1001 Remarkable Objects at Powerhouse

The major new exhibition has been curated by a curatorium of experts led by Leo Schofield AM in collaboration with advisors Ronan Sulich, Mark Sutcliffe and Eva Czernis-Ryl. 

1001 objects have been selected from 500,000 objects within the Powerhouse Museum’s collection, across a breadth of disciplines, materials and time periods - from decorative arts, jewellery, costume, textiles and furniture to musical instruments, industrial design and social history. 

Exhibition designers Pip Runciman, Julie Lynch and Ross Wallace have created an exhibition that features 25 individual rooms, presenting an unexpected juxtaposition of objects that will lead visitors on a journey across time and memory. 

Never-before exhibited and rarely seen objects will be presented alongside collection icons, offering new ways of experiencing the Powerhouse's world-class collection, whilst also sharing the many insights and connections the collection makes to both the past and the future. 

Extraordinary objects include the only surviving fragment of the Lockheed Altair aircraft Lady Southern Cross flown by pioneer aviator Sir Charles Kingsford Smith for his final flight in 1935; a section of original Transatlantic cable from 1858; a mousetrap making machine designed in Sydney; an Edo period samurai warrior’s suit of armour; a 1.5 metre tall Mintons ceramic peacock from the 1870s and a Detroit Electric car manufactured in 1917.   

Costumes include the ‘Showgirl’ costume worn by Kylie Minogue for the Closing Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games; the ‘Pink Diamonds’ dress worn by Nicole Kidman in the Baz Luhrmann film, Moulin Rouge and the ‘Fruity Mambo’ costumes designed by Catherine Martin for Strictly Ballroom the Musical.  

Over 100 rare and remarkable pieces of jewellery will highlight a recent major donation by Anne Schofield AM. This includes Egyptian revival designs from the 1800s and examples of mourning jewellery crafted from human hair, which will be on display at Powerhouse for the first time.   

French and Venetian glass from the 1800–1900s will be presented alongside key examples of Australian and international studio glass ranging from Dale Chihuly to Canberra-based artist Jennifer Kemarre Martiniello and Sydney-based artist Brian Hirst.  

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