Powerline Spring 2003

8/9/2019 Powerline Spring 2003

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+ 02 powerline spring 03

As some of you may be aware,

I recently co-authored a book,

Gallipoli: the Turkish story. As a

result I was invited to give a

talk on Anzac Day at Sydney

Observatory on how the

seasons, celestial events and

weather were critical to every

phase of the Gallipoli

campaign, from the fateful

landing on 25 April to the final

evacuation eight months later.

My talk was just one of the

many special programs and

events offered at Sydney

Observatory. Its a great place

to visit at any time whether

you want to star-gaze through

telescopes, take a 3-D journey

through space, or enjoy a

picnic with the best views of

our stunning harbour but2003 has some added

highlights.

O2 From the director

03 Power picks

06 New exhibitions Australian Design Awards selection

07 New exhibitions Sport: more than heroes and legends

11 Members news: Les Blakebrough

12 Members calendar

14 Members scene: our annual dinner

15 Travelling exhibition: William Holford

16 New acquisitions: Ken Done tapestry

17 Rules of engagement: advice for parents

18 New acquisitions: Sydney Opera House

19 Splendid Isolation: Walkman and GameBoy

20 Conservation of historic Wedgwood

21 Fresh Fruits: student fashion

22 Observe: historic Sydney Observatory

23 Corporate partners

24 New exhibitions at a glance

Some of the worlds top

astronomers were in Sydney

recently for the 25th General

Assembly of the International

Astronomical Union and the

Australian Festival of

Astronomy at Darling Harbour

in July. Dr Nick Lomb, the

Museums curator of

astronomy, was involved in the

organisation of both events.

During the festival the

Powerhouse and the

Observatory hosted three

exceptional public lectures.

In late August and early

September Mars is closer to

Earth than it has been for the

past 70 000 years. To

celebrate this rare event the

Observatory has an exhibition

on Mars that covers earlyastronomical theories of life on

the planet, recent explorations

and our fascination with

Martians.

Launched earlier this year, our

3-D Space Theatre has proved

an enormous success with

TRUSTEES

Dr Nicholas G Pappas, President

Dr Anne Summers AO,

Deputy President

Mr Mark Bouris

Ms Trisha Dixon

Ms Susan Gray

Professor Ron Johnston

Mrs Janet McDonald AO

Mr Anthony Sukari

Ms Kylie Winkworth

SENIOR MANAGEMENT

Dr Kevin Fewster AM, Director

Jennifer Sanders, Deputy Director,

Collections and Exhibitions

Mark Goggin, Associate Director,

Programs and Commercial Services

Michael Landsbergen, Associate

Director, Corporate Services

Kevin Sumption, Associate Director,

Knowledge and Information

Management

three programs so far, Elysium

7: express flight to Mars, A

flight through the solar system

and Observing Sydney in 3-D.

The latter is narrated by actor

John Howard and explores the

Observatorys role in the

development of Sydney

complete with magnificent 3-D

views from the site.

On 18 October, a Members Day

at the Observatory will focus

on heritage, history and

archaeology. Find out more

about this special event on

page 22. And remember the

Observatory organises a

special program of events for

children every school holidays.

If you havent been before, I

encourage you to take the kids

this October.Dr Kevin Fewster AM

Director

contentsissue 71

from the

director

FRONT COVER: CATHY FREEMAN,EXULTANT AFTER HER GOLD MEDALWIN AT THE SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPICGAMES. HER RUNNING SUIT ISFEATURED IN THE EXHIBITION SPORT:MORE THAN HEROES AND LEGENDS.SEE STORIES ON PAGES 7-10.PHOTO COURTESY NEWSPIX.

Powerline is produced by the Powerhouse Museum

PO Box K346, Haymarket NSW 1238

Editor: Judith Matheson

Editorial coordinator: Deborah Renaud

Design: TriggerdesignPhotography: Powerhouse Museum unless otherwise stated.

Every effort has been made to locate owners of copyright for the images in

this publication. Any inquiries should be directed to the Rights and

Permissions Officer, Powerhouse Museum.

