Part of a series of pages highlighting key recent major cultural infrastructure projects supported by Create NSW and other partners.
Project at a glance
The Museums Discovery Centre in Castle Hill is expanding to better protect State heritage and cultural assets.
The project will deliver a new state-of-the-art building. The building is designed by award-winning Sydney-based architectural practice Lahznimmo Architects
The new building will have two levels of storage and space to display more than 300,000 objects.
The expansion will provide more space for education, research and public programs. It will enhance the conservation, preservation and exhibition of collections.
There will also be upgrades and improvements to existing buildings on the site.
Who it is for
Powerhouse Castle Hill will expand to benefit everyone in NSW. The project will allow the Powerhouse's collection to be stored on one site. The collections are a great resource for NSW’s cultural heritage and history.
The Museums Discovery Centre provides opportunities for communities to engage with:
- state-significant collections
- learning and
- public programs.
Powerhouse Castle Hill forms part of the Museums Discovery Centre, operated in partnership with the Australian Museum and Museums of History New South Wales.
Who is involved
The NSW Government is providing funds for the expansion.
Create NSW is managing the project in collaboration with the Powerhouse Museum and NSW Public Works.
Lahznimmo Architects is the selected design team.
Construction by Taylor Australia.
Special features
The design team, Lahznimmo Architects, and other consultants, have focused on providing:
- A new building that complements the existing buildings and the site context
- A sustainable design that minimises environmental impact and maximises energy efficiency
- A flexible design that allows for future adaptation and expansion
- Four levels of storage and display space that showcase the collections in an engaging and accessible way
- Facilities for education, research and public programs that support learning and engagement.
Timeline
- Mid-2022: Construction of the new building starts
- Estimated to be open to public in 2024. See Powerhouse Castle Hill
For more information
The project team can be contacted at project@maas.museum
Required construction documents and resources
Before construction, certain information and documents were made publicly available in accordance with requirements.
Prior to the commencement of the construction of main works on site, the following information and documents were made publicly available in accordance with SSD-10472 Consent Condition B3:
- Condition A1 SSD-10472 Statutory Approvals and documents referred to in the Development Consent
- Condition B27 Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP), this includes sub-plans: B28 Construction Traffic and Pedestrian Management Sub-Plan (CTPMSP), B30 Construction Soil and Water Management Sub-Plan (CSWMSP), B31 Construction Waste Management Sub-Plan (WMP)
- Condition B29 Construction Noise and Vibration Management Sub-Plan (CNVMSP) (PDF 808.42KB)
- Condition B32 Construction Worker Transportation Strategy (CWTS) (PDF 166.3KB)
- Crown Design Certificate CC1 for stage 1 of the main works (PDF 419.07KB)
- Crown Design Certificate CC1 – Stamped Drawings (PDF 12.13MB)
Prior to the commencement of the construction of early works on site, the following information and documents have been made publicly available in accordance with SSD-10472 Consent Condition B3:
- Condition A1 SSD-10472 Statutory Approvals and documents referred to in the Development Consent
- Condition B27 – Construction Environment Management Plan (PDF 705.53KB)
- Condition B28 – Construction Traffic & Pedestrian Management Sub-Plan (PDF 761.31KB)
- Condition B29 Construction Noise and Vibration Management Sub-Plan (CNVMSP) (PDF 808.42KB)
- Condition B30 – Construction Soil & Water Management Sub-Plan (PDF 729.44KB)
- Condition B31 – Waste Management Plan (PDF 421.24KB)
- Condition B32 Construction Worker Transportation Strategy (CWTS) (PDF 166.3KB)
Prior to commencement of main works construction under Crown Certificate 2, and until the completion of the works, the applicant will make information and documents publicly available on its website in accordance with SSD-10472 Consent Condition B3:
- Letter to DPE in accordance with Consent Condition A14 (PDF 79.44KB) : staging, combining and updating strategies, plans or programs, notification of commencement of construction by the applicant, if construction is staged in accordance with Consent Condition B3.
