Visiting Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum

Located in the Sydney suburb of Ultimo, you’ll find the Powerhouse Museum, a branch of the Museum of Applied Arts & Science (MAAS). The name traces back to building that houses the museum being an old power station which used to provide energy to the Sydney tram system back in the day. I recently decided to visit the museum, knowing that there are rumblings that the museum may relocate into the Western Sydney suburb of Parramatta in the next few years.

You can probably get away with spending only a couple of hours at the Powerhouse Museum, although this will vary depending on your individual interests. In this post I want to provide an overview of the different exhibits found within, encompassing an array of displays in decorative arts, design, science and technology.

The Basics:

• Where? 500 Harris Street, Ultimo NSW 2007 (15-20 minute walk from the Sydney Central Business District).
• When? Open daily from 10am – 5pm. Closed Christmas Day.
• How much? $15AUD (adult), free for children under 16 years. $8AUD concession rate for students with appropriate identification. Some special exhibits cost extra but include admission to the rest of the museum.
• How to get here? An easy walk from Darling Harbour in the Sydney Central Business District.
• Website: https://maas.museum/powerhouse-museum/

Inside the Powerhouse Museum

The museum consists of various themed exhibits across four levels (although there wasn’t much on the top floor when I visited). You’ll probably enter at Level 3 from the Macquarie Street Forecourt. After purchasing your ticket (or buying them online on the museum’s website) you’ll find yourself in a large hall housing the Locomotive No. 1, arguably the museum’s centrepiece. This steam powered train takes up the majority of the entrance hall, and has been a part of the museum’s collection for over 120 years. Its historically significant for being the first train to travel in the state of New South Wales. Its definitely one of the top sights to see, although you’re not likely to miss it considering its prominent placing.

Other things to see on the entry level include the French designed Strasburg Clock, and “Icons”, a special exhibit hosting over 70 rare objects from the museum’s collection across a range of cultures and eras. This floor also has a fair amount of space devoted to special exhibits put on by the museum.

A long time ago…

During my visit, the museum was hosting the excellent “Star Wars: Identities”. This exhibit contained numerous costumes, puppets, props and concept art from the Star Wars films, while also exploring personal traits and characteristics under the guise of a Jedi’s struggle between the Light and Dark sides of the Force. Being the Star Wars fanatic that I am, I really enjoyed this special attraction, although its sadly no longer running (I just made it with a few weeks to spare!).

I’d definitely recommend checking the museum’s website to see whether there are any temporary exhibits of interest to you when planning a visit. Admission to these often costs extra, but your ticket will include general admission to the museum.

There’s so much more!

Head down to the lower levels – there’s so much more to see! Take the ramp or elevator downstairs and the focus of the collection shifts back to yesteryear. An exhibit highlighting the Steam Revolution and providing an interactive insight into the technology used to convert steam to power for 200 years of Australian history takes up a sizeable portion of level 2. There’s also the small exhibit “Whats in a store?” that provides a time capsule of Australia’s retail history across the period 1880-1930 and a really cool old fashioned theatre that you can sit inside. I didn’t spend a huge amount of time in any of these exhibits, but it was an interesting walk through an era gone by.

I think the bottom floor is where the Powerhouse Museum brings out its best though. There’s a huge hall devoted to Transport and Space Travel, with models of whole planes, train carriages, vintage automobiles and a cool space station immersive experience on display. I also enjoyed the Experimentations hall housing a number of hands-on stations exploring phenomena such as electricity, sounds and light waves. Its probably the part of the museum that I’d most consider to most resemble a classic “Science Centre”, and judging by the number of families in the area, it also seems to be a hit with young children.

Other exhibits you can find on your visit that I haven’t mentioned above include EcoLogic (a look at sustainable use of environmental resources), Reflections from Asia (a series of artefacts from various Asian cultures) and numerous fashion exhibits. Be sure to check the museum website or app for a full listing before your visit.

The Powerhouse Museum really covers a wide range of subjects, so you’ll probably find something that interests you, even if you skip over other sections when you visit. I wouldn’t say the museum is must see if you only have limited time in Sydney, but if you’ve got half a day to spare, the Powerhouse is easy to get to and a decent way to fill in a few hours around Darling Harbour (at least until the museum moves out west). There’s also plenty to do nearby when you’re done – explore Chinatown, venture into Paddy’s Markets for some bargain shopping or check out another of the many attractions in this part of Sydney.