the magazine of the powerhouse museum summer 08/09

enter the Star Wars universe!

CONTENTS POWERPICKS
ISSUE 92
DECEMBER 2008 JANUARY FEBRUARY 2009

02 From the director from the director

03 Powerpicks
06 New exhibition: Star Wars
08 Events engineering. The exhibition
09 Members news and the public programs which
10 Members calendar support it invite us to consider
11 Exhibitions at a glance how our world might change as
12 New acquisition: monkey bicycles these technologies are further
13 Living in a sensory world developed.
14 Comic book hero Schools and universities
15 Collection news are finding it increasingly
16 Sydney Observatory difficult to attract students to
17 Powerhouse Discovery Centre the study of science. On this
18 Foundation news occasion we’ve developed a
number of programs designed
to excite young minds to
consider science as a course
of study. Whilst science is
The Museum enters the Star characterised as a rigorous
COVER: A space battle in
the star wars universe.
Wars universe this summer. For analytical methodology, it is also
the magazine of the powerhouse museum summer 08/09
Will we ever have those of you who experienced about creativity, inspiration and
spacecraft that can
enter the Star Wars universe!
carry us to the stars?
the first Star Wars exhibition, imagination.
see story page 6. this will be a different journey. I hope this exhibition excites
photo © Lucasfilm Star Wars: Where Science young and not so young minds
ltd. & tm. All rights
reserved. used under Meets Imagination was to engage in a ‘dialogue with
authorisation. developed in part with a grant the future’ – to actively imagine
from the American National what the future might be like
Science Foundation. Unlike its and to take a more direct
predecessor, which focused on role in shaping it. Rather than
film-making and the mythologies providing a blueprint, Star Wars
behind the Star Wars saga, the provides inspiration. I hope it
new exhibition uses the shared engages you, stimulates you
understanding of the Star Wars and promotes new dialogues. If
universe and its technologies we achieve this, the Powerhouse
as a springboard to examine will have made a valuable

Trustees
current and near future
technologies in fields such as
transportation, robotics, medical
contribution to the way we
address the future. ‘magic’ play space for kids
Dr Dawn Casey
prosthetics and environmental Director
Dr Nicholas G Pappas, President
Dr Anne Summers AO, Deputy President In September the Museum the MBF Foundation Steering The Magic Garden features
Professor Shirley Alexander launched The Magic Garden: Committee, Chief Medical nine interactives in a magical
Mr Mark Bouris MBF Foundation Healthy Kids Officer at Bupa Australia and environment – kids can climb
Ms Trisha Dixon Where to find us Editorial Unit, a unique interactive play paediatrician, said The Magic amongst a pumpkin patch,
Mr Mark Nicholaeff Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Powerline is produced by children and parents alike space providing a magical Garden was an inventive way to splash and chase fish in a
Ms Margaret Seale Street, Darling Harbour, Sydney the Editorial & Publishing were fascinated by the
interactivity of the Magic
environment for young children deliver the message of healthy digital pond, catch butterflies
Mr Anthony Sukari Opening hours 10.00 am – 5.00 Department of the Garden at the opening to learn lifelong healthy eating eating and activity in a language and insects at a garden gate
in September, launched
Ms Judith Wheeldon pm every day (except Christmas Powerhouse Museum with the support of the
and activity habits. that kids can understand. and create their own picnic.
Day). School holiday opening PO Box K346, MBF foundation. Photos by The pioneering children’s play ‘Obesity is a growing public There is also a parents corner
Senior Management marinco KOJDANOVSKI
hours 9.30 am – 5.00 pm Haymarket NSW 1238 space is the first of its kind in health concern in Australia with featuring a film on healthy
Dr Dawn Casey PSM FAHA, Australia, combining state-of- high costs to the community. eating and activity ideas for
Editor
Director Contact details the-art technology with physical Targeting children’s lifestyle children that mums and dads
Judith Matheson
Jennifer Sanders, Postal address interactivity to capture children’s behaviours when they are at this can watch whilst their kids play
Deputy Director, Collections, content PO Box K346 Design imaginations and encourage impressionable stage is a key in The Magic Garden.
development and Outreach
Haymarket NSW 1238 Trigger learning through multi-sensory strategy in ensuring a lifetime of In conjunction with the
Mark Goggin Telephone (02) 9217 0111 play. healthy habits,’ she said. opening of The Magic Garden
Photography
general manager, marketing, programs and
Infoline (02) 9217 0444 Powerhouse Museum unless ‘The Magic Garden brings Aimed at children aged the Powerhouse Museum has
commercial services
Education (02) 9217 0222 together a range of exclusive two to eight years of age, The also updated its café menu
Brad Baker, Seb Chan, Lily Katakouzinos otherwise stated.
Australian-first interactives with Magic Garden: MBF Foundation to include a balanced healthy
acting Associate Directors, Exhibition services, powerhousemuseum.com Every effort has been made to locate advice from leading health and Healthy Kids Unit was lunch option devised by
digital services and research, project
owners of copyright for the images
management and planning The Powerhouse Museum, part of the in this publication. Any inquiries
education experts to foster skill developed in consultation with children’s obesity expert and
Keith Edwards, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences should be directed to the Rights and development, problem solving, leading health experts including accredited practising dietitian
also incorporating Sydney Permissions Officer, Powerhouse
general manager, corporate and financial Observatory, the powerhouse Museum.
imagination and confidence Dr Robbie Parker, Head of the Susie Burrell, all packed into a
services discovery centre and the nsw building,’ said Powerhouse Children’s Hospital Institute of fun lunchbox themed with the
migration heritage centre, is a NSW ISSN 1030-5750 © Trustees of the
director Dr Dawn Casey. Sports Medicine, The Children’s Museum’s popular kids’ mascots,
powerhousemuseum.com
government cultural institution. Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences
Dr Christine Bennett, chair of Hospital at Westmead. Zoe and Cogs.

