The trust has oversight of a $300 million revamp of the shuttered Ultimo campus, as well as the museum’s new $915 million Parramatta headquarters, the region’s first state-run cultural institution due to open in 2026.
On the Parramatta riverside, more than 70 per cent of its 1300 pieces of exterior structure of the building are in place.
Inside the concierge room of the Powerhouse where visitors will be welcomed. Credit: James Brickwood
Installation of doors in the largest of the presentation spaces is underway where visitors will marvel at large objects showcasing the history of air travel and space exploration and First Nations stargazing. Visitors will spill out to a northern terrace.
The museum will serve a region home to one-eighth of NSW’s population, one in five of whom are under 15 years, and half born outside Australia. For many, it will be the first time they step into a museum.
“We’ve got to be a bit unpretentious here,” Borger says. “We don’t want to be too stuffy and conservative; we have to be welcoming. We have to deliver a great experience when someone walks in the door for the first time, something that knocks their socks off.”
Suzette Meade, who led protests against the demolition of the historic villa, Willow Grove, which made way for the Powerhouse, questions spending on authors, chefs and photographers appointed as museum associates alongside professional curators and conservators.
She is looking for the trust, led by Borger, to focus on delivering what was promised to the families of western Sydney – a museum of science and technology to rival the Smithsonian, as well as celebrating Parramatta’s rich cultural heritage.
Borger is promising dedicated family exhibitions, with the interests of families and children embedded in all its offerings.
He is “unapologetic” about finding new ways to present the collection. Nor should the public mind, he says, if weddings share presentation floor space. All but one of the seven Parramatta display spaces will be available for commercial hire.
“The hope is that there’s some great experiences here and some revenue generating opportunities that can go to help with the operational costs.
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“We need to make sure that people come back for multiple visits, that they feel a connection to the museum because quite frankly a lot of people haven’t felt close to their museums for a long time. They’ve lived so far away from them, it’s been hard to get to them.”
Borger’s first challenge is meeting the government’s $75 million goal for private donations for building costs.
Some $53 million has been raised for capital works over three years, $27 million short of its target. The museum is without a campaign director.
Borger says there was a pipeline of prospective donors to the museum with “real weight” and was confident of “closing the gap”. Should he fall short, the bill will be picked up by taxpayers.
To rumours of overruns in fitout and program, Borger concedes budgets can move.
“I’m confident we will deliver an amazing series of exhibitions within the money that has been given to us,” he said, adding:
“I think some people frankly don’t believe western Sydney could host a tier-one cultural institution. There’s some who still don’t. We’re going to prove them wrong.”
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