- MDC CC2 Cover Letter 17062022 (PDF 3.3MB)
- 2021-039 Building J Crown Design Certificate No 2 (PDF 425.57KB)
- Stamped Architectural Drawings (PDF 20.6MB)
- 220609 Architectural Design Certificate CC2 (PDF 94.56KB)
- Structural Cover Sheet & Drawing List (PDF 2.04MB)
- Structural Drawings (Part 1)
- Structural Drawings (Part 2)
- Structural Drawings (Part 3)
- 181569 SC01-8 Structural Design Certificate (PDF 82.88KB)
- 181569-00-SER03- [E] NCC Section J DTS Report F (PDF 1.5MB)
- Branz-Appraisal-822-Solitex-Extasana (PDF 432.69KB)
- MDC CC2 Sarking Confirmation 17062022 (PDF 114.65KB)
Prior to commencement of main works construction under Crown Certificate 3, and until the completion of the works, the applicant will make information and documents publicly available on its website in accordance with SSD-10472 Consent Condition B3:
- MDC CC3 Cover Letter 02082022
- Letter to DPE Crown Certificate 3 (PDF 79.44KB)
- 2021-39 Building J Crown Design Certificate No 3 (PDF 399.17KB)
- 22065_220802 MDC Bld J – FP1.4 Rev 02 (PDF 11.03MB)
- MDC CC2 Sarking Confirmation 17062022 (PDF 114.65KB)
- MDC CC3 Stamped Architectural
- MDC CC3 Architectural Design Certificate (PDF 94.49KB)
- MDC CC3 FP1.4 confirmation Letter 11082022 (PDF 114.18KB)
- MDC CC3 Hydraulic Design Certificate (PDF 66.69KB)
- MDC CC3 Hydraulic Drawings Stamped (PDF 6.73MB)
- MDC CC3 NCC Section J DTS Report F (PDF 1.5MB)
- WF069-01F02-R1 Solar Light Reflectivity Report (PDF 3.29MB)
Prior to commencement of main works construction under Crown Certificate 4, and until the completion of the works, the applicant will make information and documents publicly available on its website in accordance with SSD-10472 Consent Condition B3:
- 230308 Letter to DPE Crown Certificate 4 (PDF 63.71KB)
- 2021 0039 Building J Crown Design Certificate No 4 (PDF 441.59KB)
- Stamped Architectural Drawings (PDF 20.6MB)
- CC4 Architectural Specification Stamped (PDF 15.04MB)
- CC4 Dry Fire Drawings (PDF 3.43MB)
- CC4 Electrical Drawings (PDF 17.01MB)
- CC4 Fire Services Extinguisher Layouts (PDF 2.18MB)
- CC4 Fire Sprinkler Systems Drawings (PDF 14.01MB)
- CC4 Hydraulic Drawings (PDF 5.69MB)
- CC4 Mechanical Drawings (PDF 15.05MB)
- CC4 Structural Drawings (PDF 8.43MB)
- MDC CC4 – 4 A5 Limits of Consent Signage Letter (PDF 1.74MB)
- MDC CC4 – 5 A19 Social Impacts Letter (PDF 125.32KB)
- MDC CC4 – 6 B19 End of Trip Facility (PDF 1.61MB)
- MDC CC4 – 7 Taylor Cover Letter 31082022 r2 (PDF 127.29KB)
- MDC CC4 – 8 Taylor FER Confirmation 12112022 (PDF 169.62KB)
- MDC CC4 – 9 Architectural Design Certificate (PDF 526.6KB)
- MDC CC4 – 10 Structural Design Certificate (PDF 1.13MB)
- MDC CC4 – 11 Structural Design Certification Windows (PDF 7.35MB)
- MDC CC4 – 12 Sprinkler System Design Certificate (PDF 200.66KB)
- MDC CC4 – 13 Dry Fire Services Design Certificate (PDF 268.72KB)
- MDC CC4 – 14 Electrical Services Design Certificate (PDF 715.66KB)
- MDC CC4 – 15 Fire Extinguishers Design Certificate (PDF 213.27KB)
- MDC CC4 – 16 Hydraulic Design Certificate (PDF 72.26KB)
- MDC CC4 – 17 Mechanical Design Certificate 30.09.22 (PDF 1.55MB)
- MDC CC4 – 18 Security Design Statement (PDF 138.07KB)
- MDC CC4 – 19 Lift Design Certificate Schindler (PDF 190.56KB)
- MDC CC4 – 20 Lift Design Certificate – Southwell (PDF 228.18KB)