ISSN 1030-5750 Trustees of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences

+

Where to find us

Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street, Darling Harbour Sydney

Opening hours 10.00 am 5.00 pm every day (except Christmas

Day). School holiday opening hours 9.30 am 5.00 pm

Contact details

Postal address: PO Box K346, Haymarket NSW 1238

Website www.phm.gov.au, Telephone (02) 9217 0111,

Infoline (02) 9217 0444, Education (02) 9217 0222

The Powerhouse Museum, part of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences

also incorporating Sydney Observatory, is a NSW government cultural institution.

www.phm.gov.au

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER 2003


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colonialmedalrevived

treasuresof Palestine

The reproduction medal marks

the 150th anniversary of the

beginning of commercial

navigation of the Murray-

Darling River system.

From 1853 until World War I,

Australias river systems were

essential economic lifelines.

Paddle steamers proliferated

on the nations waterways and

brought supplies to rural

towns and returned to coastal

cities with produce.The original River Murray

Steam Navigation medal

shares the distinction of being

the first to be commissioned

by an Australian colonial

government (the other marked

the cessation of convict

transportation to Tasmania,

also in 1853). Following the

successful navigation of the

Murray to Swan Hill and

beyond, the South Australian

Legislative Council ordered

three gold medals to be

produced. These are now lost

but a small number of bronze

examples were issued in 1856

(and in a later restrike of 1919),

of which the Museums is the

oldest surviving example.

Using a laser scanner, the

Royal Australian Mint has

created a digital duplicate of

the Museums medal, from

which steel dies will be made

to strike copies. The

reproduction is an initiative of

the Murray-Darling BasinCommission (MDBC), which

manages the land and water

resources of the Murray-

Darling Basin and has had a

strong association with the

Museum over the past 10

years. This reproduction

illustrates the significant role

medals often play as

reminders of past ambitions,

events, and achievements. The

medals will be for sale in the

Museum shop from October.

Paul Donnelly

and Sandra McEwen

The great richness and depth of

Palestine's cultural heritage will

be on display in a new temporary

exhibition opening at the

Powerhouse in mid October.

Treasures of Palestinepresents a

selection of traditional costumes,

embroidery, jewellery, ceramics,

sculptures, metalwork, and

mother-of-pearl inlay work, as

well as contemporary paintings,

posters, maps and photographs

drawn from the collection

assembled by Mr Ali Kazak, Head

of the General PalestinianDelegation to Australia.

The exhibition invites visitors to

engage with the Palestinian

people and their strong national

identity, as reflected in this

collection. It also provides an

opportunity to reflect on the

unresolved Palestine question,

one of the most challenging and

emotive dilemmas of the

contemporary world. A range of

public programs is planned to

accompany the exhibition.

These will include a Palestine

'cultural day' with costume

parade, music and food, and film

screenings.

The exhibition is supported bythe Community Relations

Commission, NSW Ministry for

the Arts and Premiers

Department.

po

werpicks+

MEDAL COMMEMORATES PADDLE-STEAMERTRADE ON THE MURRAY-DARLING RIVER SYSTEM

ABOVE: PADDLE STEAMERS ON THE MURRAY RIVER. PRODUCTION LASER SCANTAKEN BY THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN MINT OF THE ORIGINAL RIVER MURRAY STEAMNAVIGATION MEDAL. THE MAIN (OBVERSE) DESIGN FEATURES THE PADDLE STEAMERLADY AUGUSTA IN FRONT OF THE BARGE EUREKA STACKED WITH WOOL BALES.PHOTO FROM THE POWERHOUSE MUSEUMS TYRRELL COLLECTION.

CERAMIC TILE WITH ISLAMIC ORNAMENT. PHOTO COURTESYOF GENERAL PALESTINIAN DELEGATION TO AUSTRALIA.

The Royal Australian Mint has reproduced

an 1850s commemorative bronze medalfrom the Powerhouse collection.


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laced withpassion

a lot of hot air

Balarinjion show

The Premier of NSW, Bob Carr,

opened the new Powerhouse

exhibition Balarinji: ancient

culture, contemporary design

on 3 July. He is pictured here

with John Moriarty who, with

wife Ros, created the

trailblazing Balarinji design

studio 20 years ago. The

exhibition was sponsored by

the Australian Graphic Design

Association, which hosted a

viewing of the exhibition for

their members and the Sydney

design community later that

evening.

