1989: Museum of Contemporary Art Plans Unveiled

This year is 30 years since the Museum of Contemporary Art opened its doors to Sydney art lovers. It was interesting to find articles relating to the announcement that Sydney was to get one.

The NSW State Government had vacated the Maritime Services Board (MSB) Building at West Circular Quay. In 1989 it leased the building to Sydney University for just $10 a week, allowing the museum to be created.

Source: Clifton, B. 1989. "Modern Art's Harbor Home". The Daily Mirror, March 22: 39.

Source: Grimshaw, P. 1989. "$100m gift for art". The Daily Telegraph, March 17: 9. 

This fulfilled the vision of former NSW Premier Neville Wran who announced in 1984 that a Museum of Contemporary Art would occupy the building.

Source: Anon. 1984. "Art gallery for Quay". The Daily Telegraph, November 24: 20. 

Through the creation of the Powerhouse Museum, it enabled the university to display the collection of Dr. John Power who bequeathed the university with his collection including artworks.

In 2001, the NSW Government became the main stakeholder for the museum. In 2012, a new five storey wing was completed that increased the size of the museum by 50%. 

1987: Powerhouse Museum Construction Feature

In 1987, The Sunday Telegraph published a feature article on the construction of the Powerhouse Museum which was opened the following year (1988).

It is good reading and even provided a background to the decision in 1979 to establish a museum on the site.

Unlike the opposition to completely relocate the museum to Parramatta in recent years (resulting in the State Government deciding to maintain the museum at Ultimo and still proceed with a second branch at Parramatta), some called for complete demolition of the 1899 building. The Power Station had fallen into disrepair after its decommissioning in 1961. 

The article failed to mention that the Power Station had been listed by the National Trust in 1976 or the proposal to base a Museum of Technology in Ryde. 

However the article itself is a good read and provided readers with a preview of some of the exhibits which Sydneysiders and visitors to Sydney have come to love when visiting the museum. 

With concerns that Darling Harbour may not be as popular as successful as some thought, they were hopeful of still pulling in the hordes (estimated to be 2.5 million people per year). 

It is difficult to locate figures for annual attendances, especially in recent years, but would be roughly half of the 2.5 million estimated. However the proposal to relocate the entire museum to Parramatta and then the subsequent decision to retain a museum at Ultimo alongside opening at Parramatta has highlighted that Sydneysiders appreciate the museum. There was passion to retain a museum at Ultimo. At the same time, there was a need to bring the museum into Sydney's west to give even better access to all Sydneysiders to its collections, also suggesting that the museum is appreciated.