- MDC CC4 – 21 Fire Engineering Report v4 (PDF 12.19MB)
- MDC CC4 – 23 Accessibility Design Review Report v1.3 (PDF 787.95KB)
- MDC CC4 – 24 Accessibility (PDF 224.67KB)
- MDC CC4 – 25 Accessibility Performance Solution Report v1.3 (PDF 350.95KB)
- MDC CC4 – 26 Sustainability Report Section J – JV3 vC (PDF 1.69MB)
- MDC CC4 – 27 NCC Performance Solution Report (PDF 11.03MB)
- MDC CC4 – 28 Dangerous Goods Compliance Advice Report (PDF 1.29MB)
- MDC CC4 – 29 Dangerous Goods Risk Conservation Lab (PDF 287.65KB)
- MDC CC4 – 30 Dangerous Goods Risk Assessment Close Out (PDF 281.82KB)
- MDC CC4 – 31 Acoustic Report 06092022 rev7 (PDF 1.13MB)
- MDC CC4 – 33 Architectural Design Certificate Handrails (PDF 85.82KB)
- MDC CC4 – 34 Architectural Design Certificate Stairs 7&8 (PDF 85.46KB)
- MDC CC4 – 35 Taylor Letter Details of Fire Rated Separation (PDF 220.08KB)
- MDC CC4 – 36 Taylor Letter Pedestrian Ramps (PDF 116.27KB)
- MDC CC4 – 37 Taylor Letter Window Cleaning Provisions (PDF 432.77KB)
- MDC CC4 – 38 Technical Data Sheet Tactile Indicators (PDF 367.87KB)
- MDC CC4 – 39 Technical Data Sheet Stair Edging (PDF 879.2KB)
- MDC CC4 – 40 Technical Data Sheet DTAC Stair Edging v2 (PDF 410.44KB)
- MDC CC4 - 41 Fire Assessment Report Structural Steel (PDF 3.06MB)
- MDC CC4 – 42 Fire Assessment Report Fire Shutter (PDF 2.97MB)
- MDC CC4 – 43 Fire Assessment Report Steel Wall Framing (PDF 4.68MB)
- MDC CC4 – 44 Fire Assessment Report Shaftwall (PDF 2.09MB)
- MDC CC4 – 45 Fire Test Certificate Lift Landing Doors (PDF 780.77KB)
- MDC CC4 – 46 Fire Test Certificate Roller Shutter (PDF 558.71KB)
- MDC CC4 – 47 Taylor Response to PCA item C1.10 11Jan23 (PDF 11.47MB)
- MDC CC4 – 48 Fire Test Certificate Marmoleum Lining (PDF 54.78KB)
- MDC CC4 – 49 Fire Test Report Marmoleum (PDF 186.82KB)
- MDC CC4 – 50 Fire Test Report Vinyl Flooring (PDF 93.02KB)
- MDC CC4 – 51 Test Certificate Ceiling Mesh (PDF 54.37KB)
- MDC CC4 – 52 Fire Test Certificate Wall Panels (PDF 133.21KB)
- MDC CC4 – 53 Appraisal for Wall Weather Barrier Sarking (PDF 432.69KB)
- MDC CC4 – 54 Fire Test Report Echo Wall Panels (PDF 69.81KB)
- MDC CC4 – 55 Data Sheet Ductwork Insulation (PDF 118.89KB)
- MDC CC4 – 56 Assessment Report Wall & Ceiling Linings (PDF 792.3KB)
- MDC CC4 – 57 Fire Assessment Report for Gyprock (PDF 580.72KB)
- MDC CC4 – 58 Fire Test Report Acoustic Plaster System (PDF 847.13KB)
- MDC CC4 – 59 BCA Report 2020 0058 r5 (PDF 2.06MB)
- MDC CC4 – 60 Record of Inspection 15022023 (PDF 148.04KB)
Prior to commencement of construction of Building J, a final Tree Replacement Implementation Plan (TRIP) must be developed in consultation with Council and approved by the Planning Secretary. The TRIP must include the final planting locations, species, pot sizes and maintenance of the replacement planting for 674 trees (74 trees are to be within Council’s open space and 600 trees are to be within land leased by Taronga Conservation Society Australia to be grown and maintained for the purpose of zoo and animal food). The TRIP must include a requirement that the Applicant is responsible for replacement of any planting losses in the first 12 months, with the same species.
View the approved Tree Replacement Implementation Plan (TRIP).