<p>Coups de théâtre abound in the $915m addition to western Sydney’s skyline, which opens on Saturday with five new exhibitions – and a 23-day festival</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/sep/25/saved-for-sunday-newsletter-email-signup-subscribe-guardian-australia-lifestyle-culture?CMP=cvau_sfl">Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email</a></p></li></ul><p>Dubbed the “Opera House of western Sydney”, Powerhouse Parramatta’s white lattice exoskeleton, composed from 1,300 individual pieces and wrapping 30,000 sq metres of interior space, has already become a familiar landmark.</p><p>Even better known, perhaps, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/31/parramatta-powerhouse-museum-opening-western-sydney-ntwnfb">is the project’s controversial history</a>. Since the Parramatta outpost was announced in 2014, a vocal group of dissenters led by former staff and trustees has lamented what they see as the neglect of the museum’s Ultimo site in favour of a new infrastructure project, and what they say is a shift away from the museum’s core business towards contemporary art and events.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/ng-interactive/2026/nov/06/powerhouse-parramatta-opening-festival">Continue reading...</a>
World
Powerhouse Parramatta opens this weekend – and it’s dazzling inside and out
<p>Coups de théâtre abound in the $915m addition to western Sydney’s skyline, which opens on Saturday with five new exhibitions – and a 23-day festival</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/sep/25/saved-for-sunday-newsletter-email-signup-subscribe-guardian-australia-lifestyle-culture?CMP=cvau_sfl">Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email</a></p></li></ul><p>Dubbed the “Opera House of western Sydney”, Powerhouse Parramatta’s white lattice exoskeleton, composed from 1,300 individual pieces and wrapping 30,000 sq metres of interior space, has already become a familiar landmark.</p><p>Even better known, perhaps, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/31/parramatta-powerhouse-museum-opening-western-sydney-ntwnfb">is the project’s controversial history</a>. Since the Parramatta outpost was announced in 2014, a vocal group of dissenters led by former staff and trustees has lamented what they see as the neglect of the museum’s Ultimo site in favour of a new infrastructure project, and what they say is a shift away from the museum’s core business towards contemporary art and events.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/ng-interactive/2026/nov/06/powerhouse-parramatta-opening-festival">Continue reading...</a>