On Sunday August 23 Powerhouse Parramatta announced details of the full opening exhibition program to be unveiled to the public when the new museum opens on Saturday, 7 November 2026.
From engineering feats, spectacular spaces for children, cutting-edge artistic commissions and scientific stories, to a First Nations-led exhibition grounded in the living principles of Water Country and the first major Australian exhibition of the celebrated British artist Es Devlin, Powerhouse Parramatta’s opening exhibition program has something for everyone.
The opening program will make world-class culture accessible to all. Four of the five opening exhibitions will be free, with Task Eternal ticketed for adults and free for visitors under 16.
The first five exhibitions will showcase more than 3,000 objects, with more than 1,600 from the Powerhouse Collection and loaned objects sourced from collections around the world.
The full opening exhibition program includes:
The Dark:
An immersive exhibition created for children aged 4 – 12 years old. Developed in collaboration with creatives Kip Williams, Elizabeth Gadsby and Marg Horwell, The Dark is a bedroom, a crystal tunnel, a forest, and a gateway to a land of giants. It is magical with many things to be discovered one by one.
Featuring over 800 objects, including items from the Australian Museum mineral collection, newly commissioned First Nations animations and treasures loaned by children from all over Western Sydney who shared their special objects and stories reflecting on the times they’ve met The Dark.
Es Devlin:
The Turning is an exhibition of five major works by British artist Es Devlin whose genre-defying work ranges from sculpture to film, architecture, language and performance. Her work immerses audiences into atmospheric environments that draw on Earth’s vast biodiversity and our collective imaginations.
Exhibiting in Australia for the first time, visitors can explore her work in five immersive installations: Forest of Us, a mirror maze drawing on the striking symmetries between the bronchial trees within our lungs and the trees in our environment; Memory Palace, an immersive 3D chronological landscape mapping pivotal shifts in human perspective across 75 millennia; Screenshare, a hybrid cinema and installation presenting sketches made by Devlin over the past 35 years; hand-drawn studies of flora and fauna in Redraw the Edges of Yourself; and Collective Portrait, a collaborative, evolving installation where audiences are invited to draw portraits of a stranger.
The Forest of Us will be among the works on show at Powerhouse Parramatta from November 7. (Supplied: Andrea Mora)
Overflow:
A First Nations-led exhibition grounded in the living principles of Water Country, working with seven Aboriginal organisations to consider the importance and care of salt and freshwater systems throughout NSW. These stories are brought to life through the cinematic lens of acclaimed filmmaker and Kamilaroi man Ivan Sen.
The installation captures community projects spanning species protection, flood mitigation, sustainable and commercial fishing, water monitoring, language revitalisation and cultural water rights from Baramadagal Community; Gamay Rangers; The Goondee Aboriginal Museum and Keeping Place; Jagun Alliance; Joonga Land and Water Aboriginal Land Corporation; Moogalin Performing Arts; and Naru Aboriginal Corporation.
Task Eternal:
One of the most ambitious aerospace exhibitions ever staged will explore the intersection of design, innovation and technology and trace humanity’s quest to defy gravity, take flight and journey into the sky.
Task Eternal takes its inspiration from highly acclaimed American science fiction writer Ted Chiang’s short story The Tower of Babylon and is designed by acclaimed Beijing studio OPEN Architecture.
The exhibition presents more than 850 objects, including over 320 objects on loan from 120 Australian and international lenders.
Highlights will include the historic Qantas Avro 504k aircraft; original drawings of flying machines by Leonardo da Vinci, loaned from Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Italy; a NASA Moon rock, the largest collected during the Apollo missions; an extraordinary survey of suits spanning industry, science fiction and pop culture, and a new immersive light work by American artist James Turrell.
The Mall:
Designed and curated in collaboration with world-renowned architecture firm OMA/AMO, the exhibition examines the history, evolution and cultural significance of the shopping mall, exploring Australian and global innovation across architecture, design, technology, engineering and fashion.
