Parramatta Powerhouse Museum construction powers ahead

The long-awaited Parramatta Powerhouse Museum has reached a key milestone, with most of the exhibition spaces now finished. See the behind the scenes photos and watch the time-lapse video.

The museum features a unique “exoskeleton” which is made of steel lattices that fit together to provide structural support. Picture: John Appleyard

The world-class Parramatta Powerhouse has hit a key milestone with construction on five of the seven exhibition spaces finished and work now turning to the interior where installations will be showcased.

Western Sydney’s first “state cultural institution”, set on the banks of the Parramatta River, will attract millions of visitors through its immersive exhibitions when it opens late in 2026.

Of the seven exhibition spaces that make up the bulk of the museum, five have been completed in a project referred to by NSW Arts Minister John Graham as “the largest investment in cultural infrastructure since the Sydney Opera House”.

The Powerhouse is expected to undergo a “staged handover” in which the installation of various exhibits will begin inside completed exhibition spaces as other internal spaces, as well as the facade of the building, have their finishing touches ironed out.

“Powerhouse Parramatta … will put Western Sydney at the forefront of Australia’s cultural, scientific and technological future,” Mr Graham said. “It will ensure that Western Sydney is not just a part of the cultural conversation, but leading it.”

The NSW Government is already touting one of the Powerhouse’s upcoming exhibitions, Task Eternal, as “one of the most ambitious aerospace exhibitions ever staged in the world”.

The exhibition will host more than 600 space-themed artefacts from the collections of some of the world’s most famous museums.

Lend Lease Stakeholder and Community Engagement manager Jessica Mammolitl walks up the spiral stairs to the Powerhouse Museums' cinema. Picture: John Appleyard

NSW Lands and Property Minister Steve Kamper said Parramatta Powerhouse was a “game changer”.

“Once complete, Powerhouse Parramatta will be the largest museum in NSW, with 18,000 square metres of exhibition and public space,” he said.

“The Minns Labor Government is proud to be delivering a world-class institution that will boost the local economy, create jobs and attract millions of visitors to Western Sydney each year.”

Sustainability has also been a key factor in the museum’s construction process, which incorporated the Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star Buildings assessment tool and earned a “six star” rating – the highest of any public building in Australia.

State Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said the museum would be a “transformative” project for Sydney’s second major CBD.

MORE PHOTOS

Jessica Mammoliti in the new Powerhouse Museum. Picture: John Appleyard

External view of the Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta’s construction. Picture: John Appleyard

Lend Lease Stakeholder and Community Engagement manager Jessica Mammoliti walks through one of the exhibition spaces. Picture: John Appleyard

Lend Lease Stakeholder and Community Engagement manager Jessica Mammoliti at the new Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta. Picture: John Appleyard

Buildcorp Project Engineer Edward Arakelian in one of the Powerhouse exhibition spaces. Picture: John Appleyard

Lend Lease Stakeholder and Community Engagement manager Jessica Mammoliti and Leigh Wannan from Infrastructure NSW in the new Powerhouse Museum’s cinema at Parramatta. Picture: John Appleyard

L to R: Buildcorp staff Daniel Mills, Caroline Tang, Nathan Debs, Peter Reynell and John Layoum in one of the Powerhouse's exhibition spaces. Picture: John Appleyard

The exhibition space allows lots of natural light to come in. Picture: John Appleyard

The spiral stairs to the Powerhouse Museum’s cinema. Picture: John Appleyard

One of the new Powerhouse Museum's exhibition spaces. Picture: John Appleyard