POWERHOUSE PARRAMATTA WELCOMES FIRST OBJECTS

The historic Qantas Avro 504K aircraft, a replica of the airline’s first plane will feature in the major opening exhibition, Task Eternal. The Avro is suspended above a Cierva C.30A Autogiro — a forerunner of the helicopter — and the Skycraft Scout Mark 1, an ultralight aircraft designed and made by Australian Ron Wheeler.

Featured in the new museum’s largest exhibition space, Task Eternal will explore the intersection of design, innovation and technology and trace humanity’s quest to defy gravity, take flight and journey into the sky.

The Avro aircraft is one of two replicas of the airline’s first plane, built in Mascot by Qantas engineers and apprentices in 1988. Weighing more than 760 kilograms and at almost 9m long with a wingspan of 11m, the aircraft is one of more than 750 objects that will feature in the foundational opening exhibition, Task Eternal.

The Avro installation marks the beginning of a landmark 10-year partnership, bringing together two iconic Australian institutions — Qantas, the nation’s flagship airline and a global leader in aviation innovation, and Powerhouse, one of the world’s leading museums of applied arts and sciences. The collaboration will see Qantas become Presenting Partner for Task Eternal, a large-scale, multi-year exhibition offering visitors unique insights into aviation, space, design and innovation.

The exhibition will explore Qantas’ long‑standing history of aviation innovation and how it continues to shape the future of flight. Alongside the evolution of the Flying Kangaroo and landmark moments in design including Qantas’ iconic uniforms, interiors and inflight dining and the upcoming Project Sunrise. The exhibition will examine the science, research and innovation behind these ultra‑long‑haul flights, reflecting Qantas’ ongoing commitment to innovation in aviation. The partnership will see the creation of the Qantas Terrace, a prominent public square overlooking the Parramatta River.

More than 6000 objects from the Qantas Heritage Collection, spanning more than a century of aviation history, will be conserved and digitised at Powerhouse Castle Hill.

Developed over four years, Task Eternal is one of the most ambitious aerospace exhibitions ever staged. More than 750 objects on display including 350 objects from its own collection, and more than 250 objects on loan from more than 120 Australian and international lenders, plus 12 new commissions will be presented in the new museum’s largest exhibition space.

The exhibition reflects the scale and ambition of Powerhouse Parramatta, Western Sydney’s first State Cultural Institution.

Minister for the Arts, John Graham said ‘The first object going into Powerhouse Parramatta is an exciting milestone. I love that the first object is such an important piece of our engineering history.

‘This partnership sees two iconic Australian institutions coming together. Powerhouse Parramatta is an icon in the making, and more than 100-year-old icon in Qantas.

‘The ambition and scale of this undertaking reflects the ambition, scale and possibility of western Sydney and I look forward to exploring the 3,000 objects later this year.’

Qantas Group Chief Brand and Corporate Affairs Officer, Danielle Keighery said ‘We're proud to partner with Powerhouse Parramatta and to bring our aviation history to life. Qantas and Powerhouse share a commitment to preserving and celebrating Australian heritage, and we look forward to Australians connecting with the stories that have defined the Flying Kangaroo.’

Qantas A330 Captain, David Thiess said ‘Seeing the Qantas Avro 504K, the first aircraft to carry the Qantas name, on display is a reminder of how far Australian aviation has come. From the early long-range flights linking remote communities such as Longreach, Winton and Cloncurry, to the lead up to the inaugural A350 Project Sunrise services, Qantas has continued to lead the way in aviation innovation.

‘The Qantas Heritage Collection brings more than a century of pioneering spirit to life, and it’s something all of us at Qantas are incredibly proud to share. Partnering with the Powerhouse Museum to celebrate both the innovation and the enduring legacy of Qantas is a fitting way to honour our past while looking toward the future of flight.’

Member for Parramatta, Donna Davis said ‘The people of Parramatta are watching the Powerhouse as it gets closer and closer to opening. When it does later this year, it will truly change our city. The ambition of this exhibition matches the ambition of the people of Parramatta, and I can’t wait to see it.’

Member for Granville and Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts, Julia Finn said ‘The exhibitions inside Powerhouse will be wonderful, matched by the beauty of the public space outside and along the riverbanks. There is going to be something for everyone to enjoy across the applied arts and sciences, so many extraordinary objects and ideas to discover.’

Powerhouse Trust President, David Borger said ‘Powerhouse is proud to partner with Qantas, an organisation that has shaped how Australia connects with the world for more than a century. The installation of the Avro 504K as the first object at Powerhouse Parramatta is a defining milestone—anchoring the museum in stories of engineering, design and innovation that will continue to shape our future.’

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