2 powerline summer 08/09

powerline summer 08/09 3
POWERPICKS
sustainability
initiatives
In October the Museum hosted
one of a series of community
consultation forums across NSW
to inform the development of
the NSW Government’s Climate
Change Action Plan, which is
focused on adapting to the
unavoidable impact of climate
change.
Meanwhile the Museum has
developed a number of its own
sustainability initiatives over the
past year. Our multi-function
copiers were changed to print
double sided by default. This
has reduced the amount of
paper we use in printing our
reports and memos.
The power management
setting of our PCs goes into
‘standby’ if there is no activity
on the computer for more than
one hour. For each 12 machines
that have ‘standby’ enabled, we
will stop a car’s worth of CO2
emissions over the year.
New software to replace the
Museum’s virtual server fleet
not only saved significant funds
but also achieved dramatic
reductions in power and a
reduction in cooling costs. It
is estimated the replacement
will save four tonnes of CO2
per server. This equates to 108
tonnes of CO2 saved in a year.
below, patricia’s milk bar
in george street, Sydney,
designed by samuel
lipson and peter kaad
opened in 1948. photo by
max dupain, courtesy
max dupain & associates.
modern times
inspired café
Following the huge success
of the Diana Tea Room, which
was themed for the Diana: a
celebration exhibition in 2007,
our level 3 café has been
transformed once again. Until
February it is the Modern times
café, inspired by the age of the
coffee house and milk bar, as
represented in the Modern times
exhibition.
The look is modern,
embodying the dynamism of the
modernism movement, and the
menu reflects the innovations
in food and the emerging
coffee culture of the time, led
by European immigrants to
Australia. Translucent window
panels feature images from the
exhibition and the colour palette
is red-orange-yellow, inspired
by the Modern times book.  The
flower arrangements feature
tropical and Australian flowers
and a collection of modernist
ceramic vases.
 The menu includes Tea-for-
One ($11.50) and Tea-for-Two
($25.00). Our lunch offer includes
Australian favourites such
as toasted ham-and-cheese
sandwiches and Neenish
tarts (invented in Grong Grong,
NSW in 1913) side by side with
the newly introduced flavours of
pepperoni-and-black-olive pizza
and an Italian chocolate-dipped
horseshoe cookie, perfect with
a strong espresso coffee. The
table top menus feature
photographs and stories about
some of the coffee houses/milk
bars of the era.
 The Modern times café is
located on level 3 of the
Museum near the main entrance
and is open every day from
10.00am until 4.00pm.
most popular
baby names
Powerhouse Web Services
is working with the NSW
Department of Commerce to
develop web resources for
public use – using data already
available to the public, but
making it easier to find and to
use thanks to the power of
the web.
The first of these projects
is the recently launched Baby
Names Explorer which you can
find on www.nsw.gov.au/explorer.
asp. Here you can trace the
popularity of 1200 baby names
going back more than a century.
The data was provided by the
NSW Registry of Births, Deaths
and Marriages. (For privacy
reasons, names that appear
very few times in a year have
not been included.)
The Baby Names Explorer
reveals that, in NSW in 2007,
the most popular names for
girls were, in order: Isabella,
Ella, Emily, Chloe, Mia, Olivia,
Charlotte, Sophie, Sienna and
Lily; and for boys: Jack, William,
Joshua, Lachlan and Thomas.
greening goes
to Singleton
The Museum’s travelling
exhibition Greening the Silver
City: seeds of bush regeneration
was opened at the Singleton
Public Library on September 26
by director Dr Dawn Casey. This
exhibition tells the story of how
the landscape of Broken Hill was
repaired by a bush regeneration
scheme in the 1930s. At each
venue staff collaborate with the
local community to develop
a local exhibition component.
Singleton features the story
of a collaboration between
Xstrata Coal, Thiess Pty Ltd,
and the Centre for Sustainable
Ecosystem Restoration at the
University of Newcastle.
Visitors to the museum
during the Ultimo
Science Festival in
August were invited to
‘make a molecule’, an
activity organised by
RACI NSW. This was one of
a number of events and
talks held during the
annual festival.
top left: ultimo science
festival. Photo by jayne ion
2008. Above: dr Dawn casey
and singleton librarian
nicole lonsdale at the
opening of greening the
silver city.
left: a section of the aids
memorial quilt. photo by
kate pollard.

the Modern Times café, quilt on show

director dr dawn casey
accepts a cheque from
hilary mine, ceo of new
corporate platinum
member, alcatel-lucent. the
company has also signed
on as an exhibition partner
for star wars where
science meets imagination.
is inspired by the age of
the coffee house and Four panels of the AIDS
Memorial Quilt will be on display
milk bar and reflects at the Powerhouse from 30
the innovations in January to 27 February 2009.
The panels were made by
food and the emerging friends and families of AIDS
victims to celebrate their loved
coffee culture of the ones’ lives. The Australian AIDS
time, led by European Memorial Quilt Project began
30 years ago and is part of
immigrants to Australia. a worldwide movement to
promote compassion, education
and understanding about AIDS
and its human toll. 

