Powerhouse Museum: Science, technology and design
One of Sydney’s most popular and fascinating cultural institutions is the Powerhouse Museum, just west of the city centre in the former industrial suburb of Ultimo. Technology and design nerds will find the museum’s range of permanent and temporary exhibitions utterly captivating, but there’s certainly something to attract everyone’s attention here, young and old alike.
The Powerhouse is one of Australia’s largest museums, home to over 30 exhibitions at any one time, with a diverse collection covering all sorts of technology including decorative art, science, communication, transport, dress, furniture, media, computers, space and steam engines.
The Powerhouse opened at the Ultimo site in 1988 and is named after the building it now inhabits – a former electric tram power station. Spend a few hours wandering around the gallery and you could find yourself in a 1930s Art Deco cinema, matching your skill and dexterity against an industrial robot or even strapped into an electric chair.
Among the most notable exhibitions is Steam Revolution, home to the world’s oldest operational rotative steam engine, Further, Faster, Higher, a spectacular sound and light show featuring some of the world’s most amazing vehicles and aircraft, and Chemical Attractions, a hands-on look at the chemistry behind everyday foods and products.
If you’re at all interested in fashion, design, engineering, photography and pop culture, it’s worth keeping an eye out on the Powerhouse’s calendar of seasonal exhibitions. In the past they’ve showcased props and behind-the-scenes insights into blockbuster movies, fascinating snapshots of Fashion Week and the innovative gadgets submitted to the Australian International Design Awards.
Posted by Fiona Davies
