Qantas
Powerhouse Parramatta first object install
Powerhouse has announced a landmark 10-year partnership with Qantas, marking a major milestone in the development of Powerhouse Parramatta with the installation of the first object in the new museum.
The historic Qantas Avro 504K aircraft, a replica of the airline’s first plane, will feature in the major opening exhibition: Task Eternal, alongside an a Cierva C.30A Autogiro (a forerunner of the helicopter) owned by Andrew Thyne Reid and the ultralight Skycraft Scout Mark 1 designed and made by Australian Ron Wheeler.
Presented in the new museum’s largest exhibition space PS-1, Task Eternal will trace humanity’s quest to defy gravity, take flight and journey into the sky across thousands of years.
Developed over 4 years, Task Eternal is one of the most ambitious aerospace exhibitions ever staged. It will present 12 new commissions, 350 objects from the Powerhouse Collection and more than 250 objects on loan from more than 120 domestic and international lenders.
The exhibition reflects the scale and ambition of Powerhouse Parramatta and the NSW Government’s investment in science, culture and innovation.
‘The first object going into Powerhouse Parramatta is an exciting milestone. I love that the first object is such an important piece of our engineering history. This partnership sees two iconic Australian institutions coming together. Powerhouse Parramatta is an icon in the making, and more than 100-year-old icon in Qantas. The ambition and scale of this undertaking reflects the ambition, scale and possibility of Western Sydney and I look forward to exploring the 3000 objects later this year.’
‘Powerhouse is proud to partner with Qantas, an organisation that has shaped how Australia connects with the world for more than a century. The installation of the Qantas Avro 504K as the first object at Powerhouse Parramatta is a defining milestone — anchoring the museum in stories of engineering, design and innovation that continue to shape our future.’
Powerhouse x Qantas partnership
The Avro installation brings together 2 iconic Australian institutions: Qantas, the nation’s flagship airline and a global leader in aviation innovation, and Powerhouse, one of the world’s leading museums of applied arts and sciences.
The collaboration will see Qantas become Presenting Partner for Task Eternal, contributing to a program of public and learning initiatives providing unique insights into aviation, design and innovation throughout the exhibition and 10-year partnership.
‘Seeing the Qantas Avro 504K, the first aircraft to carry the Qantas name, on display is a reminder of how far Australian aviation has come. From the early long-range flights linking remote communities such as Longreach, Winton and Cloncurry, to the lead up to the inaugural A350 Project Sunrise services, Qantas has continued to lead the way in aviation innovation. The Qantas Heritage Collection brings more than a century of pioneering spirit to life, and it’s something all of us at Qantas are incredibly proud to share. Partnering with the Powerhouse Museum to celebrate both the innovation and the enduring legacy of Qantas is a fitting way to honour our past while looking toward the future of flight.’
‘We're proud to partner with Powerhouse Parramatta and to bring our aviation history to life. Qantas and Powerhouse share a commitment to preserving and celebrating Australian heritage, and we look forward to Australians connecting with the stories that have defined the Flying Kangaroo.’
The exhibition will explore Qantas’ long‑standing history of aviation innovation and how it continues to shape the future of flight, from the evolution of the Flying Kangaroo and landmark designs including Qantas’ iconic uniforms, interiors and inflight dining to the upcoming Project Sunrise. The exhibition will examine the science, research and innovation behind these ultra long haul flights, reflecting Qantas’ ongoing commitment to innovation in aviation.
The partnership will see the creation of the Qantas Terrace, a prominent public square overlooking the Parramatta River.
Qantas will also loan Powerhouse more than 6000 objects from the Qantas Heritage Collection for conservation and digitisation at Powerhouse Castle Hill. The Qantas Heritage Collection spans more than a century of aviation history and includes archival documents, photographic negatives and films, artworks and material relating to the founding of the airline in 1920.
‘The people of Parramatta are watching Powerhouse as it gets closer and closer to opening. When it does later this year, it will truly change our city. The ambition of this exhibition matches the ambition of the people of Parramatta, and I can’t wait to see it.’
‘The exhibitions inside Powerhouse will be wonderful, matched by the beauty of the public space outside and along the riverbanks. There is going to be something for everyone to enjoy across the applied arts and sciences, so many extraordinary objects and ideas to discover.’
Presenting Partner
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