Standing beside his colourful portrait at the newly opened Powerhouse Parramatta, Amar Singh brings a human connection to a museum built on an extraordinary scale.
The founder of Turbans 4 Australia, whose charity delivers food relief and emergency assistance across the country, is among the community figures recognised in The Mall, one of the museum’s five opening exhibitions.
For Singh, being part of this moment in Parramatta’s history is a huge honour – an opportunity to represent both the Sikh community and the wider Western Sydney community.
In an audio message shared with Desi Australia, he spoke about the significance of seeing familiar faces, portraits and cultures reflected in an institution that presents Western Sydney to Australia and the world.
“The infrastructure that’s going on in Parramatta is a great asset for all of us in Western Sydney, so we can enjoy more things locally,” Singh said.
He also reflected on Parramatta’s growing international profile, with the new airport and investment across the region creating opportunities for the city. He described Powerhouse as an incredible venue, welcoming visitors to discover its exhibitions and the experiences still to come.
Created by artist Hassan Hajjaj, Singh’s portrait forms part of the My Rock Stars series and was commissioned by Powerhouse for The Mall. A turquoise turban, bright yellow clothing and patterned vest make a striking image, framed by rows of Keen’s curry powder tins.
The accompanying label recognises his work supporting Australians affected by floods, bushfires and food insecurity, while promoting multiculturalism and religious tolerance. It also records his recognition as Australia’s Local Hero at the 2023 Australian of the Year Awards.
Here, the everyday work of helping others becomes part of the history a museum preserves.
Migration, memory and the places we share
South Asian connections also emerge through the work of Pakistan-born, Sydney-based photographer and filmmaker Bahram Mia.
His My Mall series explores Western Sydney’s shopping strips and arcades through the people who inhabit them. Working with themes of migration, labour and belonging, Mia considers how these familiar places hold decades of community life.
For many migrant families, shopping strips are places to find familiar ingredients, build a business, meet friends and maintain connections across generations. Mia’s photographs invite visitors to look more closely at the lives behind these everyday spaces.
Spanning two storeys, The Mall brings together architecture, fashion, technology, personal memories and retail history. More than 560 objects from the Powerhouse collection appear alongside over 280 loans, including material contributed by the local community.
A landmark with something for everyone
Powerhouse Parramatta opened on 7 November 2026, creating a major new destination for art, science, technology and design on Dharug land beside the Parramatta River.
The largest museum in NSW history, it opens with more than 3,000 objects across five exhibitions, developed with 85 local, national and international industry and community partners.
Ahead of opening weekend, more than 26,000 people had registered to visit – an early indication of the interest surrounding Western Sydney’s new cultural landmark.
Designed by Moreau Kusunoki and Genton, the museum covers approximately 30,000 square metres, with seven large exhibition spaces and more than 18,000 square metres of public and exhibition areas. Its distinctive external structural frame allows for vast, column-free interiors, while public spaces connect the city with the riverfront.
The five opening exhibitions offer different paths into discovery:
- Task Eternal explores flight and space through more than 850 objects, tracing humanity’s ambition to reach beyond Earth.
- The Mall examines shopping centres as places shaped by design, commerce, technology and community.
- The Dark invites children into an immersive world of curiosity, sensory discovery and imagination.
- Overflow, a First Nations-led exhibition, explores water Country through knowledge, memory, kinship and continuing cultural practices.
- Es Devlin: The Turning brings together five major commissions, inviting audiences to participate through listening, drawing, gathering and reflection.
Learning beyond the galleries
The museum’s educational spaces extend the experience beyond a traditional exhibition visit.
The Lang Walker Family Academy offers immersive learning, including overnight residencies for students undertaking STEM programs. The Vitocco Family Kitchen, a 200-seat demonstration kitchen, connects food with science and cultural history.
A rooftop terrace offers views across Parramatta towards the Sydney CBD, alongside a productive garden, greenhouse and an observatory equipped with telescopes beneath a retractable roof.
Community involvement spans generations, from four-year-old contributors to The Dark to 100-year-old volunteer Meg Stevenson, who has supported the museum for more than three decades.
The institution also reflects the region’s contribution to its construction. Around three-quarters of the 4,000-strong workforce came from Western Sydney, with $329 million directed to local businesses.
A November of culture and connection
The Opening Festival continues until 29 November, with more than 170 programs encompassing food, music, talks, performances, screenings and workshops.
South Asian highlights include a Community Thali Dinner with Asma Khan, a performance by Priya Ragu, and conversations featuring Kabir Khan, Pico Iyer and Gopalkrishna Gandhi. The launch of JLF Sydney also brings a free rooftop performance celebrating music across Hindi, Tamil, Urdu and Sanskrit.
Pacific communities have also helped shape the opening celebrations, including through the unveiling of Te Waka Whakakotahi – The Waka of Unity, reinforcing the museum’s role as a gathering place for many cultures.
For families planning a visit, 65 per cent of opening program events are free, and children under 16 receive free entry to all exhibitions. Admission and booking requirements vary across exhibitions and events.
Powerhouse Parramatta operates seven days a week. During the opening festival, hours are 10am–5pm Monday to Wednesday, with extended opening until 9pm Thursday to Sunday. Dining venues Simara and Folded offer additional opportunities to gather over food.
From Amar Singh’s portrait to photographs of neighbourhood shopping strips, some of the museum’s strongest connections begin with familiar people and places. Around them, a much larger world of discovery awaits.
Explore exhibitions, admission details and event bookings at powerhouse.com.au/program.