Balarinji designs have adorned

everything from Qantas jets to

silk kiminos. The exhibition

covers the studios work from

its earliest days to its

emergence on the world stage.

Balarinji: ancient culture,

contemporary designis on

display within Bayaguluntil

May 2004.

For those with a passion for the intricatebeauty of lace, the Museums Lace StudyCentre is now open every weekday.

If your image of lacemakers is

nimble-fingered women with

delicate ivory bobbins

engaging in a gentle pastime,

think again, says curator Lindie

Ward, who is part of the new

lace openhouse initiative at

the Powerhouse

A benign activity? Dont be

mistaken. Lace is a story of

lust and violence, says Lindie.

We have one tiny lace

rectangle from the mid 1600s

in our collection which tells the

ancient story of the wild and

powerful Judith seducing

Holofernes and then hacking

his head off to save her nation.

The lacemaker has highlighted

the blood rushing from his

neck with bright red silk

thread!

And this is not an isolated

example. Needle lace panels

and stumpwork embroideryfrom the period often depicted

gruesome tales and powerful

biblical stories. The Museums

Lace Study Centre provides

public access to about 300 of

the most significant examples

of handmade lace in the

Powerhouse collection, dating

from the late 1500s.

The centre is now open to the

JUDITH PUTS HOLOFERNES HEAD IN A SACK, DETAIL FROMA BIBLICAL TALE IN NEEDLE LACE, ENGLAND, MID 1600S.

PREMIER BOB CARR (CENTRE) WITH ROS AND JOHN MORIARTY AT THEOPENING OF BALARINJI: ANCIENT CULTURE, CONTEMPORARY DESIGN.PHOTO BY MARINCO KOJDANOVSKI

public each weekday from

10.30am 1.30pm, staffed by a

team of specialist volunteers,

who bring an extraordinary

level of enthusiasm and

expertise to the project.

Everyone with a passion for

these intricate textiles isinvited to use this unique

resource. You can view

different styles of lace from all

over the world, conduct

independent research, use the

microscope for detailed study

and find out more from the

volunteers, says Lindie.

Bookings essential for groups.

Phone (02) 9217 0222.

A number of hot-air engines

from the Powerhouse

Museums collection will be on

display at the Sydney AntiqueMachinery Clubs annual

Clarendon Classic Rally on 13-

14 September.

Powerhouse conservator and

club member Dave Rockell

plans to fire up two of the

engines, one made by UK

company Robinson and one

by US firm Rider-Ericsson.

Both demonstrate the

simplicity of the Stirling cycle

on which these engines work.

Used for pumping and running

small machines, they were

made from the 1880s to the

1920s and were supplanted by

small electric motors.Another engine on display is

fully sectioned to reveal its

working parts. In addition,

there are two household fans

that ran, perhaps perversely,

on hot air: a US Lake Breeze

and a German Draeger. The

rally will be held at

Hawkesbury Showground, a

short walk from Clarendon

railway station, across the

road from Richmond RAAF

base.

RIDER-ERICSSON HOT AIR ENGINE.


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choralmoments

The travelling exhibitionCreating a gothic paradise:

Pugin at the Antipodeshasinspired several delightfulmusical performances at thePowerhouse.

The great Victorian architectPugin expressed his spiritualitythrough the design of religiousbuildings and artefacts. This

spirituality also has a choraltradition, says EducationOfficer Rita Orsini. The SydneyUniversity Musical Society,accompanied by the energeticand powerful Samoan YouthChoir of the House of PraiseChurch, performed hymns andspiritual songs to an enthralledweekend audience in June.

Four catholic school choirs, StMarys Cathedral College,Santa Sabina College(Strathfield), St VincentsCollege (Potts Point) and StPatricks College (Strathfield)

have also enchanted visitorsas part of the Pugin program.

Marianna Lopert from SantaSabina College said after theperformance:

It was very exciting to performto the public and have ourvoices carried throughout theMuseum. During theseexperiences the choir is forcedto lift our level, and theatmosphere is really wonderful

we will all have gained fromthe experience.

Certain exhibitions lendthemselves to a musicalenhancement. During StarWars: The Magic of Myth, fiveSydney schools (Carlingford,North Sydney Girls, Pittwater,Summer Hill and Roseville),made the theme from StarWarsresound from the TurbineHall.