4 powerline summer 08/09

powerline summer 08/09 5
NEW EXHIBITION
A new exhibition about the Star Wars universe invites
visitors to think about how we use technology today
and where science might take us in the future.
where fantasy
meets reality
Story Kerrie Dougherty, curator
Will we travel to work in the future in
hovering vehicles like Luke Skywalker’s
landspeeder? Could humanoid droids like
C-3PO soon be helping us around the house
or in the office? The Powerhouse summer
holiday exhibition Star Wars: Where Science
Meets Imagination delves into the imaginary
technologies depicted in the Star Wars films,
and uses them as a springboard to explore
the real-world science and technology
behind them.
Developed by the Museum of Science
in Boston, with the collaboration of
Lucasfilm Ltd and support from the US
National Science Foundation (NSF), Star
Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination
addresses a perceived lack of scientific
and technological knowledge in everyday
life. Star Wars: Where Science Meets
Imagination uses the Star Wars universe
to inspire visitors. It has two main themes
based on the two major technological
challenges seen in the films: transportation
and robotics. ‘Getting Around’ focuses on
transportation as we see it in the films and
how researchers today are developing new
modes of travel, on Earth and in space.
‘Robots and People’ looks at the relationship
between droids and humans on screen and
in the real world, as well as the challenges
of creating Star Wars-like robots.
Alongside original Star Wars material,
examples of real-world technologies are
displayed. Visitors can see some of today’s
6 powerline summer 08/09
task-oriented and experimental robots such
as the Personal Satellite Assistant used
by NASA astronauts, the floor-vacuuming
Roomba 560, the Autom Robotic Weight
Loss Coach and a Segway-based soccer
playing robot. Modern medical prosthetics
and implant devices such as the Australian-
designed Cochlear ‘bionic ear’ and the
AbioCor artificial heart are on display as well
as several models, specially commissioned
for the exhibition and built by modelmakers
from Industrial Light & Magic, of future
spacecraft such as the Daedalus nuclear-
powered vehicle and a Bussard ramjet.
‘Throughout the development of the
exhibit, it was clear that the Star Wars films
had greatly influenced the filmmakers,
scientists, engineers, and technologists
whom we interviewed,’ remarked Ed Rodley,
Exhibit Planner from the Boston Museum of
Science. ‘Through video kiosks in the exhibit,
they give insight into the important role their
imagination played before making their
visions a reality—whether it’s a memorable
character like Chewbacca or a real-world,
social robot like Kismet.’
Featured in the exhibit’s Robot Theatre
immersive experience, Director of the
Robotic Life Group at the MIT Media Lab,
Cynthia Breazeal, reflects upon her early
interest in robots, ‘I think you could say I
first became interested in robots when I was
maybe about 10-years old. I saw Star Wars.
I was a little girl, and I just loved the robots
in the movie. I fell in love with R2-D2.’ When
she first saw robots at the MIT Media Lab
as a graduate student, ‘…they were these
insect-like intelligent robots, but I really
thought these are autonomous, biologically
inspired machines and if we’re ever going to
see droids like R2-D2 or C-3PO, it’s going to
happen in a place like this.’
In the Robot Theatre, C-3PO and Breazeal
meet (via video projection). The robot
and the roboticist debate the merits of
R2-D2 and discuss how researchers try to
duplicate human traits such as mobility,
perception, and cognition. The theatre also
includes a variety of Star Wars and real
world robots.
Star Wars: Where Science Meets
Imagination is intensively hands-on, with
a large number of interactive elements,
including two large Engineering Design
Labs, where visitors can build and test their
own magnetic levitation vehicles and select
the components to assemble a tiny robot.
Visitors can take a ride in a small air-cushion
vehicle and experience how a floating
vehicle handles. As well, the Powerhouse
has developed an exciting program of
events to complement the exhibition – see
the calendar for details.
Whether your interest is science or
science fiction, Star Wars: Where Science
Meets Imagination offers a unique blend of
fact and fantasy that is fascinating, fun and
genuinely educational.
Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination,
fantasy technologies like
the x-wing starfighter (top)
presented by Bose Corporation, was developed by and the droid r2-d2 (above)
the Museum of Science, Boston & Lucas Ltd.
© 2008 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved.
provide insights into real
world technologies like
under authorisation. the robosapien robot
toy (Left).
powerline summer 08/09 7
EVENTS MEMBERS

From top: Life Fellows
Dinner in the Grand
Foyer; Dr Nicholas G
Pappas, President of the
Trustees, presents the
Powerhouse Wizard Award
to Alexandra Gilmour;
Joanne Ritchie, Powerhouse
Foundation Ambassador;
Anne Schofield AM, Life
Fellow; recipients of the
Distinguished Service Award
(from left) Pat Townley,
Albert Taylor, Rob Renew
and Anne Watson.
life fellows
LEFT: Professor Ron
Johnston receives his
award from the Hon
Virginia Judge MP, Minister
Assisting the Premier on
the Arts. BElow: members
Professor Ron Johnston, Museum enjoying the fergrove
wine tasting evening in the
Trustee from January 1996 to members lounge. photos by
December 2004, is the Museum’s Marinco kojdanovski
newest Life Fellow. He was
presented with his award at
the annual Life Fellows dinner
in October, held in honour of
the people who have made a
significant contribution to the

sydney
Museum. Other awards presented
on the night included the new
Powerhouse Wizard, to Alexandra

design 08 Gilmour.

Sydney Design took on a

distinctly retro look this year with
the opening of the Modern times:
the untold story of modernism
in Australia exhibition. Both the
launch event and the ‘Modern
times, Late nights’ program
provided the opportunity for
guests and visitors to don
their best vintage clothing and
immerse themselves in all
things modern, with some live
jazz and refreshments from
Bombay Sapphire.
The Powerhouse also hosted
the first designboom mart,
showcasing the avant-garde
of international design, which
attracted hundreds of shoppers

from the members team

over four days. While the Museum
was the hub of the event, the
17-day festival program included
exhibitions, events, markets, talks,
walks and seminars, at venues Christmas is upon us once more
spread across Sydney. and it wouldn’t be Christmas
time without school holidays,
hot uncomfortable days and
Guests and visitors at a
range of Sydney Design restless children. So, we have
events including the
launch and An Evening
provided you with a solution
of Retro Chic. photos by to the problem: a dazzling
Marinco kojdanovski.
blockbuster exhibition for the
whole family in air-conditioned
comfort! As Members you can
enjoy free unlimited entry to
Star Wars: Where Science Meets
Imagination. To compliment the
Star Wars exhibition, we have
an exciting program of school
holiday activities and shows, and
we are also offering members-
only after hours guided
exhibition viewings of Star Wars
(see events calendar for details).
Book early for these activities,
as they are very popular and
places are strictly limited.
We’ve also planned for those
days at home with the kids.
There are four new games and
puzzles designed for children
aged up to 8 years at play.
powerhousemuseum.com. These
are part of the Operation Cogs
game, in which children have
fun with pattern, colour, memory
and hand-eye coordination
challenges while fixing Cogs, the
Museum’s robot mascot.
Don’t forget, Powerhouse
membership is the perfect
Christmas gift for your friends
and loved ones. So pop online
at powerhousemuseum.com/
members, drop in to the
Museum or call the Members
hotline (02) 9217 0600.
Wishing you all a very safe
and happy holiday season from
the Members team.
Leonie Jones
Members Marketing Executive

8 powerline summer 08/09

powerline summer 08/09 9
CALENDAR Mark these exciting events in your EXHIBITIONS AT A GLANCE
DECEMBER 2008 JANUARY FEBRUARY 2009
calendar and visit the museum’s
website for more information.
Membership entitles you to free unlimited entry to
star wars: where science meets imagination. plan
your visit early in the day to avoid disappointment.

