Revealed: New look for Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo

The NSW government has set aside $250 million for the refurbishment, with a further $50 million to be raised by the museum from philanthropic sources. The budget allows for a new entrance reoriented to the Goods Line and Chinatown, an internal courtyard protected from the elements, overnight dormitories for visiting country school children, a new loading dock, library and eight workshops for creative workers that will open to Harris Street.

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Summary documents show museum visitors will enter via the new entrance that will reveal the heritage facades of the original power station built in 1899, and the Turbine Hall constructed in 1902. The 1901-built Post Office building located on Harris Street is to be preserved within a new pocket park.

Inside the major exhibition space of the Boiler House – where the Flying Catalina is suspended – mezzanine floors are to be removed to reveal the full height of the building. Modern internal additions including ramps are also to be removed from the connecting exhibition space of the Turbine Hall and Engine House to reinstate original volumes.

Infrastructure NSW’s proposal will be publicised on Friday alongside a request for the project to be deemed state-significant. The public will have one month to respond.

The agency said the project was a transformative investment to support culture and arts, improve the surrounding public domain, and would support 200 direct jobs and 140 indirect jobs and add $34 million to the local economy.

Arts minister John Graham said the NSW government would carefully consider all submissions on the revitalised design to ensure the community’s voice was actively incorporated into the future of the Powerhouse Museum.

“Importantly, in this modest revitalisation we are honouring the history of the museum by revealing the heritage elements of the original Ultimo Power Station buildings and refurbishing the Wran building to achieve greater museum functionality,” Graham said.

The removal of museum objects from Ultimo is expected to be completed by August with most shifted to a newly opened storehouse at Castle Hill. Costings for their removal have yet to be released.

Meanwhile, the Heritage Council is considering expanding heritage protections at Ultimo to include the entire museum site, not just its important historic buildings. Its decision is likely to be made as early as next month, separate to the request for special planning approval.

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