Powerhouse Discovery Centre in Castle Hill: Top 10 attractions
A multimillion-dollar museum expansion will soon house some of Australia’s most important historic artefacts. Here’s our top ten of the most fascinating items to be housed there.
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The Hills will soon be home to some of the most important and significant historic artefacts in Australia.
It comes after a $36 million expansion of the Powerhouse Discovery Centre in Castle Hill was approved by the planning minister.
More artefacts as part of the 500,000-piece collection will be on show for Hills residents at the new state-of-the-art facility at 172 Castle Hill Road.
“The expansion of the Museums Discovery Centre will increase opportunities for community and education programs, temporary exhibitions, tours and events for the people of NSW,” Arts minister Don Harwin said.
“The facilities will also provide more opportunities for research and conservation work on the Powerhouse collection.”
Powerhouse chief executive Lisa Havilah said it will provide 30 per cent more stage space and increase public access to the collection.
“Access to the collection for the community lies at the heart of this expansion, ranging from the Apple Computer 1 to the iconic objects from the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games it truly is a remarkable collection and it belongs to the people of NSW.”
We’ve taken a look at what will be on display to bring you the most significant ten items.
Apple 1 Computer
Made in 1976
The Apple 1 was first designed and made by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in the mid 1970s.
It came in a tan leather briefcase with a power supply, cassette tape player and keyboard.
With only 50 still left in the world, it is a real collectors item with an untold value.
The Apple 1 kickstarted one of the world’s most successful technology companies.
Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Torch
Designed in 1998
The Olympic torch was the centrepiece for the event which heralded a new era for Australia and provided perhaps the world's greatest sporting spectacle.
Its three layers of stainless steel represented earth, fire and water and there were only a limited number ever made.
Prior to the games the torch relay saw it transported across Australia, travelling 27,000 kms with 11,000 torchbearers.
However, its most notable carrier was of course Cathy Freeman who used it to ignite the cauldron on 15 September 2000 at the opening ceremony.
Goggomobil
Designed in 1959
The Goggomobil Dart car was devised by Sydney car racer and dealer Bill Buckle in the late 1950s in the hope of bringing smaller and more economical cars to Australian streets.
The mini car, which had parts imported from Germany, was an open sports two-seater with no doors.
At the time it cost about 685 Australian pounds.
It was one of 700 vehicles manufactured at the time and it’s a rare piece with only about 50 left.
Sales plummeted with the introduction of the Mini Cooper with the last batch made in 1962.
1930 television receiver
Made in c1930
The Televisor was one of the first commercially available television receivers made by the famous Scottish inventor, John Logie Baird.
When it was first sold to the public it cost about 26 pounds.
In the 1930s, the BBC used Baird’s Televisor for TV broadcasts.
While other competitors surpassed Baird’s original mechanical designs, the televisor was a pioneer and eventually led to the invention of television.
Ultralight aircraft flown from England
Designed in 1987
The ultralight aircraft named Dalgety Flyer was flown between London and Sydney in December 1987 by British journalist and pilot Brian Milton.
While the flight took 58 days, it had the world record as the longest and fastest ultralight flight at the time.
The Dalgety Flyer fitted with a two cylinder engine travelled a remarkable 21,898 kilometres and marked the start of long distance intercontinental flights using ultralight aircraft.
Kylie Showgirl costume
Designed 2000
Designed by Michael Wilkinson, the showgirl costume was the iconic pink silk corset and diamante headdress worn by Kylie Minogue during the closing ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
The closing ceremony on 1 October 2000 marked the end of the incredible spectacle with 10,000 athletes and 110,000 spectators and television viewers.
Kylie Minogue sang Abba’s iconic ‘Dancing Queen’ while other Aussie stars including the likes of Paul Hogan, Elle McPherson and Midnight Oil played a part in the ceremony.
The International Olympics Committee president at the time Juan Antonio Samaranch declaring it the “best Olympic Games ever.”
Antarctic yacht
Made in 1962
The small boat Ice Bird travelled single-handedly from Sydney Harbour to Antarctica in 1972.
Sailor Dr David Lewis embarked solo on the dangerous journey in the 9.7m yacht which was bought second-hand in Sydney.
The yacht had to withstand everything from freezing temperatures to waves as high as 35 metres.
During the voyage, the boat capsized three times breaking the mast. Lewis then had to sail 4,000km with a makeshift mast.
Qantas Barbie doll
A collection of Barbie dolls dressed in handmade miniaturised Qantas uniforms show how the airline’s uniform fashion changed from 1948 to 2009.
The dolls uniforms were made by John Willmott-Potts who worked for Qantas as a cook and steward for 24 years.
The particular uniform in the picture was worn by Qantas staff from 1964 to 1969.
Architectural model of King Street
Made 1970-75
The model reflects what the streetscape at Sydney’s King Street looked like in the 1880s.
It was one of 23 models of Kings Cross created in the 1950s giving a glimpse of the architecture and society before the economic depression of the 1890s.
The model was created by Jack Montgomery who was a model maker for the ABC.
Publicity photograph for Qantas
There are some advertising campaigns which are remembered many years after their release.
This publicity photo for the national airline certainly fits this category.
The photograph by David Mist shows the fashion and youth culture of 1960s Sydney.
The women are pictured wearing mini skirts paired with knee high boots outside the iconic Coca Cola billboard in Kings Cross.
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