Dear Premier,
While you have inherited this poisoned chalice from your predecessor, you now have the chance to show your leadership in bringing this double vandalism to an end.
In a time when we are calling out for young students to study STEM subjects and follow a career in this needed field, you are planning to remove an existing physical database of our engineering and technological history.
Those who don't learn from our history are often the ones who repeat the same mistakes and, in my mind, moving the Powerhouse collection is an expensive and wasteful mistake.
I believe that the people of Parramatta and the West are entitled to a museum and have heard that there are plenty of items at Castle Hill to equip such a museum thereby getting more of the collection out on display.
Demolishing the heritage building 'Wattle Grove' and St George's Terrace would be another example if vandalism of our disappearing history. Repeated mistakes?
Surely by now we are an educated enough society to have at least learnt something of previous mistakes.
Sure, it is important to digitise the collection, that is what STEM is all about. Share the knowledge widely on the internet to encourage visitors to come and see it for themselves.
Now is your chance to listen to the wider community, to save the horrendous expense of moving and storage (including potential damage) and help bring the budget back closer to a surplus.
I am a great great grandson of Sir Henry Parkes, who helped stage the 1879 International Exhibition at the Garden Palace. When that burnt down, one of the few surviving objects was the carbon elephant which became the symbol for the Sewerage and Drainage museum (later to become the Technological Museum in Harris Street) which has then morphed into the wonderful Powerhouse Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences.
All I ask is that you take the leadership, leave the Powerhouse and its collection in place, put the cost of moving it towards another museum in Parramatta, and equip it from the Castle Hill collection.
To me that would be a win win situation for North, East, South and West as well as the budget of NSW.
Electorally it is also a winner for you. Strong leadership wins votes.
Regards
Ian Thom

“I (we) object to the project…”
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the “Powerhouse Parramatta" project, currently on display, reveals numerous fatal flaws. Some of these are –
SPACE
- the project is now completely different from what was approved by Cabinet in 2018
- not a single space in either of the two buildings is specifically dedicated to museum exhibitions or the collection.
- the total public “presentation” space has shrunk from an initially stipulated 18,000m2 to 12,000m2 (compared with 21,400m2 in Ultimo), with a massive increase in commercial space. Every so-called presentation space is available for commercial hire, and designed to facilitate events and performances.
-there is only 25% of the climate controlled exhibition space that the Powerhouse has in Ultimo.
- no way has been identified for moving precious large objects into the building(s)
- there is no storage space for (any of) the collection
See Museum Expert Kylie Winkworth analysis http://tiny.cc/c0d6qz for details
COSTS
Project costs have blown out from $200M (2015) to $1.4 billion - $1.8 billion (and rising!) http://tiny.cc/67d6qz
- the building cost alone is now approaching $1 billion
- unbudgeted future project costs include
- creation of storage space at Castle Hill because the “Milk Crates” cannot accommodate the Powerhouse’s unique large objects.
- the Ultimo precinct.
- the Parramatta River bridge.
- the whole collection move.
- marketing, exhibition design/installation, public relations.
- staff acquisition and training.
- conservation and restoration of objects for both move and display purposes.
BAD PLANNING
The proposed structure is NOT a recognisable museum, CAN’T operate as a museum, and it would be impossibly costly if this were attempted because
- the flood amelioration budget has been cut, increasing risks for contents and for visitors.
- almost entire loss of functional office space for staff, of back-of house working space and adequate “vertical transportation” (lifts and escalators) for visitors, staff and materials.
- a single loading dock (down from two) for all commercial and cleaning activities will destroy the high sanitation standards required by museological functions.
The dock must serve two buildings, events for up to 10,000 people, 10 cafes and bars, a retail hall, 40 apartments, a school boarding house, the bump in bump out for concerts, a cinema, conferences and commercial hire, museum objects on hire rotation and international travelling exhibitions, along with food waste, laundry and rubbish...
There is not one parking space, and not even a loading zone.
In summary, this proposal is a sick joke and an insult to both Parramatta and Inner Sydney. It’s NOT A MUSEUM - not even the “museum” initially promised.

I am against the moving of the powerhouse museum. It is costing way too much money and it belongs where it is. It is a beautiful heritage building and should not be torn down for more ugly apartments just to make the nsw gov more money

I strongly object to the removal of heritage buildings to make way for the new Powerhouse building. Consider what the Rocks would look like today if heritage buildings had been demolished. Future generations will not look kindly on this government. You can find a solution.

It seems unreal that a global museum like the Powerhouse Museum, which attracts a lot of locals but also tourists, will be moved to an area of Sydney where (let’s be honest) nobody will go to see its artefacts!

Moreover not having thought of where to put these artefacts is just another joke! Nowhere in the world (even in under developed countries) a such a bad management has been seen!

I am originally from Switzerland and I mentioned this to my friends and they asked me if the government had always been so biased or if it was new! I sadly responded that it’s been some time now that nobody cares about the Arts Industry and it’s appalling.

I honestly hope that at least on this project, common sense will prevail.

