Sydney, Australia’s Powerhouse Museum to become Fashion and Design Hub

Less than a year after it reversed a decision to move the Powerhouse Museum from Sydney’s Central Business District, New South Wales’s southeastern Australian state government has pledged to spend around AU$500 million (US$380 million) to transform the site into a design and fashion hub.

On June 15th, New South Wales Arts Minister Don Harwin announced the Ultimo museum would undergo renovations, with a design contest to be held to find an architectural team to lead the project. “Like the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Smithsonian in the U.S., the Powerhouse Collection has encyclopedic breadth,” he said in a statement. “Our investment in transforming Powerhouse Ultimo alongside establishing the Powerhouse Parramatta cements Sydney as Australia’s leading cultural destination.”

The project will include expanded exhibition spaces, more artist studios, and a new public square. Iconic Powerhouse Museum pieces including the Boulton and Watt Engine, Locomotive No.1, and the Catalina Flying Boat will remain at the Ultimo site. “Over the past three decades, the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo has inspired thousands of visitors with one of the world’s most important Collections across applied arts and sciences,” said Peter Collins, Museum Trust President, in a statement. “Just like the V&A in London and Smithsonian in the U.S.; whose vast and multidisciplinary Collections create incredible experiences for visitors the world over.”

The Powerhouse is home to some of the finest Australian-made jewels, pieces by iconic Australian designers including Carla Zampatti, and work by international fashion empires Chanel, Alexander McQueen, and Christian Dior. The project is part of a broader government plan for the Powerhouse, which includes creating a new museum site at Parramatta and expanding the Museums Discovery Centre in Castle Hill.

“The renewal of our institution will deliver two world-class museums – with a design and fashion focus at Powerhouse Ultimo, and our flagship museum focused on science and technology, Powerhouse Parramatta,” said Lisa Havilah, chief executive of  Powerhouse. “This visionary investment will see the expansion of our exhibition spaces as well as renewal of our historic exhibition spaces. We will create a vibrant public square beside the Goods Line and creative industries workspaces that will become home for Australian designers.”

Designer and retailers Down Under are pleased with the news, believing that the grant will be a catalyst for job generation and serve to support small businesses.

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