Collection Conversations at Sydney Observatory | Powerhouse

Country Always

Country Always

Caring for Country

A Corner of the Empire

A Corner of the Empire

The Garden Palace

The Holding Pen

The Holding Pen

The Agricultural Hall

Regional Networks

Regional Networks

Across New South Wales

A Museum of Doing

A Museum of Doing

Technological Museum

Expanding Stories

Expanding Stories

Evolution of the Castle Hill site from botanical research station to Museum Discovery Centre

Transforming the Tramsheds

Transforming the Tramsheds

Powerhouse Stage 1 and the Harwood Building

A Symbol in Time

A Symbol in Time

Sydney Observatory

Ongoing Transformations

Ongoing Transformations

Powerhouse Ultimo

Applied Arts and Sciences

Applied Arts and Sciences

Defining the terms in the 21st century

Powerhouse Renewal

Powerhouse Renewal

A transformative renewal program across four sites

We Rise

We Rise

Blak Powerhouse

Powerhouse-1 Mission Launch to the ISS

Powerhouse-1 Mission Launch to the ISS

An initiative of the Powerhouse: Future Space program

2024

2024

Exoskeleton

Exoskeleton

Powerhouse Parramatta

Collection Conversations at Sydney Observatory

Parramatta

Parramatta

2026

A landscape black and white photograph depicting two men and two women browsing in the book room, later known as the Margaret Street Bookshop.

Program Collection Conversations

Collection Conversations at Sydney Observatory

Monthly

1–2pm

6 sessions

3amThu16 July 20263amThu20 August 20263amThu17 September 20262amThu15 October 20262amThu19 November 20262amThu17 December 2026

Free

FreeGeneral Drop-ins welcome

Sydney Observatory

On Gadigal Land

Sydney Observatory

1003 Upper Fort St, Millers Point NSW 2000

Plan your visit

Accessibility at Sydney Observatory

Getting to Sydney Observatory

Collection Conversations is a free program that brings the Powerhouse Collection to life through storytelling led by Powerhouse Volunteers. Each talk invites audiences to discover objects in new and meaningful ways.

Presented across Sydney, the program creates spaces for learning through shared conversations.

Caring for Country
From carved emu eggs to ancestral star knowledge, Powerhouse Volunteers share stories of First Nations objects that honour Country and sustain knowledge.

Upcoming Collection Conversations

Thursday 16 July – Caring for Country
Thursday 20 August – National Science Week
Thursday 17 September – Educators
Thursday 15 October – Diwali
Thursday 19 November – Parramatta
Thursday 17 December – Community

Subscribe FAQ Contact Governance Accessibility Opportunities

A part of

Collection Conversations

MonthlyAcross Sydney

A landscape black and white photograph depicting two men and two women browsing in the book room, later known as the Margaret Street Bookshop.

Also in the Series

A landscape black and white photograph depicting two men and two women browsing in the book room, later known as the Margaret Street Bookshop.

A landscape black and white photograph depicting two men and two women browsing in the book room, later known as the Margaret Street Bookshop.

Collection Conversations at Castle Hill

MonthlyCastle Hill

A landscape black and white photograph depicting two men and two women browsing in the book room, later known as the Margaret Street Bookshop.

A landscape black and white photograph depicting two men and two women browsing in the book room, later known as the Margaret Street Bookshop.

Collection Conversations at Ultimo Research Library

MonthlyPowerhouse Ultimo, Research Library

Man standing in field surrounded by those in uniforms.

Man standing in field surrounded by those in uniforms.

Remembrance

Ended 24 Apr 2025Across Sydney

Writing

Ended 28 May 2025Across Sydney

Textiles

Ended 26 Jun 2025Across Sydney

Innovation

Ended 24 Jul 2025Across Sydney

Science

Ended 28 Aug 2025Across Sydney

Design

Ended 25 Sept 2025Across Sydney

Space

Ended 23 Oct 2025Across Sydney

Fashion

Ended 27 Nov 2025Across Sydney

Community

Ended 18 Dec 2025Across Sydney

Textiles

Textiles

Photograph of a woman sitting at a desk writing, holding a fountain pen, and a Bakelite telephone in front of her.

Photograph of a woman sitting at a desk writing, holding a fountain pen, and a Bakelite telephone in front of her.

A black and white photographic print mounted on a sheet of linen. Photo of Captain Sharp demonstrating two Magnavox phonographs, white paper label glued to back 'CAPTAIN SHARP DEMONSTRATING WITH MV-1 & SONORA'.

A black and white photographic print mounted on a sheet of linen. Photo of Captain Sharp demonstrating two Magnavox phonographs, white paper label glued to back 'CAPTAIN SHARP DEMONSTRATING WITH MV-1 & SONORA'.

Colour photographic print of a 1914 Daimler and train, cut from calendar or magazine.

Colour photographic print of a 1914 Daimler and train, cut from calendar or magazine.

A sepia-toned photograph of the design awards, in which four figures -- two men, two women -- speak together in a loose huddle, drinks in hand.

A sepia-toned photograph of the design awards, in which four figures -- two men, two women -- speak together in a loose huddle, drinks in hand.

Space

Space

Black and white photograph showing two women, using back strap looms in a hut while two girls sit between them, in the centre of the photograph. The back strap loom used the weaver's body to provide the correct tension to the warps, the other end of which are tied to a rod, which is suspended from the roof timbers.

Black and white photograph showing two women, using back strap looms in a hut while two girls sit between them, in the centre of the photograph. The back strap loom used the weaver's body to provide the correct tension to the warps, the other end of which are tied to a rod, which is suspended from the roof timbers.

A black and white photograph of designers Jenny Kee wearing a Kee designed knit and Linda Jackson wearing a Linda Jackson designed jacket.

A black and white photograph of designers Jenny Kee wearing a Kee designed knit and Linda Jackson wearing a Linda Jackson designed jacket.