DATE / LOCATION EVENT / COST DESCRIPTION

Friday 12 December
6.00–9.00pm
Saturday 13 December
8.00am–5.00pm
Powerhouse Museum
Daily: 10.30am–4.00pm
Level 1, Turbine Hall
Powerhouse Museum
Daily: 10.30am–4.00pm
Level 1, Turbine Hall
Powerhouse Museum
Daily: 11.00am, 1.00pm,
3.00pm
Level 1, Turbine Hall
Powerhouse Museum
Daily: 11.00am–3.00pm
Level 2, outside Zoe’s House
Tuesday 6, Thursday 8,
Tuesday 20, Thursday 22
January
6.30–9.00pm
Wednesday 14 January 2009
9.30am–4.30pm
Powerhouse Museum
5–9, 12–16 or 19–23 January
2009
10.00am–4.00pm
Powerhouse Museum
Wednesday 21 January
10.30am–1.30pm
Sydney Observatory
Young Blood: Young Blood returns for Christmas to
showcase Australia’s best and brightest
designers market
Free admission upcoming designers. Meet the designers
and shop at over 35 stalls for original
fashion, furniture, jewellery, lighting and
more. Plus food, drink and entertainment.
Create-a-Lego-scape The landscape is bare, barren and grey…
using your creative Lego building skills help
turn this once desolate landscape into a
thriving space colony.
Out-of-this-world dress-ups Camera alert! Dress up in your favourite Star
Wars, alien or astronaut costume and have
your photo taken against a space backdrop.
Triton Adventure The year is 2373 and the inhabitants on
Earth are desperate for a new home. Join
the scientists on the space-shuttle Australis
to Neptune’s largest Moon, Triton. Can we
set up a space colony on this supercold
world? Humanity’s fate is in your hands!
Cogs’ Workshop A creative activity space with a
distinctive Star Wars twist.
For kids under 8 who like to make-and-do.
Telescope Pizza Nights See Constellations Pleiades
Cost: $25 adult, $22 concession, $20 child, and Orion, and stars Sirius,
$70 family
Aldebaran and, at the
Members: $22 adult, $20 concession,
$18 child, $65 family begining of the month, the
Bookings & prepayments essential  www.ticketmaster.com.au
9921 3485   first quarter moon through
   telescopes.
Create a Star Wars World Join Museum curator and co-author of
Workshop the Star Wars Complete Locations, Kerrie
Cost: $50/$35 Members Dougherty, in a hands-on workshop where
Suitable for ages 12–16.
Booking essential on (02) 9217 0222 you will create your own Star Wars world.
Jedi School Create your own characters inspired by the
Cost: $495 Star Wars galaxy. Experiment with green-
Suitable for ages 6–12.
Bookings essential on (02) 9697 7626 screen technology as you devise scenes for
Presented by the National Institute of your characters in their new world.
Dramatic Art (NIDA).
Young Space Explorers Party A great day for young explorers with Solar
Day  System games, planetarium adventures,
Cost: $5 Members children, accompanying dress-ups, rocket launch and space fun.
adults and under 3s free.
Star Wars: Where
Science Meets
Imagination
Levels 1 and 2,
opens 4 December
One of the greatest adventures of all time
comes to the Powerhouse Museum. Star
Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination
Star Wars: is an epic journey through the Star
Wars universe. Explore the inventive
exclusive technologies via multimedia installations,
immersive experiences and over 80
viewings costumes, models, artefacts and full-scale
replicas. Discover the real-world scientific
18 December, 15 January innovations that are rapidly turning fantasy
6.00pm into reality.
Members only
Powerhouse Museum
Living in a sensory world: stories from
people with blindness and low vision
A rare opportunity for members
Level 2, Australian Communities Gallery
only to see this exciting
exhibition without the crowds, Today, people living with blindness or low
featuring over 80 costumes, vision in Australia participate in every aspect
models and full scale replicas of community life, thanks to developments
from all six films. A light meal will in education and training, technology,
be available from the Museum’s legislation and social change. This exhibition
cafe (cost not included). gives visitors a window into the sensory
$25 adult; $15 children; $60 world of the blindness community and
celebrates their achievements.
family (2A & 2C)
Book now through Ticketmaster
Modern times: the untold story of
on 136100 or online
modernism in Australia
Level 3, until 15 February 2009
photo © Lucasfilm ltd. & tm. All rights
Modern times reveals how modernism
reserved. used under authorisation.
transformed life in Australia across five
to celebrate 250 years decades from 1917 to 1967. The exhibition
of the wedgwood
traces for the first time the impact of
company, the wedgwood
society of nsw is modernism on all aspects of Australian
holding a seminar at
the powerhouse on culture – from art, design and architecture
Sunday 15 March 2009
with international and
to advertising, photography, film and fashion.
local speakers. for
information phone
0416180134. Below: private
collection
The Magic Garden:
of wedgwood vases.
MBF Foundation
Healthy Kids Unit
Level 1
Help your children learn about healthy
eating and healthy activity while having
fun with this interactive unit. The Magic
Garden is an imaginative interactive
environment, developed in consultation
with health experts, where 2-8 year olds
can play and learn.
Engineering Excellence
Level 3, from 20 December
Each year, the Sydney Division of Engineers
Australia conducts an awards program to
showcase outstanding engineering projects.
They show how engineers are creating
innovative solutions to provide for society’s
needs in areas such as education, energy
and transport. On display will be a selection
from this year’s winners.
designTECH 2008
Level 2, from 20 December
designTECH showcases outstanding
major design projects by 2008 Higher
School Certificate students of Design
and Technology. This annual exhibition
features furniture, fashion, graphic design,
architecture and industrial design.
Yinalung yenu: women’s journey
Level 4
In this exhibition six prominent Indigenous
women share their stories and reveal
the important place that women have in
Indigenous society. Personal objects chosen
by the six women are complemented by
works made by contemporary indigenous
craftswomen.
Chinese belt toggles
Level 3, until June 2009
A small display of carved ornaments
traditionally worn by Chinese men. These
functional items had great symbolic
significance and are also objects of great
beauty.
Student fashion
Level 2, until January 2009
Student fashion provides a glimpse of
the next generation of Australian fashion
designers. The exhibition showcases outfits
and textiles from the final year ranges of the
top-graduating students from Sydney based
fashion schools.
Space + Zero Gravity Space Lab
Level 1
Find out what it’s like to live and work in
space. Take a walk through the new Zero
Gravity Space Lab, a fun interactive that
creates the illusion of being in a weightless
environment. Commentary is provided by
Australian astronaut Dr Andy Thomas and his
wife astronaut Shannon Walker.

