Inside the Collection

Photograph of Early Daimler petrol engine

National Historical Machinery Rally, Mudgee 2013

April 19, 2013

Debbie Rudder
Mudgee is the place to be from 19th to 21st April. Historic engines and tractors will be there in force, but there will be a lot more to interest visitors, from Clydesdale horses to old-style games for children.
Photograph of Edward Hanlan Commemorative mug

Edward Hanlan – world champion rower

April 17, 2013

Geoff Barker
This Commemorative mug celebrates the achievements of Edward Hanlan who first came into prominence as a sculler in 1880, when he defeated the Australian Edward Trickett for the world's sculling championship. Trickett had earlier won the title in 1876 by defeating J.
Photograph of 1:2 scale model of the Mars 3 spacecraft

Missing Russian spacecraft, Mars 3 may have been found

April 15, 2013

Kerrie Dougherty
When the Powerhouse Museum opened in 1988, its Space-beyond this world exhibition included several replica Soviet spacecraft on loan from the then Soviet Academy of Sciences. Amongst this collection of reproduction spacecraft was a 1:2 scale model of the USSR’s Mars 3, the first spacecraft to make a successful touchdown on the surface of Mars.
Photograph of Hand-powered food chopper

Steamfest 2013 Mystery Object Revealed

April 15, 2013

Debbie Rudder
Would you have guessed the mystery object on display in the Museum’s marquee at Steamfest this year? Visitors to this event held in Maitland over the weekend of 13-14 April were encouraged to have a go.
Photograph of Central Park development 2013

Nouvel and Gehry in the Hood.

April 10, 2013

Charles Pickett
The first new building at the Central Park development on Broadway is making progress. Watching it is a bit different from following the progress of most new buildings – it’s literally growing, not just figuratively so.
Watercolour, botanical drawing, ' Eugenia ventenatii' 1887

Timber Courts at the early Museum

April 8, 2013

Lynne McNairn
This lovely botanical illustration was painted by Agard Hagman in 1887. It was one of many illustrations included in an extensive display of Australian timbers in the Timber Courts at the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (the former Powerhouse Museum).
Photograph Blundstone Tap Boots 2001

Blundstone tapboots

April 3, 2013

Debbie Rudder
These boots were made for dancing. They are Blundstone work boots modified for tap dancing in the Sydney Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. Entering into the quirky, innovative spirit of Wallace & Gromit’s World of Invention, I selected them for display alongside the staid historic Wellington boots that came from Britain with the exhibition.
Photograph exhibit for Thorpes Ltd at Sydney Royal Easter Show 1930

The Sydney Easter Show, early product advertising

April 1, 2013

Anni Turnbull
The Sydney Royal Easter Show has a long history. Its beginnings can be traced to 5th July 1822, when the Agricultural Society of NSW (later the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW) was founded at a meeting in Sydney.
Photograph of Deborah Turnbull, Assistant Curator

Meet the curator – Deborah Turnbull

March 25, 2013

Anni Turnbull
What is your specialty area? Well, I have two art history degrees, so the short answer is art. The long answer is I used to be thoroughly obsessed with gendered architecture, until I discovered contemporary art in the last year of my undergraduate degree.