Good news for Sydney’s culture fiends. The Harbour City is gaining not one, but two new(ish) Powerhouse Museums – with the original heritage-listed Ultimo site undergoing a huge $300-million makeover, and a brand new site in Parramatta due to open its doors in late 2026.
This week, Powerhouse Parramatta – set to become the largest museum in NSW history – has reached a major milestone, with the building reaching its full 75-metre height. The team behind the project have also confirmed the steel exoskeleton that wraps around the building is officially completed – it's a spectacular design which will allow the museum’s seven exhibition spaces to be entirely column-free. The physical work on the project so far has been carried out by a 2,500 strong workforce, who have collectively worked more than 1.45 million hours on site.
Expected to attract 2 million visitors a year, Powerhouse Parramatta is the largest investment in cultural infrastructure by the NSW Government since the Sydney Opera House opened way back in 1973.
"This project is more than just a museum – it’s a game-changer for the local economy, with more than $150 million in contracts already awarded to Western Sydney businesses,” explained Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper.
And it’s not just the NSW government that’s backing the project – it’s also been supported by an incredible $5 million donation from the Neilson Foundation, which brings the total raised by the Powerhouse Museum philanthropic campaign to $65.9 million. Designed to showcase the best of design, engineering, applied arts and sciences, the sprawling new space is on track to be a big draw for people from across Sydney and beyond.
“It will ensure that Western Sydney is not just part of the cultural conversation, but leading it,” said Minister for the Arts John Graham.
Now the exoskeleton is officially complete, construction on the rest of the museum is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The space will then be handed over to the Powerhouse Museum for exhibition fit out, with late 2026 slated for the opening date.
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