The Powerhouse Museum, Sydney

 The Powerhouse Museum, Sydney 

It was a split day, having to move hotels so packing up, signing out and a transfer to sign in to another hotel. Seems simple but it all takes time and was a half day out of my schedule but I had seen a lot.

I walked down to the Finger Wharf just for the exercise.

And amongst the art on display, I saw another piece that captured my imagination. Obviously straight edged but recognisable as a form and on the cusp of my liking between actual representation of an animal and artistic licence to call any lump of metal a piece of art. 

I walked in a large arc to reach the Powerhouse Museum.

It is a contemporary museum with a focus on arts, science, innovation and design. 

It houses a diverse and impressive collection of more than 500,000 items that have been curated over 125 years. The current collection spans Australia's social history, science and technology, design and decorative arts, transport and space exploration. 

The museum has sat on the Ultimo site in a converted electric tram power station first built in 1902. It is a cavernous space and easy to get disorientated with its different levels and exhibition halls.

                                   

The new extension of the museum.

                                   

A wing of the museum built in more traditional brick, now used as a souvenir shop and cafe.

                                    

The first item that captures your attention as you enter the museum is the first locomotive that ran on the Sydney - Parramatta railway in 1855. named Locomotive No 1. It ran for just 22 years before being mothballed and ultimately donated to the museum. It is significant as few railways or cities have kept their first locomotive.

It is also significant as the railways were a cheap and efficient method of transporting goods and people across the country. Where the railways went, towns grew and prospered, drew new settlers and expanded the economy.

But having such a wide gambit, the museum is an eclectic mix of exhibits such as this one right next to the locomotive.

And this bicycle, proper up in one corner. 

                                       

Or to fulfil its design brief, this modern interactive display that takes the imagine that it sees to the person in front of it and creates an image on the screen, just one of several interactive exhibits.

My interest  was in the transport part of the science brief of the museum. One of the early trams.

Another locomotive plus a signal box above it.

The preserved information board that had previously been at the Central Station.

A horse drawn tram.

A Catalina flying boat.

One of the Lunar Landing Rovers.

Another airplane suspended from the ceiling.

A replica of the nose of a Space Shuttle.

One of several steam engines.