I object to this project. The museum site in Sydney is not only of great heritage importance in itself, it provides a great location to showcase a unique collection of objects. A project of this cost and importance should be a tangible upgrade in facilities and services. According to the SMH, the new museum will have only 25 per cent of the display area of the existing museum.
I am concerned about the idea of 'flexible' exhibition space replacing permanent displays. While more space for loaned collections from across the country and overseas is surely a good thing, museums must tell the story of their objects in a context and history. This means that they must be present as part of a collection that tells a cohesive story, rather than a few highlights left in an exhibition space used for all manner of things.
Furthermore, the new location is apparently situated upon a floodplain! Utter madness.

I strongly oppose the destruction of the historic buildings in Parramatta (Willowgrove & St Georges Terrace) as part of the relocation of the Powerhouse Museum. I have substantial links with the area and feel that the loss of the buildings will result in permanent damage to our social history. My direct family links to the area related to my father being the accountant at Parramatta Psychiatric Hospital in the 1960s and '70s. I spent many hours exploring the area with my sister, playing in the gardens whilst we waited for our father to complete work. My father was involved in the annual fete in the Wisteria Gardens and it was always a big celebration for our extended family. My Grandmother and Mother would often take us to shop in Parramatta (particularly at David Jones). I have always loved the unique architectural feel of Parramatta and its links to our convict and indigenous history. I believe that Willowgrove and its proximity to the river and all the Sandstone buildings and bridges are an essential part of what makes Parramatta unique. As an adult I have maintained my links to the area, teaching in the Parramatta, and riding my bike weekly along the river to Parramatta Park.

I am strongly opposed to the demolition of historic Willow Grove and St George's Terrace. I also am strongly opposed to the Powerhouse Museum being relocated to Parramatta. I would certainly support a significant new museum or gallery in Parramatta but to argue, as the government is, that this can only be achieved by the relocation of the Powerhouse Museum is deliberately misleading and unprincipled. I have never heard of anyone objecting to a major museum for Greater Sydney. Sydney is big enough for both the Powerhouse and another excellent museum in Western Sydney.
If the government, unwisely in the face of very strong opposition, insists on proceeding with moving the Powerhouse, could they at least make sure the design of the Parramatta Powerhouse is altered to include the retention of Willow Grove and St George's Terrace? Parramatta has a wonderfully rich history of excellent colonial and Victorian buildings and we have retained so few of these in Greater Sydney.
If this current project proceeds it will confirm for me that the current NSW government is just a developer and driven only by money. I hate to think what the government has in mind for the current historic Powerhouse site: high rise units no doubt. I had hoped for much better.

Powerhouse Parramatta Development
Submission by Laurie Wilson
It is unusual for a development such as the propose Parramatta Powerhouse to simultaneously obliterate two sites of historical significance, but this development does just that. It is also a bitter irony that the proposed structure is a Museum, which should be devoted to preservation of the past.
The existing Powerhouse Museum preserves significant and spectacular artifacts of our technical, scientific and industrial past in a spectacular setting which is itself a piece of history. It is one of few structures in the Sydney area capable of displaying an original 1855 train in its entirety, or the Catalina aircraft. It stands among the great re-purposing of industrial sites in the world, though in this case there is unique matching of building and purpose. The location adds to the vibrance of a great city, and is especially convenient for visitors to Sydney, being located next to a transport hub in a tourist area.
The proposed structure not only lacks this historical context but does not match the facilities for display of the Powerhouse collection. The design is uninspiring, and the nickname “milk crate” is denigrating but sadly appropriate. The name “Powerhouse” is only a sad reminder of what will have been lost, or, more appropriately, destroyed, if this goes ahead. The design has been too strongly influenced by the need to create income as a function and entertainment centre at the expense of first-rate museum facilities.
The 1870s and 1880s were a “golden age” for Victorian architecture in Sydney, and the potential destruction of magnificent examples of this style, in a beautiful and historic context, is another aspect of the destructive nature of this proposal.
The current Powerhouse Museum is, in fact, several museums in one. it is an industry and transport museum, a museum of design and applied arts and finally a forward-looking science education facility. Most cities around the world have separated these functions in specialised facilities. This is a great opportunity to establish in Western Sydney a purpose-built “Westacon” to encourage our brightest young minds to consider a career contributing to Australian science. As a retired CSIRO scientist, I well setting my career goals well before I entered high school. Establishing a science centre at Parramatta while retaining the Powerhouse’s other functions in Ultimo would be an investment Australia’s future, as well as recalling our past.
(Dr) Laurie Wilson
11 Monserra Road
Allambie Heights NSW 2100
0417045934

1.The project provides for destruction of significant items of heritage value - 'Willow Grove' including the mature trees; and St George's Terrace.
These two items will be lost completely - no salvage of artifacts or interpretative informtion can give back lost heritage. It is shameful that the design could not include the buildings and use them to enhance the completed project.
2. The destruction of the Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo is also shameful. Another facility could be built for Parramatta without the total destruction of something so valuable to Australia. To loose the display of wonderful valuable machines such as the Bolton and Watt steam engine and risk its ultimate demise due to damage from deconstruction, transport and storage is also shameful. How can we hold up our heads to the rest of the world when we treat such a treasure this way?
Please - reconsider - before it is too late.