Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences Ultimo, Australia

The Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences is Australia’s contemporary museum for excellence and innovation in applied arts and sciences. Established in 1879, our venues include Powerhouse Museum, Sydney Observatory and Discovery Centre. We are uniquely placed to demonstrate how technology, engineering, science and design impact Australia and the world. Internationally, MAAS is acknowledged for the calibre of our collection, scholarship and exhibitions. Our collection spans history, science, technology, design, industry, decorative arts, music, transport and space exploration. It is also home to the material heritage and stories of Australian culture, history and lifestyle, providing a comprehensive insight into this rich and diverse country. There is estimated to be well over 500,000 separate items in the MAAS collection. A program of temporary exhibitions and programs complements a range of permanent galleries throughout MAAS venues. We place a strong emphasis on learning and creativity.

The Powerhouse Museum is the major branch of the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences in Sydney, the other being the historic Sydney Observatory. Although often described as a science museum, the Powerhouse has a diverse collection encompassing all sorts of technology including decorative arts, science, communication, transport, costume, furniture, media, computer technology, space technology and steam engines.

It has existed in various guises for over 125 years, and is home to some 400,000 artifacts, many of which are displayed or housed at the site it has occupied since 1988, and for which it is named — a converted electric tram power station in the Inner West suburb of Ultimo, originally constructed in 1902. It is well known, and a popular Sydney tourist destination.

In 2016, a proposal to move the Powerhouse Museum from inner Sydney Ultimo to the western Sydney district of Parramatta has proved controversial.

The Powerhouse Museum has its origins in a recommendation of the trustees of the Australian Museum in 1878 and the Sydney International Exhibition of 1879 and Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880. Some exhibits from these events were kept to constitute the original collection of the new Technological, Industrial and Sanitary Museum of New South Wales.

The museum was intended to be housed in the exhibition buildings known as the Garden Palace, which were destroyed by a fire in September 1882. A temporary home at the Agricultural Hall in the Domain served until relocated to new, purpose-built premises in Harris Street as the Technological Museum in August 1893. It incorporated the Sydney Observatory in 1982. The museum moved to its present location (the old Ultimo Power Station at 500 Harris Street) in March 1988, and took its present name (The Powerhouse Museum) from this new location. In February 2015, the State Government controversially announced that the museum will be relocated to Parramatta.
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