Museums Discovery Centre Expansion Project

The NSW Government is working with the Powerhouse and a range of partners to expand the Museums Discovery Centre at Powerhouse Castle Hill.

Powerhouse Castle Hill at night
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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

See Powerhouse Castle Hill

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 commencement of construction of main works

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:

Prior to the commencement of the construction of early works

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:

Prior to commencement of main works construction under Crown Certificate 2

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:

Prior to commencement of main works construction under Crown Certificate 3

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:

Prior to commencement of main works construction under Crown Certificate 4

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:

B13 tree replacement implementation plan

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).

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