Inside the Collection

Latest Posts

Cross section from architectural drawing of the Imperial Bank Mint in St Petersburg

Matthew Boulton and the Imperial Bank Mint in St Petersburg

June 3, 2009

Debbie Rudder
At first glance, this drawing shows an old building holding a steam engine and other machinery. Then the eye focuses on the figures, men in formal eighteenth century Russian dress; perhaps they are there to provide scale, or to suggest that this is an important building holding important machinery.
Photography by Marinco Kojdanovski © Powerhouse Museum all rights reserved

Meet the curator- Campbell Bickerstaff

May 27, 2009

Campbell Bickerstaff

I am usually the one people come to when they need help with technology that is used to capture, store, transmit or receive information.

Garrard 301 turntable

Spinning around – The Garrard 301

May 27, 2009

Campbell Bickerstaff
One of the reasons there is a paucity of ‘ultra fidelity’ components in the Museums collection is that their build quality is extraordinarily high and so they continue to be sought after by users and collectors.
Photography by Sotha Bourn © Powerhouse Museum all rights reserved

Meet the curator – Geoff Barker

May 20, 2009

Geoff Barker

I specialise in nineteenth century Australian and Pacific photography and the links between science and photography.

Casing for the Sydney Observatory astrograph

Sydney Observatory Star Camera

May 20, 2009

Geoff Barker
I think one of the most underrated curatorial skills is the ability to remain engaged in your current research while at the same time making mental notes of everything that wanders across your field of vision.
Segment of the original transatlantic cable.

The first Atlantic submarine telegraph cable

May 13, 2009

Matthew Connell
If you’re reading this then you are more than likely sitting at your computer using the internet, or if you’re one of the ‘cool kids’, and technologically savvy, then you may be reading it from your iphone on the bus.
Portrait of curator Damian McDonald

Meet the curator- Damian McDonald

May 6, 2009

Damian McDonald

I’m obsessed with guitars and rock music; however, my path to curator has been more one of Museum knowledge rather than specialist of a particular collection area.

Grass 7D Polygraph machine 2008/184/1. Collection, Powerhouse Museum

Sweat, Lies and Heart-rates

May 6, 2009

Damian McDonald
One of the coolest objects I have acquired for the Health and Medicine collection is the Grass 7D polygraph machine. A common deus ex machina devise for Hollywood script writers – Polygraph machines, or ‘lie detectors’ are one of those objects that are so embedded in the public consciousness by popular culture that to see an actual example ignites curiosity.
Earoscope

Mystery Object – The ‘Earoscope’

April 29, 2009

Erika Taylor
The curatorial team here at the Museum are the keepers to an immense amount of knowledge, covering a wide variety of special areas. If you have a question, chances are someone here can write you a novel on the subject.
Photography by Sotha Bourn © Powerhouse Museum all rights reserved

Meet the curator – Margaret Simpson

April 22, 2009

Margaret Simpson

My specialty area is the transport collection – I’ve researched everything from a steam car to a tram hearse, luxurious railway carriages to a shearer’s bicycle.

Mawson’s sledge.

Mawson’s Antarctic Sledge

April 22, 2009

Margaret Simpson
Several of my most favourite objects at the Powerhouse Museum are the five sledges used on Mawson’s and Scott’s Antarctic expeditions in the early 20th century. Hardly anyone knows we’ve got them.