Saving the Real Powerhouse Museum: the Key Requirements  

Powerhouse Museum Alliance
https://powerhousemuseumalliance.com/
January 2023

• The Powerhouse Museum Alliance calls for genuine renewal of the Powerhouse Museum, as Premier Perrottet promised on 4 July 2020. See Media Release here, or here Media Release 4 July 2020
• The 1988 Sulman award winning Powerhouse Museum must be conserved and renewed as the Powerhouse Museum – as the government promised the public in 2020
• The Powerhouse Museum must be renewed as a museum of applied arts and sciences, displaying science, engineering, transport, innovation, social history, decorative arts, design and fashion
• The government must cancel the $500 million wasteful and destructive secret demolition plans for the Ultimo Creative Industries Precinct. These plans will erase all trace of the PHM and turn a great public museum into an expensive function centre and contemporary arts facility, stripped of its collections and staff, and reduced to half the size of the real Powerhouse Museum
• The internationally significant transport, engineering and power collections that are the centre of the PHM’s concept, design and underpinning narrative, must be retained and renewed in their purpose designed exhibition spaces in the galleria, the engine house and the majestic boiler hall
• The PHM must retain its unique brand and identity as the Powerhouse Museum. There is only one Powerhouse Museum and it is in Ultimo, its home since 1893.
• The Powerhouse Museum must be renewed as a popular family museum, a hands-on education centre, and as one of Sydney’s internationally recognised tourism attractions
• Renewal of the PHM must be done in consultation with the PHM’s architect, and with respect for its transport and industrial history, heritage values and award winning design
• The Harwood building must be retained and continue its functions as a collections facility and research centre, and as an integral part of the PHM’s history, design and operations
• The Harwood building must be part of the PHM’s renewal plans to enhance public access to the collections, education, trades training, conservation and research
• The whole Powerhouse Museum site should be listed on the State Heritage Register, along with the museum’s significant transport and engineering objects and major installations
• Museum jobs must be retained at the Powerhouse Museum as Premier Perrottet promised in July 2020
• The Parramatta development must have its own unique name, as requested by the City of Parramatta Council, chosen in consultation with the community
• The government must release the 2021 Ultimo Creative Industries Precinct final business case, the 2020 Powerhouse Parramatta final business case and the stage 1 and stage 2 design briefs for the Powerhouse Ultimo Renewal. Note the business case for the PHM renewal is NOT for the Powerhouse Museum but for the Ultimo Creative Industries Precinct. The real PHM is being erased.
• After 12 years of waste and pork barrelling, NSW needs a fair and equitable museum policy. Museum infrastructure funding should be based on principles including value for money, community cultural needs, and conservation of heritage assets and collections. With prudent strategic planning NSW can support high quality museum infrastructure in Western Sydney and regional NSW, and landmark museums in Sydney
• The proposed creative industries precinct should be developed at North Eveleigh, strengthening the role and remit of Carriageworks as a multi-disciplinary contemporary arts centre