Recitals are presented whensuitable partnerships arise aspart of the Museum Live!program. The next event is a

classical guitar recitalperformed by St LaurencesCollege (Queensland) on 24September 2003.

a partnershipof design

Paul Priestman, of prominent

UK design company Priestman

Goode, was one of the visiting

guest speakers at the 2003

Sydney Design Week program

at the Powerhouse Museum.

Priestman discussed several of

his recent design

commissions, including a newfleet of trains for Virgin that

attempts to recapture some of

the romance of rail travel.

Since the inaugural program in

1997, Sydney Design Week has

become a highlight of the

design communitys annual

calendar. Sydney Design

Week 2003 saw a further

evolution of the program with

the ongoing support of The

Sydney Morning Herald.

As the media partner for

Sydney Design Week, The

Sydney Morning Heraldprovided valuable support

which allowed the 2003

program to be promoted

widely to the papers

readership. In addition to this,

the Sydney Design Week

program was again enhanced

by the involvement of long-

term supporters The Royal

Australian Institute of

Architects (NSW Branch) and

the Design Institute Australia

(NSW Council). Joining the

team in 2003 was the

Australian Graphic Design

Association, who also

Hit the rock n roll heritage trailin Kings Cross with Spinning

aroundcurator Peter Cox, or

visit the sites of Sydneys

trailblazing green bans with

EcoLogiccurator Anni Turnbull

during History Week on 13-21

September. These are two of

the tours by Powerhouse

supported the Museums

exhibition Balarinji: ancient

culture, contemporary design,

a featured exhibition in the

Sydney Design Week program.

Highlights of Sydney Design

Week 2003 at the Museum

included the exhibition Great

expectations, accompanied by

a series of public lectures by

visiting British designers, made

possible by the British Design

Council. Sydney Design Week

also saw the launch of The

Sydney Morning HeraldYoung

Designer of the Year Award

and the Powerhouse Museum

Selection from the Australian

Design Awards 2003(see

page 7).

The Museum is also pleased to

announce a new corporate

partnership with LogicaCMG,

as sponsor of Greatexpectations. LogicaCMG is a

global solutions company

providing management and IT

consultancy, systems

integration and outsourcing

services. Andrew Tindell, Chief

Executive of LogicaCMG says,

There are many synergies

between the exhibition, the

Powerhouse and LogicaCMG,

and we look forward to

working with the Museum on

this project.

STUDENTS FROM SANTA SABINA COLLEGE PERFORM AT THE POWERHOUSE.PHOTO BY SOTHA BOURN.

walksthroughhistory

Museum curators for theannual celebration of history

organised by the History

Council of New South Wales.

Bookings are essential. For

more information and

bookings phone Peter Cox on

(02) 9217 0330 or Anni Turnbull

on (02) 9217 0168.


THIS SIGN WAS MADE BY MAX TAPLIN FOR THE KELLYS BUSH PROTESTS.

PAUL PRIESTMAN, ONE OF THE VISITING GUESTSPEAKERS FOR SYDNEY DESIGN WEEK.


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Australian ingenuitySeveral Australian design icons are included in this

years Powerhouse Museum Selection from theAustralian Design Awards. They are the Sunbeam

Mixmaster, the Albion cricket helmet and the Eveready

Dolphin Lantern. While all three products have been on

the market for many years, they have been

comprehensively redesigned to enhance their

performance and appearance.

Sunbeams Mixmaster, for example, was first introduced

onto the Australian market in 1948 and has been a

stalwart in the nations kitchens ever since. The new

Mixmaster Compact features a removable hand mixer

with a separately powered stand to rotate the bowl.

Meanwhile, Evereadys Dolphin Mk 5 Lantern is a

redesign of a product which has been a world leader

for over 30 years. The redesign builds on the Dolphins

reputation for reliability in extreme environments.

The Powerhouse has been making its annual selectionfrom the awards since 1992, allowing the Museum to

update its collection of outstanding products from

Australian designers and manufacturing companies.

There are four main criteria for selection: excellence in

design, innovation, sustainability, and advantage to

Australian industry.

