Australia’s most ambitious museum development since the Sydney Opera House is entering its final phase, with Powerhouse confirming that Powerhouse Parramatta will open in late 2026.
Set on a landmark site in Parramatta, on Dharug land in Western Sydney, the 30,000-square-metre institution is being positioned as a new model for what a 21st-century museum can be — one that brings together art, design, science, technology, education and community under one roof.
Designed by acclaimed Franco-Japanese studio Moreau Kusunoki alongside Australian architects Genton, the building’s main structure is now complete, with exhibition fit-outs underway and public realm works continuing ahead of launch.
Billed as the biggest cultural infrastructure project in Australia since the Sydney Opera House, Powerhouse Parramatta will feature seven major exhibition spaces, digital and learning studios, a cinema, a 600-seat theatre, rooftop gardens, restaurants and cafes, alongside 30 residential studios designed to host artists, researchers and scientists in residence.
Education sits at the heart of the project. The Lang Walker Family Academy will deliver expansive STEM learning programmes in purpose-built facilities, including accommodation for students and teachers, while the Vitocco Family Kitchen — a 200-seat demonstration and dining space — will bring chefs, producers and food thinkers together to explore the culture and future of food.
What makes the project especially significant is its broader civic ambition. A new landscaped public domain between the museum and riverfront will remain open 24 hours a day, creating space for festivals, gatherings and public programming for audiences of up to 10,000.
Powerhouse Parramatta is also setting a benchmark in sustainability. Opening with net-zero emissions from day one, it will become the first public building in Australia — and the first project in Western Sydney — to achieve a 6 Star Designed rating under the Green Building Council of Australia’s new Green Star Buildings framework. Sustainability measures include water harvesting, renewable energy systems, zero-waste exhibition practices and a productive landscape developed through Caring for Country principles in collaboration with First Nations communities.
For Lisa Havilah, the project marks a fundamental shift in museum thinking.
“Powerhouse Parramatta is a new generation museum, conceived to redefine the role of cultural institutions in contemporary life… It will be a museum embedded with innate flexibility, with the ability to continuously evolve, changing with the world to ensure that it remains relevant and impactful for generations to come.”
With a $1.4 billion AUD infrastructure renewal programme underway across the wider Powerhouse network — including the renewal of Powerhouse Ultimo, expansion at Castle Hill and restoration of Sydney Observatory — Powerhouse Parramatta looks set to become one of the most closely watched museum openings anywhere in the world next year.
About
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 $1.3 billion infrastructure renewal programme, 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.com.au/parramatta
