Sydney's new Powerhouse museum opens on 7 November in Parramatta, the centrepiece of what the New South Wales government calls its largest cultural investment since the Opera House. The building cost A$915m ($641m) and holds more than 18,000 square metres of exhibition space across seven column-free galleries, designed by Moreau Kusunoki with the Australian firm Genton. Its steel criss-cross facade has earned it the nickname "the milk crate".

The opening arrives amid a leadership crisis. Chief executive Lisa Havilah, who had led the project since 2019, stepped down in August over misconduct allegations that have not been publicly detailed. Arts minister John Graham said the claims came from a whistleblower and concern governance and procurement; a Sydney law firm is investigating while chief operating officer Mark Wilsdon is on leave. A petition launched on 27 October calling for Havilah to be reinstated has drawn more than 750 signatories.

Spending before the launch has also drawn scrutiny. The Sydney Morning Herald reported in August that more than A$70m had been spent ahead of opening, including A$10m on screens and staging for an immersive experience by British artist Es Devlin. A five-year artistic associates programme costing A$2.6m was scrapped in May after a treasury review. Abbie Galvin, the state government's architect, is interim chief executive.

Campaigners are unhappy about what will not be on show. The 1785 Boulton and Watt steam engine, the 1855 Locomotive No.1 and the Strasburg Clock model will stay in storage at a Castle Hill centre open only at weekends. Heritage expert Kylie Winkworth called the closure of the old Ultimo site, shut in 2024, a cultural tragedy, after reports that the government was secretly considering selling part of it. Five inaugural exhibitions open on 7 November, led by Task Eternal on aviation and space exploration with the Smithsonian and the British Museum, alongside Es Devlin: The Turning, The Dark, Overflow and The Mall. General admission is free, with tickets from A$30 for Task Eternal and from A$10 for James Turrell's Shangri La; a 23-day opening festival features 179 events, including astronaut Charles Bolden.