Highlights will include the archive of Austrian-American architect and urban planner Victor Gruen, displayed publicly for the first time, the iconic Levi’s 501 jeans worn by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, early designs for the first barcode, an autonomous ballet of warehouse robots by Japanese artistyang02, developed with KNAPP and a contemporary reimagining of Southwest Sydney’s Roselands Raindrop Fountain by industrial design studio Vert.
The $915 million project includes the building and delivery of Powerhouse Parramatta; a new collection storage facility at Castle Hill; and the digitisation and preservation of over 371,000 objects in the Powerhouse Collection.
The project also includes an ambitious philanthropic target of $75 million. Powerhouse Parramatta has surpassed that target, with $80.28 million secured from philanthropic contributions.
Minister for the Arts, John Graham said,
‘Powerhouse Parramatta is a once-in-a-generation project. When it opens this November, Powerhouse Parramatta will bring extraordinary stories, ideas and experiences to the heart of Western Sydney.
‘Visitors can spend hours exploring the exhibitions, immersing themselves in science, engineering, design, visual arts and special cultural artefacts – largely for free.’
Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts and Member for Granville, Julia Finn said,
‘This is a hugely ambitious engineering feat, bringing together world class design to create a museum made by and for people of Western Sydney. Powerhouse Parramatta will also collect stories from across Western Sydney, to share the visitors from around the world.
‘Western Sydney is already a powerhouse of creativity and innovation. Powerhouse Parramatta will showcase our best local talent to the world while bringing world-class science, technology and art right to our doorstep.’
Member for Parramatta, Donna Davis said.
‘The programming and free access will make Powerhouse Parramatta the destination of choice for so many Parramatta locals and visitors from across the city.
‘Parramatta is buzzing with anticipation to experience the Powerhouse's exhibition program and simply explore the new "third space" on the block.’
Powerhouse Chief Executive, Lisa Havilah said,
‘Powerhouse Parramatta will redefine how museums connect with community, industry and learning. As Western Sydney’s first NSW cultural institution, it will be a place that celebrates the creativity, ambition and diversity of our communities, connecting local stories and knowledge with international innovation.
‘These five foundational exhibitions place audiences at the heart of the museum, bringing to life stories of technology, creativity and excellence. Together, they reflect our ambition to create a museum that amplifies community, creates new opportunities and helps define the future. We are deeply grateful to our patrons for their visionary support and for joining us on the journey to create one of the world’s great new museums. We can’t wait to open the doors this November.’
About Powerhouse
Powerhouse sits at the intersection of arts, design, science and technology and plays a critical role in engaging communities with contemporary ideas and issues. We are undertaking a landmark $1.2 billion infrastructure renewal program, spearheaded by the creation of the new museum, Powerhouse Parramatta; expanded research and public facilities at Powerhouse Castle Hill; the renewal of the iconic Powerhouse Ultimo; and the ongoing operation of Sydney Observatory. The museum is custodian to over half a million objects of national and international significance and is considered one of the finest and most diverse collections in Australia. We are also undertaking an expansive digitisation project that will provide new levels of access to the Powerhouse Collection.
Powerhouse Parramatta welcomes first object
On Friday May 22 2026 Powerhouse Parramatta received the first of an expected three thousand objects which will be on display when the museum opens its doors later this year.
The historic Qantas Avro 504K aircraft, a replica of the airline’s first plane will feature in the major opening exhibition, Task Eternal. The Avro is suspended above a Cierva C.30A Autogiro — a forerunner of the helicopter — and the Skycraft Scout Mark 1, an ultralight aircraft designed and made by Australian Ron Wheeler.
Featured in the new museum’s largest exhibition space, Task Eternal will explore the intersection of design, innovation and technology and trace humanity’s quest to human ambition to defy gravity, take flight and journey into the sky.
The Qantas Avro 504K aircraft is one of two replicas of the airline’s first plane, built in Mascot by Qantas engineers and apprentices in 1988. Weighing more than 760 kilograms and at almost 9m long with a wingspan of 11m, the aircraft is one of more than 750 objects which will feature in the foundational opening exhibition.
