the Powerhouse Museum to life for thousands of people each year. Touch screen computers, holographic images, science experiments and hands-on fun are guaranteed to delight children and adults alike. An ever-changing program of temporary displays complements a range of permanent exhibitions, and regular demonstrations, performances, workshops and other special events are presented throughout the Museum.

The Powerhouse Museum also offers a wide variety of other facilities. A stunning variety of locations can be hired for conferences, dinners, trade shows or weddings; the SoundHouse™ uses technologies, principally computers and related systems, providing an interactive, educational, fun music and multimedia project laboratory; two cafes provide delicious meals, snacks and coffee and the Museum shops present a great range of interesting and exclusive gifts, souvenirs and books.

The humble beginning of this world-class organisation began at the 1879 International Exhibition in Sydney's Garden Palace - a showcase of the colony's greatest achievements. A fire swept through this magnificent building, destroying virtually all it held, except for a small collection that was set aside for the fledgling collection of another museum.

The Garden Palace, 1879
The Garden Palace, 1879

The Museum changed sites several times and secured its final home in the Ultimo power station on the edge of Sydney's central business district. The power station dates back to 1899 when it was built to power Sydney's electric tram system. The power station operated until the trams were removed from Sydney's streets in 1963.

Following an eight year transformation, the Powerhouse Museum opened in 1988 to world acclaim as the flagship of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) and dazzled visitors with an estimated display of 10,000 objects in 25 galleries collected over more than a century. The entrance building was the only new addition and its design complements the vastness of the older spaces.

The Powerhouse now presents a magnificent backdrop to the Museum's vast and diverse collection - from planes, trains and steam engines to fashion, design and innovations. The Museum is also home to Australian culture, history and lifestyle, providing a comprehensive insight into this rich and diverse country.

Address: Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo
Telephone: (02) 9217 0111 or infoline (02) 9217 0444
Hours: 10.00am to 5.00pm everyday (except Christmas Day)

Media & Marketing: (02) 9217 0389