Pitch an Object for the Powerhouse Parramatta 100-Year Time Capsule
To celebrate the opening of Powerhouse Parramatta in 2026, Powerhouse invites scientists, academics, science educators and students from across NSW to submit objects to be selected for a Time Capsule that will be buried for 100 years.
The Time Capsule will be designed by Australian industrial designer David Caon of Caon Design Office collaborating closely with the Advanced Manufacturing Readiness Facility in Bradfield City, where the Time Capsule will be fabricated.
We are looking for small objects that:
- reflect a key aspect of contemporary science — highlighting current challenges, advancements or societal relevance
- play a direct role in your research or studies — tools, instruments or technologies essential to your scientific work or explorations
- have inspired breakthroughs — objects that led to unexpected insights or a new direction in your research or scientific thinking
- mark important moments in your career as a young, emerging or esteemed scientist — personal artefacts that tell a story of growth or change
A Selection Committee will decide on the final objects to be placed in the Time Capsule. Selection Committee members will include Founder/CEO of DeadlyScience - Corey Tutt OAM, NSW Chief Scientist - Hugh Durrant-Whyte, Powerhouse Chief Executive - Lisa Havilah and recent student winners of the NSW Young Scientist & Young Rural Scientist Awards. The Committee will select the final objects in accordance with the selection criteria.
To be eligible to be selected you must own the object or have authority to donate it to Powerhouse on behalf of your institution, school or family.
KEY DATES
- Submissions open 15 October 2025
- Submissions close 5pm 26 November 2025
- Notification of successful submissions January 2026
Industry Partners
100-Year Time Capsule
Send a message to the future by nominating an object for our time capsule
Why is Powerhouse making a time capsule?
This program continues a Powerhouse tradition that has seen a time capsule buried twice before in the museum’s history.
In 1879, a glass jar time capsule filled with newspapers of the day was buried in the cornerstone of the Garden Palace, which later burned down along with the foundational collection of the Technological and Sanitary Museum (the early precursor to today’s Powerhouse Museum). Someone rescued this glass jar from the ruins of the fire, and today it is in the State Library of NSW archives.
In 1981, a bright yellow stainless steel time capsule was buried to mark the opening of Stage 1 of the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo. Inside it were items like a Sydney street directory, restaurant menus from McDonald’s and the Hilton, a Kodak camera, a Space Invaders computer game, a vial of sand from Bondi Beach and a bottle of Penfolds Grange Hermitage. It is scheduled to be opened in 2081.
Now it’s time to pitch us objects for inclusion in the Powerhouse Parramatta time capsule.
FAQs
Contact us: timecapsule@powerhouse.com.au