One of Sydney's most popular cultural institutions will be protected forever after an expanded heritage listing. It means despite shifting redevelopment plans, the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo must remain a museum.
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00:00It's long been a drawcard for young and old.
00:05The Powerhouse Museum's Ultimo site is now at a turning point.
00:10This listing is an exciting moment in the history of the Powerhouse in terms of securing
00:15its future and the precinct's future in its location in Ultimo.
00:21Plans for the precinct have long shifted.
00:23The previous Liberal government intended on demolishing parts of the complex for a mixed
00:27cultural and commercial development.
00:30Now changes to the building's heritage listing mean the entire site must remain exclusively
00:36as a museum.
00:37This listing recognises our community's connection with this museum, but it also enables the
00:43museum to move forward with this new revitalisation project.
00:47Protections which previously only covered the original power station have now been expanded
00:52to include the RAND building and the Galleria.
00:56Plans are already underway to restore those buildings and give the area a $300 million
01:01facelift.
01:02There's been a bit of concern in the past that maybe the museum would be closed.
01:08This is yet more proof, absolutely, that it won't be, that instead what we're going to
01:13have is a brilliant new facility with the kind of revitalisation that you can only manage
01:19once in a century.
01:20It's been six months since the Powerhouse closed and it's since been completely emptied.
01:25The government's hoping a builder can be appointed by the end of the year and work
01:28can begin in 2025.
01:31More than 3,000 objects have been relocated as part of the big move out.
01:36The biggest is the World War II era Catalina, which will be exhibited temporarily at the
01:41Haas Aviation Museum in Albion Park.
01:44Over at the Powerhouse Parramatta site, things are taking shape.
01:48And so we're really moving into that next final stage of the construction of the museum.
01:54Powering up to put a new future on display.