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

Program Collection Conversations

Fashion

Ended 27 Nov 2025

Times and dates vary across Sydney

4 sessions

12amThu20 November 202512amThu20 November 202512amWed26 November 202512amThu27 November 2025

Free

FreeGeneral Drop-ins welcome

Across Sydney

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.

Fashion
This volunteer-led discussion explores how clothing reflects cultural identity, personal expression and the stories woven into our social history.

A part of

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Schedule

Thursday 20 November, 11am
Darling Square Library
The Exchange, levels 1, 1 Little Pier St, Haymarket NSW 2000
Free event, Walk-in

Thursday 20 November, 11am
Powerhouse Castle Hill
172 Showground Rd
Free event, register here
All Collection Conversations at Castle Hill are followed by a tour of the collections on display.

Wednesday 26 November, 11am
Ultimo Community Centre
40 William Henry Street Corner, Bulwara Rd, Ultimo NSW 2007
Free event, Walk-in

Thursday 27 November, 11am
PHIVE
5 Parramatta Sq, Parramatta NSW 2150
Free event, register here

Dress is made in a red, orange, white and black fabric and features red tulle. The fabric pattern is a Signature Prints design by Robyn Caughlan. The dress is an off-the-shoulder design, with a bodice, miniskirt, tulle trail and a pair of arm sleeves. The bodice features a flower at its centre. — 1/3
'Fire Gown' dress by Robyn Caughlan
Object No. 2023/65/2

Two piece wool flannel suit, shirt and accessories with applique holograms and found objects (recycled suit, new accessories). Accessories include headpiece comprising motorcycle helmet, perspex, hologram foils, compact discs and plastic squids; 'scorpion skin' plastic tie; pair of purple nylon socks; pair of hologram eyes glasses; briefcase of clear plastic with applied holograms. — 2/3
'New Age Business Suit' mens outfit by Peter Tully
Object No. 90/814

Pair of womens slip on shoes with gently pointed toe, platform sole with sculptured upturned wedge heel. Shoe consists of uppers of red silk satin in one piece. — 3/3
Pair of womens Kabuki shoes by Beth Levine for Saks Fith Avenue
Object No. 97/185/2

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

Powerhouse Parramatta Topping Out

Powerhouse Parramatta Topping Out

Major construction milestone achieved for the new museum

Fashion

2025

Powerhouse Museum - November Collection Conversations | Fashion

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 rectangular glazed tile is painted in cobalt-blue, turquoise, manganese and pink with a black outline on a white ground and was made for the decoration of the wall of an internal reception hall, the external wall of a castle or the house of an aristocratic Qajar family.

A rectangular glazed tile is painted in cobalt-blue, turquoise, manganese and pink with a black outline on a white ground and was made for the decoration of the wall of an internal reception hall, the external wall of a castle or the house of an aristocratic Qajar family.

Nowruz

12—25 Mar Across Sydney

Steamfest

9—22 Apr Across Sydney

Writers

14—27 May Across Sydney

Seasonal Rituals

11—24 Jun Across Sydney

Caring for Country

9—22 Jul Across Sydney

National Science Week

13—26 Aug Across Sydney

Parramatta

10—23 Sep Across Sydney

Diwali

8—28 Oct Across Sydney

Educators

12—25 Nov Across Sydney

Community

10—17 Dec Across Sydney

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

Community

Ended 18 Dec 2025Across Sydney

Lunar New Year

Ended 25 Feb 2026Across Sydney

Landscape format photographic image depicting a stage in the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Looking south at trains with tenders used for load tests on the outer west track. In th background we can see the Sydney Observatory and houses at Millers Point.

Landscape format photographic image depicting a stage in the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Looking south at trains with tenders used for load tests on the outer west track. In th background we can see the Sydney Observatory and houses at Millers Point.

Black and white photograph of a street scene in Keijo, Korea, showing pedestrians walking either side along a banner filled street.

Black and white photograph of a street scene in Keijo, Korea, showing pedestrians walking either side along a banner filled street.

A silver gelatin dry plate glass negative in landscape format. A silver gelatin dry plate glass negative in landscape format. The image shows fish traps in a section of the Darling River. The fish traps consist of low stone walls constructed on the river bed. The walls are arranged to form cul de sacs that trap the fish. The Tyrrell Collection Inventory records the above caption but does not attribute the negative to a studio.

A silver gelatin dry plate glass negative in landscape format. A silver gelatin dry plate glass negative in landscape format. The image shows fish traps in a section of the Darling River. The fish traps consist of low stone walls constructed on the river bed. The walls are arranged to form cul de sacs that trap the fish. The Tyrrell Collection Inventory records the above caption but does not attribute the negative to a studio.

Black and white photograph of the first Australian airmail flight at Government House Melbourne. Multiple men in suits and hats looking to a pilot sitting on a plane, preparing to fly.

Black and white photograph of the first Australian airmail flight at Government House Melbourne. Multiple men in suits and hats looking to a pilot sitting on a plane, preparing to fly.

Silver gelatin dry plate glass negative in landscape format. The image depicts St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Parramatta. The church is depicted in the centre of the image. The front of the church features a turret like tower with four spires. The electric tramway is depicted in the foreground of the image. Other buildings are partially depicted on either side of the church. A hansom cab can be seen in the foreground in the left side of the image. The caption, studio mark and studio number are inscribed on the reverse of the negative.

Silver gelatin dry plate glass negative in landscape format. The image depicts St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Parramatta. The church is depicted in the centre of the image. The front of the church features a turret like tower with four spires. The electric tramway is depicted in the foreground of the image. Other buildings are partially depicted on either side of the church. A hansom cab can be seen in the foreground in the left side of the image. The caption, studio mark and studio number are inscribed on the reverse of the negative.

Black and white photograph depicting a woman (Subbulakshmi) wearing a sari looking down at a man (her husband T. Sadasivam) seated.

Black and white photograph depicting a woman (Subbulakshmi) wearing a sari looking down at a man (her husband T. Sadasivam) seated.

Photograph of a group study of "Fullerton Public School" pupils, posed in four rows in front of a wooden building with man in suit and bowler hat. There are 34 children of ages ranging from about 5 to about 15. The boy at centre front is holding a sign reading 'Fullerton / Public School / 18.8.09.'. Horizontal format on embossed cream mount.

Photograph of a group study of "Fullerton Public School" pupils, posed in four rows in front of a wooden building with man in suit and bowler hat. There are 34 children of ages ranging from about 5 to about 15. The boy at centre front is holding a sign reading 'Fullerton / Public School / 18.8.09.'. Horizontal format on embossed cream mount.

Photograph from negative with the caption "Coney Island spells fun to the child in any grown-up. Beneath the Harbour Bridge Sydney has its own version of Coney Island inside the bizarre mouth of Luna Park right on the waterfront."

Photograph from negative with the caption "Coney Island spells fun to the child in any grown-up. Beneath the Harbour Bridge Sydney has its own version of Coney Island inside the bizarre mouth of Luna Park right on the waterfront."

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.

Textiles

Textiles

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.

Man standing in field surrounded by those in uniforms.

Man standing in field surrounded by those in uniforms.

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'.

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.

Space

Space

Black and white photograph of a morse code operator, a gentleman at a desk with morse code equipment.

Black and white photograph of a morse code operator, a gentleman at a desk with morse code equipment.

Black and white photograph, depicting Chinese New Year Procession. A paper dragon puppet lifted by sticks above a crowd of people, with large banners and signs surrounding them.

Black and white photograph, depicting Chinese New Year Procession. A paper dragon puppet lifted by sticks above a crowd of people, with large banners and signs surrounding them.