Powerhouse Museum Ultimo Renewal

The Powerhouse Ultimo Renewal will reinvigorate one of Australia’s most revered museums.

The renewed Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo will deliver refurbished and expanded museum exhibition and public spaces, connecting Powerhouse Ultimo to the Sydney CBD and adjacent cultural precincts. It will continue to deliver an applied arts and applied sciences program, presenting exhibitions that showcase the Powerhouse collection, international exclusive exhibitions and programs that support the applied arts, applied sciences and creative industries.

Powerhouse Ultimo will be a precinct that actively contributes to the growing night-time and visitor economies through the delivery of a world-class museum.

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Project status

DETAILED STATE SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION (CURRENT STAGE)

The project is progressing through a staged planning process.

A Detailed State Significant Development Application and associated Environmental Impact Statement is currently being prepared for lodgement to the Department of Planning and Environment.

Community consultation to inform the design and planning application was held from 17 February until 10 March 2023. This included an online survey, community information sessions and webinars.

To sign up for project and construction updates, visit Infrastructure NSW.

For more information:
Email: powerhouse.ultimo@infrastructure.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 1800 962 221

CONCEPT STATE SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION

A Concept State Significant Development Application (SSDA) was submitted to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) for the renewal of Powerhouse Ultimo in June 2022. The Concept SSDA was prepared to establish the design guidelines, principles and development controls for the future detailed design, construction and operation of buildings and public domain spaces that will be separately detailed and assessed at the next stage of the project.

On 23 February 2023, the NSW Minister for Planning granted consent for the first stage Concept SSDA.

The application materials, which included the Environmental Impact Statement, Urban Design Report, 2022 Conservation Management Plan and supporting Technical Reports, remain available to view online on the NSW Department of Planning and Environment’s Major Projects Portal.

POWERHOUSE ULTIMO DESIGN EXCELLENCE COMPETITION

On Monday 25 July 2022, the NSW Government launched an Expression of Interest for the future national Design Competition for the Powerhouse Ultimo Renewal. On Thursday 8 September 2022, five design teams were shortlisted and invited to participate in the Design Competition, which commenced in September 2022.

On Monday 12 December 2022, the design created by Architectus, Durbach Block Jaggers Architects, Tyrrell Studio, Youssofzay + Hart, Akira Isogawa, Yerrabingin, Finding Infinity and Arup was announced as the winner of the Design Competition.

The winning concept from the Competition will inform a second detailed State Significant Development Application, providing further opportunities for community consultation. Learn more.

Powerhouse Ultimo remains open. Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates and read more in the media release.

The Powerhouse is undertaking significant transformation through the renewal of Powerhouse Ultimo, the creation of Powerhouse Parramatta, expansion of Powerhouse Castle Hill and the digitisation of the Powerhouse collection.

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Powerhouse Ultimo Draft Conservation Management Plan

View the Powerhouse Ultimo Consultation Management Plan submitted as part of the Concept State Significant Development Application for Powerhouse Ultimo. The main objective of this Conservation Management Plan is to enable the sustainable management of the heritage elements of the Powerhouse site. It is a strategic reference document to help inform the ongoing conservation of the site and future decision making.

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Powerhouse Ultimo Foundation University Partner

Foundation University Partner, the University of Technology Sydney, has committed $10 million to Powerhouse Ultimo, a significant investment that will help boldly reimagine the Ultimo precinct, realised through the landmark $480–500 million renewal of Powerhouse Ultimo. The institutions will work together to foster a dynamic creative industry ecology and expand the international profile of Australian design and fashion both nationally and internationally.

(L-R) UTS Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Leadership and Engagement) Professor Michael McDaniel; UTS Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Andrew Parfitt; Fashion Designer Jenny Kee; NSW Arts Minister the Hon. Ben Franklin; Powerhouse Trustee Beau Neilson; Powerhouse First Nations Director Emily McDaniel; Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah. Photo by Zan Wimberley

UTS will become a supporting partner of the Powerhouse Ultimo creative industries academy, which will house an immersive education and professional hub that connects local and regional students with industry leaders. Work-integrated learning opportunities will extend to student internships plus work experience with key collaborators. First Nations will be a key collaborative focus area, establishing joint programs with the future UTS Indigenous Residential College and collaborating to integrate the UTS Galuwa Experience (an existing program for Indigenous high school students) into broader First Nations programming at Powerhouse Ultimo.

Research will be another core focus, with intention to expand original research and industry development across the creative industries sector, made accessible via Powerhouse public programs. UTS research students will have the opportunity to collaborate with Creative Industries Residents and utilise the resources of the Powerhouse Archives.

The partnership will enable co-design of opportunities to activate and animate the public domain adjoining the Goods Line and Harris Street.