The Avro installation marks the beginning of a 10-year partnership, bringing together two iconic Australian institutions — Qantas, the nation’s flagship airline and a global leader in aviation innovation, and Powerhouse, Australia’s leading museum of applied arts and sciences.
The collaboration will see Qantas become Presenting Partner for Task Eternal, supporting the Qantas Terrace — a prominent public space overlooking the Parramatta River — and contributing to a program of public and learning initiatives throughout the exhibition period, offering museum visitors unique insights into aviation, design and innovation.
Additionally, Qantas will loan more than 6000 pieces from the Qantas Heritage Collection, spanning more than a century of aviation history, which the Powerhouse will conserve and digitise at Powerhouse Castle Hill.
Developed over four years, Task Eternal is one of the most ambitious aerospace exhibitions ever staged in the world. More than 750 objects on display including 350 objects from its own collection, and more than 250 objects on loan from more than 120 domestic and international lenders, plus 12 new commissions will be presented in the new museum’s largest exhibition space.
The exhibition reflects the scale and ambition of Powerhouse Parramatta and the NSW Government’s investment in science, culture and innovation.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Western Sydney, Prue Car said:
“The Powerhouse Museum is bringing our nation’s history to Western Sydney.
“Powerhouse Parramatta will give our region’s young people more access to our engineering and innovation history, inspiring the next generation of scientists, designers and engineers.”
Minister for the Arts, John Graham said:
“I love that the first object going into the Powerhouse Parramatta is such an important piece of our aviation history.
“This is a moment in history as the first exhibition starts to come together ahead of the Parramatta Powerhouse opening to the public.”
Minister for Lands and Property, Steve Kamper said:
“Powerhouse Parramatta is shaping up to be one of the great cultural institutions of the world, and the arrival of this historic aircraft shows just how close we are to opening the doors following the completion of building last month.
“Seeing the first major object arrive at Powerhouse Parramatta is a powerful reminder of the opportunities this museum will bring — jobs, tourism, education and a new icon for the region.”
Danielle Keighery, Qantas Group Chief Brand and Corporate Affairs Officer said:
"We're proud to partner with Powerhouse Parramatta and to bring our aviation history to life. Qantas and Powerhouse share a commitment to preserving and celebrating Australian heritage, and we look forward to Australians connecting with the stories that have defined the Flying Kangaroo."
David Thiess A330 Captain, Qantas said:
“Seeing the Qantas Avro 504K, the first aircraft to carry the Qantas name, on display is a reminder of how far Australian aviation has come. From the early long-range flights linking remote communities such as Longreach, Winton and Cloncurry, to the lead up to the inaugural A350 Project Sunrise services, Qantas has continued to lead the way in aviation innovation.
“The Qantas Heritage Collection brings more than a century of pioneering spirit to life, and it’s something all of us at Qantas are incredibly proud to share. Partnering with the Powerhouse Museum to celebrate both the innovation and the enduring legacy of Qantas is a fitting way to honour our past while looking toward the future of flight."
Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah said:
“Powerhouse is proud to partner with Qantas, an organisation that has shaped how Australia connects with the world for more than a century.
“The installation of the Avro 504K as the first object at Powerhouse Parramatta is a defining milestone—anchoring the museum in stories of engineering, ambition and innovation that continue to shape our future.’
Background
The Qantas Heritage collection spans more than a century of aviation history and includes archival documents, photographic negatives and films, artworks and material relating to the founding of the airline in 1920.
These items will be conserved and digitised by Powerhouse to museum standards, ensuring the legacy of Qantas is preserved for future generations.
The Task Eternal exhibition will highlight Qantas’ design legacy, from the evolution of the Flying Kangaroo and iconic uniforms, interiors, tableware and advertising—demonstrating how design innovation has shaped one of the world’s most recognisable brands over more than a century.
Powerhouse Parramatta opens across the Museum visitors will be able to explore more than 1600 collection objects including 122 new acquisitions, as well as 780 objects on loan from over 180 domestic and international lenders.