All the chosen products have achieved high standards

in such areas as safety, functionality, performance,

ease of use, and appearance. Each product

incorporates at least one important technical

innovation. All have been designed with regard to

improving durability and serviceability, reducing energy

and materials use, and minimising harmful wastes. The

products are likely to provide opportunities for

Australian companies to establish or maintain leading

positions in Australian and international markets.

One of the greatest challenges for product designers

today is to work with engineers and other technicalstaff in developing products based on the first

application of a new technology. Products of this type,

such as the Ultrasonic Cardiac Output Monitor, are well

represented in this years Powerhouse Museum

Selection. Perhaps this will give some hope to those

who have been disappointed by the small number of

Australian inventions adopted commercially overseas.

These innovative products provide significant

improvements in functionality and performance over

competing products and give Australian companies

opportunities in world markets.

The number of innovative medical devices entered in

the Australian Design Awards is increasing each year

and in 2003 five medical products are included in the

Powerhouse Museum Selection. Products such as the

Betachek G5, a blood glucose testing device formonitoring diabetes, demonstrate outstanding

achievement by Australian designers, engineers and

medical researchers in developing and testing new

technologies and then applying them to functional

appliances. This product received the 2003 Australian

Design Award of the year for its world-leading product

innovation and design, the result of a successful

collaboration between three companies with expertise

in electronic and optical design, medical diagnostics,

and product design.

The Powerhouse Museum Selection is on display in the

2003 Australian Design Awards exhibition in the

Succcess and innovationgallery on level 4.

Supported by the Australian Design Awards, a division of Standards Australia.


THE 2003 POWERHOUSE SELECTION FROM THE AUSTRALIAN

DESIGN AWARDS DEMONSTRATES PRODUCT DESIGN AT ITS BEST.story_ROB RENEW, SENIOR CURATOR, ENGINEERING & DESIGN

TOP ROW FROM LEFT: GRADIFLOW BF400 LABORATORY INSTRUMENT;

BETACHEK G5 DIABETES MONITOR; ALBION CRICKET HELMET;DEMAIN SERIES ANGLE GRINDER.

BOTTOM ROW FROM LEFT: EVEREADY DOLPHIN MK5 LANTERN;ULTRASONIC CARDIAC OUTPUT MONITOR; MIXMASTER COMPACT;AUTOSET SPIRIT AIRFLOW GENERATOR AND HUMIDIFIER.

PHOTOS COURTESY AUSTRALIAN DESIGN AWARDS.


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WHEN SCIENCE CURATOR JESSE SHORE TOOK ON SPORT HEDISCOVERED THAT IT RELATES TO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

Sure I like sport. I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, first

playing catch with my dad, graduating to stoop ball,

punchball and stick ball with the neighbourhood kids

in the street, softball in any nearby field, touch

football (USA style) in the street or nearby patch ofconcrete, and basketball on blacktop (although I was

hopeless at it). Never wanted to be an athlete but

liked to play.

Sure I like science. Ive wanted to be a scientist since

I was 12 years old. I became one. But I found it more

fun being a curator of science where I could tell the

story of science rather than do it. I thought it might

be real fun to combine science and sport and create

an exhibition which communicates both.

When the Powerhouse acquired more than 350 items

from the Sydney Olympic Games, I went to view the

new collection to see what might be relevant to my

idea but I found only a few items in this potentially

fantastic resource that even loosely related to the

science or technology of sport.I moped for five minutes before the penny dropped

the science of sport could be too narrow and dry

a subject I needed to broaden it out. Thats when I

expanded (or exploded) the exhibition concept to

include the science, technology, design, culture and

fashion of sport. This makes it a true amalgam of the

main subject areas of the Museum.

The exhibition Sport: more than heroes and legends

covers everything from the theories of Isaac Newton,

who described in 1671 how spinning tennis balls curve

in flight, and Benjamin Robins' New principles of

gunnerypublished in 1742, to Einsteins theory of

relativity (and how it relates to global positioning

system devices used in some sports) and the way

sports clothing influences fashion off the field.

Displays also cover changes in design and materials in

such items as tennis racquets, bicycles and prosthetic

legs for sprinting. Plus there are stories of the

emotional involvement in sport of fans as well as

players and sporting heroes both famous and unsung.

