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Powerhouse Museum - July Collection Conversations | Innovation

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

Program Collection Conversations

Innovation

Talk

Collection Conversations is a free program that brings the Powerhouse Collection to life through storytelling and curatorial insight. Led by Powerhouse Volunteers, each talk invites audiences to see familiar objects in new and meaningful ways.

Innovation
From the early days of aviation to the rise of sustainable materials, this talk explores the ingenuity behind objects that changed the way we move, live and create. Volunteers will share insights into the people and processes that brought these innovations to life, offering a fresh perspective on familiar technologies.

Schedule

Thursday 17 July, 11am
Darling Square Library
The Exchange, levels 1, 1 Little Pier St, Haymarket NSW 2000
Free event, register here

Thursday 17 July, 11am
Powerhouse Castle Hill
172 Showground Road
Free event, registrations required

Wednesday 23 July, 11am
Ultimo Community Centre
40 William Henry Street corner, Bulwara Rd, Ultimo NSW 2007
Free event, Drop In

Thursday 24 July, 11am
PHIVE
5 Parramatta Sq, Parramatta NSW 2150
Free event, Drop In

Drop-ins welcome — we encourage you to come along, reflect and connect with these powerful stories from the collection.

Photograph of a large perfume bottle and box, 'No 5' by Chanel. — 1/2
Chanel 'No.5' perfume bottle and box
Object No. 2009/33/1-32

A side image of a full size motor car from the 1910's. The object is finished in black enamel paint and polished to a high shine. — 2/2
Detroit Electric brougham electric car
Object No. B1057-1

A part of

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Ended 24 Jul 2025

Times and dates vary across Sydney

4 sessions

Duration – 1 hour

1amThu17 July 20251amThu17 July 20251amWed23 July 20251amThu24 July 2025

Free

FreeGeneral Drop-ins welcome

Across Sydney

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

Innovation

Powerhouse Lane

Powerhouse Lane

Parramatta Lanes22—25 Oct

2025

Also in the Series

Fashion

20—27 Nov TalkAcross Sydney

Community

11—18 Dec TalkAcross Sydney

Remembrance

Ended 24 Apr 2025TalkAcross Sydney

Writing

Ended 28 May 2025TalkAcross Sydney

Textiles

Ended 26 Jun 2025TalkAcross Sydney

Science

Ended 28 Aug 2025TalkAcross Sydney

Design

Ended 25 Sept 2025TalkAcross Sydney

Space

Ended 23 Oct 2025TalkAcross Sydney

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.

Collection Conversations

MonthlyAcross Sydney

Man standing in field surrounded by those in uniforms.

Man standing in field surrounded by those in uniforms.

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'.

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

Textiles

Textiles

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