10 powerline summer 08/09

powerline summer 08/09 11
NEW ACQUISITION
The Museum has acquired
two miniature bicycles with
a fascinating history.
monkey bicycles
Story Margaret Simpson, curator
Two of the most unusual
bicycles produced by the
Sydney bicycle manufacturing
firm, the Edworthy Cycle &
Motor Works, were two miniature
bicycles made for monkeys to
ride at a circus at Taronga Park
Zoo between 1936 and 1940.
The single road bicycle and
tandem bicycle were made from
small size frames and re-spoked
pram wheels with solid rubber
tyres. They were built by Silas
Edworthy, who was not only
a State cycling champion in
1911, but a successful bicycle
manufacturer and innovator.
The Zoo was established in
1884 at Moore Park and was
operated by the Zoological
Society of NSW. In 1916 it
moved across the Harbour to
a magnificent 52-acre site at
Mosman. An animal kindergarten
opened in 1932 with monkeys,
Freda and Freddie, who rode
miniature bicycles.
By 1936 a special concrete
monkey circus arena, capable of
accommodating hundreds
of spectators, was opened
near the northern entrance of
the zoo.
One of the favourite
drawcards was Mabel the
monkey, referred to in the press
at the time as the ‘Zoological
Cycling Champion’. She rode
up to 12 circuits of the arena
depending on the reaction and
enthusiastic applause from the
audience.
As well as the Edworthy
company, several other firms
supplied bicycles for the
monkey circus, including
Malvern Star and Speedwell,
as a way of promoting their
products. The Edworthy monkey
bicycles were only on loan to
the zoo and were returned to
12 powerline summer 08/09
Silas Edworthy in about 1940.
After that they were displayed
in the windows of the Edworthy
Lidcombe and Leichhardt cycle
shops. The monkey bicycles
were ridden from time to time
by Silas’ grandchildren, including
Kenneth and Ivan Edworthy.
After the death of Silas
Edworthy in 1963 the monkey
bikes remained with one of his
sons until acquired by collector
Jack Warlaw, who displayed
them at festivals, in parades and
fundraising events.
During the 1990s he lent
them to Taronga Zoo for an
exhibition. After Jack’s death in
1996 his collection of antique
bicycles was auctioned but his
wife, Patty, returned the monkey
bicycles to the Edworthy family.
For over 30 years the monkey
circus delighted and entertained
visitors to the zoo. After a critical
review in 1967, the zoo adopted
its current philosophy of
emphasising scientific research,
conservation and education, and
attractions such as the popular
elephant rides, miniature train,
merry-go-round and monkey
circus were removed.
The monkey bicycles relate to
the history of leisure in Sydney
and its changing nature. They
are also interesting as they
were built decades before the
manufacture and marketing of
small-scale bicycles for young
children to ride.
As well as the monkey bikes,
other material donated to the
Museum by Kenneth Edworthy
includes the Edworthy Cycle
& Motorworks archive, and a
reproduction Edworthy motor
cycle. A rare example of an
Edworthy spring frame bicycle
was purchased at auction
in 2003.
NEW EXHIBITION
A new exhibition explores the world of Left and below: Bart
Bunting and Nathan chivers.
people with blindness and low vision and the
Photos courtesy of serena
corporate photography
2002
new technologies available to them.
living in a sensory world
Story Linda Raymond, exhibition curator
Picture yourself skiing down a creative work are also featured version of a bionic eye.
mountain with your eyes closed. in the exhibition, in the writings On display will be a simulation
Imagine the sounds of your of Barbara Blackman and the of the tiny electronic receiving
skis cutting through the snow, paintings of Lloyd Rees. One unit (no more than one or two
the biting wind in your face of Australia’s most beloved millimeters in diameter) that will
and the sensation of your heart artists, Rees lost much of his one day be implanted into the
pumping. Try to also imagine sight over the last five or six eye of the patient. The unit will
that someone is skiing in front years of his life. Reproduced be accompanied by a graphic
of you shouting: ‘Left’, ‘Right’, examples of his work will permit representation of its chip layout.
and perhaps most importantly, visitors to form their own views These two items will together ‘trees are my worst
‘Stop!’ You know you have to
react immediately or you risk
of how his art practice changed,
while excerpts of Blackman’s
demonstrate the extraordinary
complexity of the human eye
enemy,’ says world
crashing into a tree or going autobiography Glass after glass and its processing unit, the champion paralympic
over a cliff. will give visitors a taste of her human brain, and illustrate
Then imagine that you’re zest for life. the enormity of the task
skier bart ‘the
racing to beat the clock: you’re Additionally, to give visitors facing scientists to artificially creature’ bunting.
going as fast as you possibly a glimpse into the future for reproduce its functions.
can. Sound suicidal? Not for people with blindness and low Hopefully, all visitors, whether
Bart ‘The Creature’ Bunting and vision, the exhibition will also sighted or otherwise, will leave An exhibition developed by Vision
Australia in partnership with the
his mate Nathan ‘Nanna’ Chivers. present aspects of the research the exhibition with a greater Powerhouse Museum and supported
Bart and Nathan are world of the Graduate School of appreciation of the lives of by Visions of Australia, an australian
government program supporting
champion skiers and Bart is Biomedical Engineering of the people with blindness and low touring exhibitions by providing
blind; Nathan is his guide. ‘Trees University of NSW, which is one vision and the richness and funding assistance for the
development and touring of cultural
are my worst enemy’, says Bart. of many groups developing a diversity of their experiences. material across australia.
Together for less than 10
years, Bart and Nathan have
conquered the world of the
Winter Paralympics, racing
downhill fast enough to win
three Olympic gold and silver
medals and numerous World
and National Championships.
Top: an old postcard
Bart and Nathan are just
one of the favourites showing the monkey circus
at taronga park zoo in the two of the people featured
was mabel the monkey, 1930s. above left: after
the bicycles were retired in a new exhibition Living in
from the circus, they a sensory world: stories from
referred to in the were ridden by edworthy’s
grandchildren. above people with blindness and
press at the time right: the bicycles today.
photo by geoff friend.