The main surprise in developing this exhibition has

been to find how many connections one can makebetween sport and nearly everything else.


MAIN PHOTO: ANDREW SYMONDS TAKES A CATCH OFF HIS OWNBOWLING AT THE GABBA, 2002. THE AERODYNAMICS OF BOWLING IS

ONE OF THE TOPICS EXPLORED IN THE NEW SPORTEXHIBITION.PHOTO COURTESY NEWSPIX.

INSET: CURATOR JESSE SHORE COMES TO GRIPS WITH SPORTSDIVERSITY. PHOTO BY MARINCO KOJDANOVSKI.

sport, science and thetheory of everything

sport: more than heroes and legends_opens 26 september


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OVER THE PAST 150 YEARS, AUSTRALIANS DETERMINATION TOIMPROVE OUR PERFORMANCE AND ENJOYMENT OF SPORT HASLED TO A HOST OF INNOVATIONS. HERE IS A SELECTION.

1. Australian Rules 1858

Developed in Melbourne in the 1850s as a winter

sport for cricketers, Australian Rules is a remarkable

innovation in organised leisure. Fans claim that it was

the world's first football code to be played as a

formally organised competition, that some Melbourne

clubs are the oldest of any code in the world, and

that the game (at least in the southern states of

Australia) has the largest audience anywhere as a

percentage of the population.

2. 18-footer skiff racing 1891

The first form of sailing to be developed as a

spectator sport with large audiences, prizes and

commercial sponsorship, skiff racing began onSydney Harbour in the 1890s. Originally the races

were for boats of all sizes, but soon the main

competitors were specially designed 18-footers

(about 6 m long). There were no limits set on sail

area, crew numbers, or the design of hull and rigging

but intense competition inspired improvements in the

design and technology of the skiffs.

3. Australian crawl 1902

Until the 1890s competitive freestyle swimming was

done with the head out of the water. Australian

Richard Cavill adapted a stroke he observed

Solomon Islanders using, which combined an up-and-

down kick with an alternating overarm stroke. This

new style was first used in competition in 1902 at the

International Championships and set a new world

record for the 100-yards race. The stroke became

known as the Australian crawl.

australiassporting firsts



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THEN PRIME MINISTER BOB HAWKE CELEBRATES AUSTRALIA IISVICTORY IN THE AMERICAS CUP IN SEPTEMBER 1983. PHOTO COURTESY NEWSPIX;AUSTRALIAN SURF LIFE SAVING CLUBS WERE THE FIRST IN THE WORLD. PHOTO BY HARVIE ALLISON, COURTESY WWW.HARVPIX.COM;DICK JOHNSON AND RACECAM AT BATHURST IN 1984. PHOTO FROM THE AUSTRALIA INNOVATES WEBSITE, COURTESY THE SEVEN NETWORK.

4. Surf lifesaving movement 1906

Australian surf lifesaving clubs were the first in the

world. In 1903 a group of swimmers formed the

Bronte Beach Surf Club and rigged up some rescue

equipment. Soon after in 1906, Australian lifesavers

developed the surf reel, which allowed lifesavers to

reach swimmers in distress and be towed back to

shore. Surf lifesaving by volunteers has saved many

lives and is now an integral part of Australias beach

culture. The rescue methods pioneered in Australia

have been used throughout the world.

5. Speedo swimwear 1928

Speedo became an early pioneer in swimsuit design

and has remained at the forefront of innovation eversince. The one-piece cotton racing back costume for

men which exposed their shoulders and back like a

singlet was introduced in 1927. Considered daring, it

was very fast in the water. Other innovations

followed. Research into hydrodynamics (movement

through water) of garments, led to the use nylon,

lycra and paper (lycra/nylon) fabrics, the removal of

modesty skirts from mens and womens costumes,

and the raising of hiplines and necklines on womens

swimwear. Speedo has continued to innovate with the

aqua-blade and Fastskin suits.

6. Synthetic radio broadcasts 1930s

Cricket was immensely popular in the 1920s and

1930s and synthetic radio broadcasts were devised

by the ABC to enable matches played in the UK to be

broadcast in Australia as they were played. News of

games was transmitted over continents via land-

based telegraph lines and across oceans via

underwater cables. Relying on the decoded

messages, local commentators created a lively play-

by-play broadcast, complete with sound effects, to

rapt listeners across the country.

