New home chosen for the Powerhouse Museum

The NSW Government has chosen a site on the banks of the Parramatta River as the preferred location for Parramatta’s new Powerhouse Museum, NSW Premier Mike Baird and Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts Troy Grant announced today.

Mr Baird said the Powerhouse’s relocation to Parramatta means that for the first time one of the state’s five major cultural institutions will be in Western Sydney.

“Locating the Powerhouse at Parramatta will ensure Western Sydney has a new, world-class cultural institution that will be a major drawcard for local and international visitors,” Mr Baird said.

“The site on the banks of the Parramatta River is the ideal location for the new Powerhouse Museum, which will serve as an anchor for a new arts and cultural precinct.”

Mr Grant said that with the preferred site selected, detailed planning work can now get underway to make the vision of the Powerhouse as a beacon of art and culture in Western Sydney a reality.

“This site will deliver a vibrant, exciting community hub by the beautiful Parramatta River that can be easily accessed and enjoyed day and night,” Mr Grant said.

“The new museum will showcase more of the Powerhouse’s exhibits – the size of the collection on display is set to increase by at least 40 per cent.

“A close partnership with Parramatta City Council and consultation with the community will be crucial during the design process as this will be truly a museum for the people.”

Director of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences Dolla Merrillees said Powerhouse Parramatta will change the way people think about museums.

“People travel across the world to visit great museums and we look forward to profiling one of the world’s great collections and delivering a dynamic experience for our visitors.”

The NSW Government selected the riverbank site, the old David Jones car park, over another site at Parramatta Golf Course due to its close proximity to public transport and easy accessibility for pedestrians.

*** Images & video can be downloaded at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/cvahjb9camyt7o5/AADNK5wyedqC_1vxAvcpl-Sra?dl=0‎