First photos inside Parramatta’s new Powerhouse Museum

Parramatta’s Powerhouse Museum will be home to immersive exhibits, a 55-seat cinema and a sky-high garden oasis when it opens in 2026. Take a look inside the new facility.

Parramatta will be transformed into a cultural capital when the giant glass doors of the new Powerhouse Museum burst open, attracting millions of visitors to journey through immersive exhibitions, a 55-seat cinema, and sky-high garden oasis in the heart of Western Sydney.

For the first time, The Daily Telegraph can reveal the futuristic features Sydneysiders can expect when Powerhouse Parramatta opens in late 2026 on the banks of the Parramatta River.

The centre will be the largest museum in the state upon completion, including a 600-seat theatre space, hidden bar, and link bridges connecting the two museum buildings together right above the city.

Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in six exhibitions, including two “black box” spaces designed for light and sound installations, while the Walker Family Foundation have contributed $20 million to provide STEM experiences for more than 10,000 high school students from Western Sydney and regional NSW every year, including overnight stays at the 60-bed Lang Walker Family Academy for a real life “night at the museum”.

Parramatta’s Powerhouse Museum will be the largest in the state when it opens in 2026.

The museum will have six exhibition spaces.

Pictures: Justin Lloyd

Attendees will also be able to access the rooftop garden to cool off on hot days, relax, and soak in views across Sydney.

The green space will include two state-of-the-art telescopes for stargazing and a community garden with fruits and vegetables to use in the Vitocco Family Kitchen – a large-scale demonstration kitchen for live cooking programs and product showcases with seating for up to 200 people.

The museum will have a 600-seat theatre.

The new museum is situated on the banks of the Parramatta River.

CEO of the Powerhouse Museum Lisa Havilah and Infrastructure NSW Head of Infrastructure Bruno Zinghini. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Powerhouse Museum chief executive Lisa Havilah said the museum will be unlike anything Sydneysiders have seen before.

“There will be a really beautiful cinema connected to a bar, and you’ll be able to come up here (to the rooftop) have a look out, enjoy the gardens and then go and see a movie,” Ms Havilah said.

Pictures: Justin Lloyd

The facility will have co-working spaces and studio apartments.

Powerhouse Parramatta will also be kitted out with co-working spaces and studio apartments to support national and international researchers, scientists and artists to live and work at the museum on one week to three month residencies.

While Infrastructure NSW head of projects Bruno Zinghini said the museum’s construction by Lendlease has laid the groundwork for even more local opportunities.

“(Half of the) $300m worth of contracts have been awarded right here in Western Sydney, but it’s not just about the money, it’s about the jobs it actually delivers here on the site and eventually at the museum itself,” he said.

Future Western Sydney will be streamed on April 4.

Lands and Property Minister Steve Kamper said the museum proved Parramatta was on track to become the city’s premier destination for arts and innovation.

“Powerhouse Parramatta is a game-changing investment in Western Sydney, delivering thousands of jobs, supporting local businesses, and creating a new cultural institution right in the heart of Parramatta.

“Once complete, the museum will welcome two million visitors each year, strengthening the region’s economy and enriching its cultural landscape for generations to come.”

This article is part of the Future Western Sydney series, which is proudly supported by Clubs NSW, Powerhouse, Transurban, Walker Corp, Western Sydney International Airport and Western Sydney University

Originally published as First photos inside Parramatta’s new Powerhouse Museum