The Powerhouse Museum in Sydney - A Trip Through Time and Memory
While I was hiking around Central Coast in Australia, I met two really kind ladies who worked in the Powerhouse Museum and vehemently recommended us to visit it. At that time, I had no idea what a "Powerhouse Museum" could be about (a museum only about powerhouses?), what inspired my curiosity, and for my surprise it was an amazing experience. It quickly became one of my favourite museums in Sydney. Motivated by that, 3 years later I have decided to share some information about it because everyone should know it! Thank you very much, powerhouse museum ladies.
Origins and Foundation:
- The Powerhouse Museum was founded in 1988, but it all began with a collection of industrial and technological objects that were first shown during the Sydney International Exhibition in 1879 hosted in the Garden Palace, a purpose-built structure erected in the Royal Botanic Garden.
- A tragic event occurred not long after the Sydney International Exhibition. The magnificent building and most of the exhibits were destroyed when a devastating fire decimated the Garden Palace in 1882.
- In 1981, a century later, the Powerhouse Museum was formally founded. The museum's mission was to showcase and preserve Australia's technological heritage in order to carry on the Sydney International Exhibition's legacy. The Powerhouse Museum, located in Ultimo's former tram depot, developed into a center for innovation and learning.
- The museum began a new chapter in its history in 1988 when it moved to its current site in Ultimo. The Powerhouse Museum relocated to the Ultimo Power Station, which provided an appropriate venue for showcasing and conserving Australia's technological triumphs.
Architecture:
The museum's design is a work of art that combines traditional and contemporary elements. Even though it is a different mixture, the modern additions to the museum's design blend in with the preserved industrial facade of the former power station making it quite unique.
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The Collection:
The collection of the Powerhouse Museum is large and varied, encompassing subjects from scientific concepts, technological objects, design concepts, decorative arts and social history. The permanent exhibition includes everything from transportation relics and steam engines to fashion and really fun interactive displays. And not being only limited to that, the Powerhouse Museum also "goes to space" displaying breathtaking satellites, aircrats, and space suits and crafts.
Notorious Exhibitions:
Many iconic displays can be found at the museum, such as the Locomotive No. 1, the first train ever constructed in New South Wales which dates back from the mid XIX century. Another highlight is the miniature replica of the astronomical clock in Strasbourg, France, known as the Strasburg Clock Model.
Temporary Exhibitions:
The Powerhouse Museum also houses several temporary exhibitions through the year related to many different subjects, so it is always worth it giving it a check on the website in order to keep updated. The time we were there was possible to see a beautiful guitar collection and a really chic and fashionable Gucci display.
Take the boat through the ocean of time and memory in the Powerhouse Museum, discover the secrets of the past and the roots of the present. And find out more about how technology impacts our day-to-day life in this fascinating and beautiful place.
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