low vision. People and their
(2008/197/1:2) experiences are at the core of
as the ‘zoological the exhibition: the sensory world
of people using hearing, touch,
cycling champion’. smell and sometimes even
She rode up to 12 taste to navigate through their
environment. It looks at how
circuits of the arena, technology has assisted those
depending on the with low vision to take their
place in society; the stories of
applause. sportspeople like Bunting
Artists who are blind or have
low vision and who express
themselves through their
powerline summer 08/09 13
DESIGN
comic book hero
Story Stephen Lacey
The inaugural Design NSW:
Travelling Scholarship is a
new award presented by the
Powerhouse Museum and British
Council with Arts NSW. The first
winner – Matthew Huynh – has
used his $18,000 in prize money
to attend a creative course in
London in November, run by
writers and artists who work in
the industry.
The scholarship is an initiative
of Arts NSW and is funded
through the Visual Arts and
Crafts Strategy, a partnership
between the Australian and NSW
Governments. It is open to NSW
designers, within their first five
years of professional practice,
working in the broad areas of
product and communication
design. Each entrant submitted
three projects and designs
were assessed on key criteria
including: authenticity and
14 powerline summer 08/09
innovation, practicality and
performance, ecological impact
and social responsibility, and
market potential. Find out more
about the award on dhub.org.
Huynh, the son of Vietnamese
‘boat people’ picked up his
pencil and started to draw
pictures when he was still a
toddler. ‘I always loved to draw,’
Huynh says. Even while studying
Law, Huynh couldn’t resist the
urge to put pencil to paper. Not
surprisingly, he was awarded the
best contribution for a polemical
comic in the University of
Sydney Law Society’s Social
Justice Journal.
It wasn’t long before Huynh’s
desire to create beautiful literary
comics took over and he ‘retired’
from law school to concentrate
on his art. Huynh’s comics have
always responded directly to
Australian culture, giving them a
uniquely parochial perspective,
while still dealing with universal
issues such as personal identity.
His innovative approach
has seen him recognised by
the Australian Cartoonists
Association, and he has twice
won the Ledger Award for
Excellence in Australian Comics.
Since leaving university, Huynh
has championed the inclusion
of comics in a literary anthology,
performed at live art events,
and worked within an illustrative
collective. Huynh’s work blurs
the boundaries between comic
illustration and art.
‘There’s no formal support for
the professional development
of people who work with comics
and graphic novels in Australia,’
Huynh says. ‘This award means I
can get to the UK where literary
comics are more embedded in
the culture.’
Expanded public access to our collection
has led to valuable online exchanges.
Tyrrell today
Story Sebastian Chan, Paula Bray, Irma Havlicek
Earlier this year the Powerhouse
Museum released a selection of
historic photographs to popular
photo sharing website Flickr.
The images of Sydney and
rural NSW, part of the Tyrrell
Collection, taken in the late 19th
and early 20th century by the
studios of Charles Kerry and
Henry King, have been available
on the Museum’s own website
for many years but are now
reaching a far wider audience
through Flickr. They are now
receiving more than 10 times the
exposure than previously!
Since then the Museum has
established a group on Flickr
called Tyrrell Today which invites
contemporary photographers
to take pictures of the same
locations today. To facilitate the
project we have mapped the
original locations of as many of
the photographs as possible.
Many photographers have
already taken up the challenge
and you can see the results on
the website.
Flickr established the
top: happy birthday,
anyway by matthew huynh.
above: graphic novel
and comic designer
matthew huynh. photo by
marinco kojdanovski. the
design nsw: travelling
scholarship, presented by
the powerhouse museum
and british council with
arts nsw.
‘Commons on Flickr’ earlier this
year as a way to promote the
often stunning but rarely seen
historic photographs in the
world’s libraries and museums.
The Powerhouse was the first
museum in the world to join the
Commons, uploading images
after the project launched
with amazing photographs
from the Library of Congress.
The Brooklyn Museum, the
Smithsonian and recently
the State Library of NSW are
now contributors and Flickr
is actively working with other
museums, libraries and archives
to expand the Commons (www.
flickr.com/commons).
The Powerhouse Museum
images are available from www.
flickr.com/photos/powerhouse_
museum/
We invite you to tell us more
about these photographs on
Flickr, share them with your
friends, and enjoy them. They
have no known copyright
restrictions and are available
for free download at medium
COLLECTION NEWS
Below: ‘centennial
regatta’, sydney, by henry
king, 1880-1900 from the
tyrrell collection and
‘sailing on a sunday
morning’ by magical-
world. bottom: George
street at hunter street
by kerry & co, 1884-1917
and the same scene
today by lifeasdaddy.
resolution. The Powerhouse
Photo Library can provide higher
resolution versions on request for
a nominal processing fee.
The Museum is also using Flickr
to create photo groups based on
exhibition themes, such as Modern
times, where over 500 photos
have been uploaded from the
community (www.flickr.com/groups/
phm-moderntimes/), and to garner
ideas for an upcoming exhibition
on the 1980s (www.flicker.com/
groups/australiainthe80s).
Meanwhile, visitors to our Online
Public Access Catalogue (OPAC
2.0), launched in June 2006, are
accessing thousands of object
records daily. This growth in public
access has also led to a valuable
exchange of information with
some of our online visitors.
Jill Roy recently emailed us
with information about one of
the pianos in our collection
made by the Hamblin Brothers
of Kyneton, Victoria in 1907. Jill,
who is a descendent of the
Hamblins, had researched the
family history and supplied the
Museum with this information
as well as copies of several
photographs of the Hamblin
brothers, their father and master
piano maker, Joseph Hamblin,
and their premises in Kyneton.
This support helps us build a
more complete picture about the
objects in our collection and is of
great value to the Museum. You
can access our collection online
at: powerhousemuseum.com/
collection/database/
powerline summer 08/09 15
OBSERVE DISCOVER
SYDNEY OBSERVATORY POWERHOUSE DISCOVERY CENTRE

