Powerhouse Castle Hill opening photos. The museum’s new $44m state-of-the-art museum storage facility has been officially opened by NSW Minister for Arts and Tourism John Graham to showcase the first exhibition in the new building, Alchemy, presenting commissions by First Nations artists from across Australia who specialise in natural dyeing techniques. Powerhouse Castle Hill has been delivered through a partnership between Create NSW, NSW Public Works and the Powerhouse. Designed by Lahznimmo Architects and built by Taylor Construction, Powerhouse Castle Hill is the new home for the storage, conservation and display of the Powerhouse Collection which includes more than 500,000 objects. This is the first time in the museum’s 140-year history that the collection will be stored in one location and co-located alongside conservation, curatorial and collection management staff. At more than 8,000 sqm, Powerhouse Castle Hill has been constructed for international museum standards and features a visible store, allowing public viewing into the 3,000 sqm Large Object storage area that stores the museum’s transport collection. A state-of-the-art photographic studio cyclorama has been created that can carry objects up to 4 tonnes and enable the ongoing digitisation of the collection. The new building will provide public access to education programs, workshops, talks, exhibitions and other public events as well as working spaces for academic researchers, scientists and industry partners. The design of Powerhouse Castle Hill has already earned Lahznimmo Architects a nomination in the Australian Institute of Architects 2024 New South Wales Architecture Awards in the category of Public Architecture. The opening of the building is the latest evolution of the Castle Hill site, which was originally a botanical research station for the museum. From the late 1970s, the Powerhouse started storing some of its collection at Castle Hill, In recent years, this facility became shared storage known as the Museums Discovery Centre for collection of objects from the Powerhouse as well as the Australian Museum and Museums of History NSW.

Alchemy exhibition works invite you on a sensory journey of light, layers, and tactility, showcasing new commissions by First Nations creative practitioners specializing in natural dyeing techniques. Inspired by the transformative tradition of alchemy, the exhibition delves into the processes of pigment and dye production, revealing the deep cultural and social knowledge embedded within. Participating Indigenous Art Centres collaborate intergenerationally to realize works rarely attempted, or entirely new in design. Beyond technique, "Alchemy" unveils the rich social and cultural narratives surrounding each commission, including the matrilineal relationships inherent in industry practice. In the words of the curator, "Alchemy is an experiment." With no wall labels, the focus is on personal essays detailing the intimate connections between the maker and the museum. Visitors are immersed in the journey, guided by what they see and experience. The exhibition honours Indigenous ways of teaching and learning, fostering a deeper understanding of cultural heritage and connection to Country.