The News South Wales Government has approved a $36 million expansion of the Powerhouse Museum’s Discovery Centre.
The facility will be built on the Castle Hill site and will increase the museum’s accessible storage space for 30 per cent, allowing it to display more artefacts.
NSW Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said this means the entire 500,000-piece Powerhouse collection will be housed and cared for on one site when not on display at Parramatta or Ultimo.
“Whether you want to see the amazing collection of vintage cars, such as the classic Morris Minor, intricate textiles or NASA’s 2011 Curiosity Mars Rover, this display represents the great stories of Australian ingenuity,” Stokes said.
NSW Arts Minister Don Harwin said the new facility will cement the Discovery Centre’s position as a key pillar of the Powerhouse Museum, alongside the jewel in the crown – the Powerhouse Parramatta.
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“The expansion of the Museums Discovery Centre will increase opportunities for community and education programs, temporary exhibitions, tours and events for the people of NSW,” Harwin said.
“The facilities will also provide more opportunities for research and conservation work on the Powerhouse collection.”
Member for Castle Hill Ray Williams said the expansion will boost public access to the site which is shared with the Australian Museum and Sydney Living Museums.
“This bolsters Castle Hill’s position as a cultural destination with three fantastic institutions on one site to entice visitors from across Sydney,” Williams said.
The expansion will be designed by Lahznimmo Architects.