International Year of Astronomy life in

the past
SG10 8/10/08 4:24 PM Page 1

2009 marks 400 years since The 2009 Australian sky guide It’s compact, easy to use and A new educational initiative at

2009 Australian SKY guide

Galileo first pointed his is out now. This popular guide is reliable. Wherever you are in our Castle Hill working store
Compact, easy to use and reliable ... this popular guide is the

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celestial equivalent of a street directory. It contains everything you
need to know about the southern night sky with monthly star maps,

telescope to the sky and a must for International Year of Australia, simple calculations is designed to engage young
diagrams and details of all the year’s exciting celestial events.

Wherever you are in Australia, easy calculations allow you to

Australian
determine your local Sun, Moon and planet rise and set times.

began a series of remarkable Astronomy. It contains everything allow you to determine your people with life in the past.
The 2009 Australian sky guide provides information on all the

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planets updated with the latest findings from space probes.

astronomical discoveries. In you need to know about the local Sun, Moon and planet rise Earlier this year the
Recommended for photographers, event planners, sports
organisers, teachers, students — and anyone who looks up at the
stars and wants to know more.

celebration of this historic HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2009

•
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INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY
400 YEARS SINCE GALILEO’S FIRST DISCOVERIES
Australian night sky with monthly and set times.  Powerhouse Discovery Centre
milestone, the United Nations star maps, diagrams and details Recommended for launched a series of educational
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NICK LOMB

guide
• MARS APPROACHES VENUS AND JUPITER

has declared 2009 as NOW WITH A NEW MOON MAP INCLUDED

of all the year’s exciting celestial photographers, event planners, visits for primary school
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events, and a special section on sports organisers, teachers, students themed around key
Astronomy (IYA).   Galileo’s discoveries. students — and anyone who objects on exhibition in the
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by the International Astronomical the Australia Day solar eclipse, to know more. New South Wales K–6 syllabus.
TE
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Union and UNESCO. It has Mars approaching Venus and  Available from the One of the programs – Life in
a wide range of objectives. Jupiter, and meteor showers in Powerhouse Museum, Sydney the Past – takes young visitors
One is to make astronomical May and December. The sky Observatory and good on a journey, through objects,
discoveries or ’breakthroughs‘ guide provides information on bookstores. Or order online at back to the 1880s. This was the
more widely known by people at all the planets updated with the Powerhouse Publishing www. time of the Sydney International
large. Another is to give as many latest findings from spacecraft powerhousemuseum.com/ Exhibition of 1879 held at the
people as possible, especially and from Earth-based telescopes. publications. RRP $16.95 Garden Palace, a key event
children, the opportunity to look in the establishment of the
at the sky through a telescope Museum of Applied Arts and
and get a better understanding Sciences and the Powerhouse
of the workings of the Universe. above, the 2009 Australian Museum.
sky guide is out now.
‘Everyone should realise the Left, galileo’s remarkable Through the Life in the Past
impact of astronomy and other discoveries will be program, Years 1 and 2 students
celebrated throughout
fundamental sciences on our 2009 with a series of (Stage 1) discover how people
daily lives, and understand international events and lived, dressed, and travelled in
programs. Antiporta of
how scientific knowledge can the dialogue about the Australia in the 1880s and early
two chief world systems,
contribute to a more equitable florence 1632.
1900s. This guided program is
and peaceful society,’ according tailored for the Human Society
to the organisers. and Its Environment (HSIE) Exhibition. The program also
More than 140 countries are syllabus units, Our Stories, Our includes a hands-on activity
Life in the Past takes
expected to participate and Families, The Way We Were using replica objects where young visitors on a
a number of global events, and Families: Past and Present students get the opportunity to
called cornerstone projects, will and includes a multi-media examine artefacts from everyday journey, through
take place over the course of introductory presentation drawn life, past and present. objects, back to the
the year. Check the Australian from the story of a family visiting The program was trialled
IYA website http://www. the 1879 International Exhibition in April 2008 with Years 1 and 1880s to discover
astronomy2009.org.au.
Sydney Observatory will be
in Sydney.
Following the introductory
2 students from Cherrybrook
Public School. Since the trial, the
how people
celebrating this international presentation young visitors are Discovery Centre has hosted lived, dressed,
event by organising and taken on a tour of the Display over 1000 primary students
participating in programs Store by Discovery Centre through this program, including
and travelled in
throughout the year. Visit during volunteer guides where they students from Macarthur Australia.
the summer holidays and explore precious objects such Adventist College, Macquarie
enjoy telescope viewings and as a souvenir mug, an award Fields, William Clark College,
3-D Space Theatre programs winning doll exhibited at the Castle Hill, and Mount Colah,
every evening, and Telescope Sydney International Exhibition Castle Hill, Seven Hills, Epping
Pizza Nights on 6, 8, 20 and of 1879, and an 1879 model of a and Jamisontown Public
22 January. A special series of Japanese shrine made entirely Schools.
events focusing on Galileo’s of bamboo. Feedback on the program
observations and all things Students can see early horse- has been positive and
Italian will be held on 13, 14 and drawn and steam-powered secondary school education
15 February. transport in the Display Store visits focused on the History
For times, costs and such as the partially restored and Technology syllabus are in from top: ‘girls skipping
bookings, see the calendar Cobb & Co. coach and the development for launch in Term at athletics carnival’
about 1900 from the
of events on page 10, or Steam Tram motor no 1A, which 1 of the 2009 school year. For tyrrell collection; sydney
international exhibition
phone (02) 9921 3485 for more transported visitors to and more information or bookings entry medallion (88/297); and
information. from the Sydney International phone (02) 9762 1300. garden palace key (H2955)

