Powerhouse Museum at Parramatta inches closer to becoming reality
The NSW Government has cleared the way for the construction of the $767 million Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta.
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The NSW Government has cleared the way for the construction of the $767 million Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta.
The Daily Telegraph understands the government plans to announce on Friday the brick-by-brick removal of Willow Grove house and its rebuilding it in North Parramatta.
Construction of the new museum had stalled in the face of protests about the demolition of the 1870s two-storey villa by a tiny but vocal group of local residents which led to a green ban by construction union the CFMEU.
Museum of Applied Sciences trustee David Borger said: “This is a win for everyone.
“We can maintain our beloved heritage house and at the same time make sure our kids are inspired by the largest museum in Australia.”
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The announcement comes after an alliance of Western Sydney business leaders and organisations wrote to Premier Gladys Berejiklian calling for the museum to go ahead.
The Western Sydney Community Powerhouse Alliance made up of business university, Indigenous, religious, medical, council and history organisations held a press conference outside parliament today urging the Premier to go ahead with the construction.
The government reversed its decision to close the existing Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo following a campaign by inner-city elites and instead opted to have two sites for the museum with a new state-of-the-art building being built in Parramatta. But the demolition of Willow Grove house became a stumbling block.
Mr Borger said moving it from its current location next to the tallest building in western Sydney to a more tranquil and appropriate setting was the best of both worlds.
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“It will be moved to the site of the old Cumberland Hospital in North Parramatta where it will be surrounded by nature and gardens.
“This will see it refurbished and given new life for use by the community,” he said.
