What Is in the Powerhouse Collection?

Updated

The Powerhouse Collection contains more than half a million objects of national and international significance, spanning the arts, design, science and technology. According to Powerhouse, it is considered one of the finest and most diverse collections in the world. For the first time in the museum's 140-year history, the entire collection is housed in one location.

What the Collection Covers

Powerhouse describes itself as sitting at the intersection of the arts, design, science and technology. That positioning is reflected in the collection's scope: rather than a single subject area, it brings together objects across creative practice, engineering, innovation and material culture.

The collection is custodian to over 500,000 objects. Powerhouse characterises these as being of national and international significance.

The Archives Within the Collection

The Powerhouse Collection includes the Powerhouse Archives, which is made up of two parts:

  • Collected Archives — hundreds of individual archives gathered into the collection.
  • Powerhouse Institutional Archives — records dating from 1880, documenting the museum's own history.

Together, these archival holdings sit alongside the object collection rather than separately from it.

Where the Collection Is Held

For the first time in the museum's 140-year history, the entire Powerhouse Collection is housed in one location. This is a change from the collection being distributed across sites.

Powerhouse Locations and Opening Status

The collection sits within a museum group with several sites in Sydney. Current opening status, as listed by Powerhouse:

Location Status
Parramatta Opens 7 November
Ultimo Temporarily closed for heritage revitalisation
Castle Hill Open weekends
Sydney Observatory Open Thursday–Sunday

Powerhouse Parramatta opens 7 November. If your interest is in seeing collection material in person, Parramatta is the relevant opening to watch, while Castle Hill and Sydney Observatory are the sites currently open on their listed days.

Staying Informed

Powerhouse offers a subscribe option for news, exhibitions and programs, which is the direct way to receive updates as sites and displays change.