Powerhouse Parramatta Opens With Five Big Exhibitions

A brand-new museum called Powerhouse Parramatta will open on November 7 in western Sydney, Australia. It will feature five major exhibitions packed with hands-on and immersive experiences. More than 3,000 objects from Australia and around the world are being installed inside right now. Most of the exhibitions are free for visitors under 16, making it a great outing for students and families.

One of the biggest attractions is an exhibition called The Turning, created by British artist Es Devlin. It includes a giant maze of mirrors called the Forest of Us, where visitors are encouraged to get lost among the lights. The maze is designed to show the surprising similarities between the shapes of trees and human lungs. Devlin's other works in the exhibition include a 3D cityscape and a space where visitors can draw portraits of strangers.

An exhibition called The Dark is designed with young visitors in mind. It is set inside a structure shaped like a meteorite and contains more than 800 objects, including a glowing crystal tunnel and items that make sounds. The displays explore darkness in space, underwater, and inside the human body. One hundred children from western Sydney also loaned their most treasured personal objects to the museum, and their stories are shared in a special room.

A third exhibition, Overflow, is led by First Nations creators and features films by director Ivan Sen, a Kamilaroi man. His films teach visitors about how Aboriginal people have looked after Australia's rivers, oceans, and waterways for generations. The exhibition covers topics like protecting fish species, preventing floods, and keeping water clean. Visitors will be invited to 'walk on water' as part of the experience.

The final two exhibitions are Task Eternal and The Mall. Task Eternal explores the human dream of flight and includes a NASA moon rock, Leonardo da Vinci's original sketches of flying machines, and a replica of the first-ever Qantas plane. The Mall tells the story of the modern shopping centre across two floors, celebrating western Sydney as the birthplace of the global Westfield brand. It also displays rare fashion items, Steve Jobs's famous jeans, and prototypes of the Predator football boot invented by Australian Craig Johnston and worn by David Beckham.

Powerhouse CEO Lisa Havilah said the museum was built to give people in western Sydney access to world-class art and culture. Arts Minister John Graham added that keeping entry free for most visitors was important for families feeling financial pressure. 'We want to ensure that price isn't a barrier for young people to explore the big ideas, the creativity, the innovation that Powerhouse Parramatta will exhibit and celebrate,' he said. Task Eternal will be the only exhibition with a paid entry fee for visitors aged 16 and over.