The $915 million Powerhouse Parramatta will open its doors to the public on November 7, becoming Western Sydney’s first state cultural institution.
The New South Wales government in May announced that construction of the museum had been completed four years after work began.
Seven expansive zones are part of the museum, including an 18-metre-high space of more than 2,200 square metres, which will feature Task Eternal, the largest exhibition about space exploration in Australia.
Inside the new Powerhouse Parramatta. (ABC News: Digby Werthmuller)
NSW Arts Minister John Graham said the opening marked the most significant cultural infrastructure project since the Sydney Opera House.
“It’s a big moment for arts and culture in the west of Sydney,” he said.
“The good news is it’s also free, so for people under a bit of cost-of-living pressure, they’ll be able to come in and see this incredible building, this great cultural institution for free.
“There’s no easy way to build new cultural institutions, just as the building of the Opera House was controversial. As it proceeded, when the doors swung open, no-one was in doubt that this was an incredible addition to our city.
“I think the reaction from the public will be the same as they see this incredible building on the banks of the river right in the heart of Parramatta.”
The first five exhibitions will showcase more than 3,000 objects, with more than 1,600 from the Powerhouse’s own collection, with others sourced from collections around the world.
The first exhibition, Task Eternal, will include the historic Qantas Avro 504k aircraft.
The second major exhibition, announced today, The Mall, examines the history, evolution and cultural significance of the shopping mall.
Lisa Havilah says the museum is “built for the future”. (ABC News: Helena Burke)
Powerhouse CEO Lisa Havilah said she was “thrilled” to announce the opening date.
“Powerhouse Parramatta is a museum built for the future, where local knowledge meets global perspectives,” she said.
“We are thrilled to be opening our doors this November with five world-class exhibitions and a program that is as bold and diverse as the communities it serves.”