Powerhouse Museum | Ultimo

The Powerhouse Museum, also known as Powerhouse Ultimo is a contemporary museum in the heart of Sydney with a focus on arts, science, innovation and design.

The Powerhouse Museum has a unique and diverse collection of 385,000 objects spans history, science, technology, design, industry, decorative arts, music, transport and space exploration.

The Museum has an ever-changing program of exhibitions covering approximately 20,000 square metres (equivalent to three international competition soccer fields). It presents 22 permanent exhibitions and several temporary exhibitions, complemented by more than 250 interactives.

Views of the Powerhouse Museum

A visit to the Powerhouse Museum can include touch screen computers, audio phones, science experiments, virtual reality 3D theatres, extraordinary performances, films, highlight tours, fascinating lectures and public programs. The Museum has a range of education services and a members organisation.

The Museum opened to the public in 1988 in a new building constructed from the shell of an old power station in Harris Street, Ultimo, Sydney. But our history goes back much further than that. Built up since 1880, our vast collection includes an extraordinary array of treasures, oddities and innovations.

The Powerhouse Museum, part of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences also incorporating the Powerhouse Discovery Centre and Sydney Observatory, is a NSW government cultural institution.

Mission

The Powerhouse Museum develops collections and presents exhibitions and programs that explore science, design and history for the people of New South Wales and beyond.

Vision

The Powerhouse will further its reputation as a museum that celebrates human creativity and innovation in ways that engage, inform and inspire diverse audiences.

Values

The Museum believes in engaging its diverse audiences, promoting scholarship and presenting its collections and programs in ways that captivate the intellect and challenge the human spirit to excel. We place high value on nurturing the abilities of staff and volunteers, and fostering community partnerships.

The Powerhouse Museum is located at 500 Harris St, Ultimo and is close to Darling Harbour, Chinatown, Central Station (Sydney Terminal), Broadway bus station (Railway Square), and Exhibition Centre Sydney Light Rail Station. From 1 June 2020, entry is via Harris St only.

The Goods Line provides an accessible pedestrian route from Central Station, past the iconic Dr Chau Chak Wing Building designed by Frank Gehry. The Goods Line is a 500m walk along flat terrain starting from the Devonshire Street Tunnel at Central Station's Southern Concourse. For additional information including pictures, view this walking guide.

The 501 bus stops directly outside the Museum.

Daily 10am-5pm
Thursday 10am-9pm
Closed Christmas Day