Monday, 25 November 2024
Government House
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC

Bujari gamarruwa

Diyn Babana Gamarada Gadigal Ngura

I greet you in the language of the Gadigal, Traditional Owners of the land on which we gather, and pay my respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging. I extend that respect to the Elders of the Dharug, traditional owners of the lands on which Powerhouse Parramatta sits.

Distinguished guests^[1] all,

One thing that stands out about New South Wales is its big heart – reflected in every community organisation, especially through its volunteers, in every significant medical institution and every cultural institution. through its generosity.

It was the generosity of our citizens that built the Anzac Memorial, which yesterday commemorated its 90^th anniversary; likewise with the Opera House, which last year celebrated its 50^th anniversary. Significant philanthropy also contributed to the build of the new Sydney Modern – Naala Badu – which opened 2 years ago, and within 2 years we are again to point to the generous public contribution, when the doors of Powerhouse Parramatta swing open. And that is thanks to those here tonight, along with many others who have contributed. And we’re almost there – 80% of the target $75 million has been raised^[2]. 

Something else always stands out when we do engage in major civic projects – there’s always a touch of controversy – about location, about design, about purpose, about cost, about time taken for construction. And then the moment comes when everyone draws a deep breath – and we boast – as we celebrate designs of brilliance and structures of national and international importance.

What the controversy does of course is simply make the buildings and their purpose more famous – as happened with the 3 buildings I mentioned. And so it has been with the Parramatta Powerhouse. Already the accolades are flowing. At a televised walkthrough in November, it was referred to as ‘a cultural treasure’, ‘a showstopper’, and at ‘a scale to be seen to be believed’.

Its location in Western Sydney is a testament to the importance of this area as the population and economic heartland of New South Wales. The museum itself continues Parramatta’s long history as a centre of scientific research and experimentation, which commenced from the earliest days of the Colony.

The last time we gathered here in support of the Powerhouse Parramatta Campaign, I mentioned Sir Thomas Brisbane, the 6^th Governor of NSW. He was responsible for building the first permanent observatory in Australia, in what is now Parramatta Park, and from which emanated some of Australia’s first internationally recognized scientific work.^[3] Equipment used by Brisbane in his Parramatta Observatory is part of the Powerhouse collection today.^[4]

If you look at the portrait of Governor Brisbane in the Main Hall, perhaps Australia’s oldest officially commissioned portrait, you’ll see a depiction of an astrolabe, an explicit reference to the Governor’s astronomical zeal. You will also see, through the window behind him, a depiction of Sydney Heads.

There is some irony in this. Sir Thomas spent perhaps only a day a fortnight during his four years as Governor of NSW within sight of Sydney Harbour, preferring to live at Government House in Parramatta. Brisbane’s preference inverts any characterisation of Parramatta as some kind of periphery to the main action here by the Harbour.

Parramatta Powerhouse thus continues a tradition as a location of scientific research. It will also be a museum that rethinks what a museum should and can do – a pivot point where history might not only be experienced, but also made. It will, and already has begun to, provide transformative opportunities to shape that future through collaborative community engagement, intergenerational education programs, and cutting-edge research.

• The Lang Walker Family Academy In-Schools Program has been providing NSW Public secondary school students STEM enrichment programs and connection to the International Space Station through the Powerhouse: Future Space program^[5]. Over 1,600 students from Western Sydney have participated already, and there are plans to expand outreach to students from regional and rural schools from next year.^[6]
• Powerhouse Parramatta’s foundation University Partner, Western Sydney University, is co-delivering joint academic collaborations, such as the Urban Transformation Summer School, a cross-disciplinary opportunity for Master of Architecture Students from Western Sydney University, under the guidance of industry experts, to find creative solutions to urban design challenges devised by local Western Sydney councils.^[7]
• The Tyree Foundation’s is collaborating with TAFE NSW to develop hands-on engineering workshops, aimed at fostering and harnessing the passion of Western Sydney high school students for science and engineering,^[8]
• and the Vitocco Legacy Project has begun overseeing the collection and sharing of the histories, innovations, and entrepreneurial spirit of Western Sydney.^[9]

Powerhouse Parramatta has already made history: the first NSW State Cultural Institution to be based in Western Sydney, and one of the most complex engineered buildings being built in the world today, which, when it opens, will be the largest museum in NSW, expected to attract 2 million visitors a year^[10].

As we stand here today, we have seen the installation of:

• almost all the 12,000 tonnes of structural steel,
• over 70% of the 1,300 intricate pieces of steel exoskeleton,
• two of the three levels of the link bridge connecting the two buildings,
• and all the major escalators.
• 25,000 cubic metres of concrete has been poured on the site, and, in coming weeks, the Eastern building will reach its highest point, with the Western building soon to follow.

As a Patron of the Powerhouse Parramatta Campaign, I congratulate all involved – each and every person, agency, and organisation – who has, and continues to, contribute to the realisation of this visionary endeavour.

And to you, Powerhouse Parramatta’s supporters and partners, the warmest of thanks. Your ongoing generosity is not only an emphatic expression of pride in your community, its legacy, and potential, but also an empowering and everlasting investment in its future.

[1] including The Honourable John Graham MLC, Special Minister of State, Minister for Roads, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, and Minister for Jobs and Tourism, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council; the Honourable Peter Collins AM KC, President, Powerhouse Trust; Ms Lisa Havilah, Chief Executive, Powerhouse; Mr Anthony Shepherd AO, Chair, Powerhouse Parramatta Capital Campaign Committee; representatives from State and Local Government agencies, WSU, and UTS.

[2] information provided by Grace Bushrod, Campaign and Events Officer, Powerhouse.

[3] Including the second-ever published catalogue of the 7385 stars they mapped of the southern sky: Catalogue of 7385 Stars from Observations Made at the Observatory at Parramatta: Glen Cozens, Andrew Walsh, and Wayne Orchiston, ‘James Dunlop’s Historical Catalogue of Southern Nebulae and Clusters’, in Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, 13 (1), p. 59; available: here. Work also included observation of comets, nebulae, and double stars and observations for latitude and longitude; Brisbane, Rümker, and Dunlop all received a gold medal of the Royal Astronomical Society: Harley Wood, ‘Sydney Observatory 1858-1983,’ in Proc. ACA, vol 5 (2), 1983, p.273; available: here

[4] For instance, the Breguet mean-time regulator clock, catalogue information available here

[5] ‘Lang Walker Family Academy’, Powerhouse website, available here

[6] information provided by Grace Bushrod, Campaign and Events Officer, Powerhouse

[7] ‘Urban Transformation Summer School’, Powerhouse website, available here

[8] ‘Tyree Foundation Gallery’, Powerhouse website, available here

[9] ‘The Vitocco Kitchen’, Powerhouse website, available here. Over 40 local collaborators have so far contributed to major projects, community events, commissions, acquisitions, and podcast episodes celebrating the rich contributions of individuals and families from Western Sydney: information provided by Grace Bushrod, Campaign and Events Officer, Powerhouse

[10] ‘Building Parramatta’, Powerhouse website, available here