16 powerline summer 08/09

powerline summer 08/09 17
THE POWERHOUSE FOUNDATION The powerhouse museum gratefully acknowledges
the support of the following organisations

lunch with President’s Circle lunches

Steve Waugh
Cricketer, philanthropist, author
and former Australian of the
Year, Steve Waugh AO, was
guest speaker at our President’s
Circle lunch in September.
Steve gave Foundation guests
an entertaining insight into his
long and successful career, from
childhood games of backyard
cricket at the family home in
are held six times a year and
principal partners senior partners partners supporters platinum corporate
members
state government
partners
allow guests of the Powerhouse
Foundation the opportunity to Alcatel-Lucent
hear high profile speakers in Amp
the intimate environment of the boeing australia
Museum. HALKEAS PRINTING the powerhouse museum
Items from the Museum’s is a statutory authority
JAZZRIGHT PRODUCTION of, and principally
own collection were the focus SERVICES funded by, the state
of a Brought to Light lunch in railcorp government.
August, to mark the opening
of the Museum’s exhibition australian government
gold corporate
Modern times: the untold story members
of modernism in Australia. Guest australia council for
speaker, exhibition curator Dr Brookfield multiplex the arts

Panania, Sydney, to captaining
the Australian Test Cricket team
to an impressive 41 victories,
to the establishment of his
philanthropic fund supporting
children in need, the Steve
Waugh Foundation Australia.
In keeping with the
Powerhouse tradition of
collecting, Steve generously
brought along a selection of
objects from his own collection
of sporting memorabilia. Guests
were honoured to have the
chance to hold the baggy green
cap worn by Steve as captain of
the Australian test cricket team.
Ann Stephen, displayed Eclarté DYSON australian research
council
fabric swatches and sample standards australia/
australian international
books from the Museum’s design awards foundations
collection and discussed the
tafe nsw
use of Eclarté fabrics in the Bruce & joy Reid
transgrid Foundation
fit out of the modernist era
Australian Academy of Science, Gordon Darling
silver corporate Foundation
Canberra. members
james n kirby foundation
For more information about
President’s Circle or Brought to SYDNEY art exhibitions australia
Monorail
Light lunches, or to find out how DUNLOP FLOORING
AUSTRALIA
to donate to the Powerhouse
Foundation and help us build Steve Waugh, The Powerhouse Foundation KVB KUNLUN
guest speaker at
the Museums’ collection, contact the Powerhouse
MACQUARIE Group
FOUNDATION
Foundation Executive, Rebecca Foundation’s The Foundation thanks the
President’s Circle following donors for Sigma-Aldrich Pty Ltd
Noonan, on (02) 9217 0564, or by
Lunch. photo by
email to: rebeccan@phm.gov.au marinco kojdnovski their recent contribution. weir minerals

associate corporate
members
U Anonymous
O Anonymous Victoria barracks
The theological
b Carol Crawford
hall of the strahov
monastery in
discovery
b Whitney and Catherine Drayton
prague. members
b Richard Flynn
∞ David and Elisabeth Goodsall hinchcliffe electrical
services
O Alexandra Joel
wizard home loans
U Dr David Millons AM
kellyville
O O’Keefe & Partners
U Wally Patterson and Pamela Pearce
acronym design | thomson playford cultlers primary vertical logo | RGB RGB 77R 79G 83B

b Margie Seale and David Hardy

U Stockler Family
O Enid Wilson

DONATION CATEGORIES

j Governor
¶ President’s
Circle

castles of of a region with the benefit of

Bohemia
In May 2009, art-historian Dr
Jana Vytrhlik of the Powerhouse
Museum will host the next in our
series of Powerhouse Discovery
Tours, visiting the beautiful and
historic Czech Republic.
Powerhouse Discovery Tours
offers the opportunity to delve
deep into the history and culture
expert guidance. Jana’s Czech
background has enabled her
to develop an itinerary which
goes beyond the famous
sites and cities of the Czech
Republic and takes in other
fascinating and lesser-known
fiefdoms. Highlights include
three nights in the splendid 19th
century Hluboká Castle, the
chance to meet the owners of
the Gothic/Renaissance Castle
of Blatná, which has been in
the family for generations, and
private viewings of a number
∞ Leader
£
Collector
of stunning art collections, b Custodian
including Lobkowicz Palace in U Investor
Prague’s castle district. 2 Supporter
This tour offers a unique O Friend
opportunity to discover the
spectrum of the Czech way
of life – art, culture and
gastronomy – as experienced
by kings, princes and paupers!
For detailed tour information and
bookings, contact Renaissance
for more information on sponsorship opportunities
Tours on 1300 727 095 or visit www.
and giving to the powerhouse museum please contact
renaissancetours.com.au
dara vongsonephet on (02) 9217 0577.

18 powerline summer 08/09

powerline summer 08/09 19
FrOM THE COLLECTION

a model machine
We believe this model Sunshine B736, Gift of H V
Harvester was made by, or for, McKay – Massey
Harris Pty Ltd, 1938
H V McKay, often attributed as
the developer of the stripper
harvester. Full-scale stripper
harvesters saved farmers time,
effort and wages by harvesting
clean grain in one smooth
operation. In 1883 James
Morrow of Nicholson and
Morrow perfected, patented and
exhibited a stripper-harvester.
It was a year before H V McKay powerhousemuseum.com
built his stripper-harvester.
You can see this model at the
Machines Open Day at the
Powerhouse Discovery Centre
on Saturday 13 December.