7. Camera-Graph photo finish 1947

This Australian invention is similar to an American one

of about the same time. The Camera-Graph was

developed in Australia in 1946 by fashion

photographer Athol Shmith and Bertran Pearl to

photograph the finish of horse races. The Australian

system used a neon tube and was set into the

winning post. It captured pictures of the last second

of a race with great accuracy.

8. World Series Cricket 1977

In 1977 cricket-loving media owner Kerry Packer set

up a competition to broadcast on his TV network.

Packers World Series Cricket competition was livelier

and more colourful than previous one-day matches.

He introduced day-night games and a white ball that

was easier to see at night. Instead of wearing whites,

the players wore coloured clothes to contrast with the

ball (earning it the nickname the pyjama game).

9. Racecam 1979

Channel 7 introduced the system at the 1979 Bathurst

1000 car race to give TV viewers a drivers eye view

of the action. Racecam broadcast live images from

racing cars, using a network of car-mounted

cameras, miniaturised microwave radio transmitters,and relays in helicopters. A refined system is now

used in a variety of different sports.

10. Australia IIs winged keel 1983

Australia was the first country in the world to beat

America in the Americas Cup, wresting the trophy

from the New York Yacht Club after 132 years of

competition. In 1983 Australia II, backed by Perth

businessman Alan Bond, and skippered by John

Bertrand, defeated the US yacht Liberty in a series of

seven races. The Australian yacht featured a

revolutionary winged keel, designed by Ben Lexcen,

which the Americans tried unsuccessfully to outlaw.

The whole country was jubilant and the win prompted

the then Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke to

comment any boss who sacks anyone for not

turning up today is a bum.11. Sportswool 2000

This double-sided fabric with merino wool on the

inside and polyester on the outside was used by

Australian athletes in the 1998 Commonwealth Games

and the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The fabric is

ideal for sportswear because it releases moisture

from the garment keeping athletes cool during

exercise, but retains warmth before and after sporting

activity. Sportswool was developed by CSIRO and The

Woolmark Company and was first made commercially

in 2000.

See more Australian innovations

on the Australia innovates website at

www.phm.gov.au/australia_innovates

Compiled by Angelique Hutchison

and Judith Matheson.


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ST KILDA FOOTBALLER NICKY WINMAR LIFTS HIS JUMPER TO SHOW HISPRIDE AS AN INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN AFTER A RACIAL SLUR DURING AMATCH AGAINST COLLINGWOOD IN 1993. PHOTO COURTESY NEWSPIX.

Australians are obsessed with sport. It is a major key

to our identity. In 1871 English novelist Anthony

Trollope visited Australia and duly observed sport

was clearly a national necessity. A century latersocial commentator Donald Horne noted in 1965 that

sport to many Australians is life and the rest shadow.

Why does sport matter so much to us? Why does it

arouse such passion? On the one hand, weve got a

great climate, plenty of wide-open spaces, a mostly

healthy diet, and a tough outdoors tradition. On the

other, most of Australias population lives an

increasingly sedentary life and enjoys its sport

through cable television or in vast stadiums. Whether

we are participants or spectators, there are many

reasons why sport holds such an important place in

Australian society.

Sport produces many of our best known heroes and

legends. Australians love their sporting heroes. We

remember, idolise, eulogise, write songs and create

legends about some, such as Sir Donald Bradman,Betty Cuthbert, Dawn Fraser, Ian Thorpe, Cathy

Freeman, even Phar Lap while dismissing or

forgetting others. Annette Kellerman, for example,

was a major sporting star in the early 20th century

but how many people know her name today? Not

only a swimming champion, she was a distance

swimmer, performer and film star whose career

spanned 40 years. A new documentary about

Kellerman has reignited interest in her extraordinary

achievements.

Sport is a barometer of the changing values of our

society. In 1995, the Australian Football League (AFL)

was the first sport in Australia to introduce a race

abuse rule or code. It is now an offence for any

player or official to insult or vilify another on the

grounds of race, religion, ethnicity, colour, nationality

or background. The rule vindicated the courageous

stands taken by Indigenous players Nicky Winmar,

Michael Long and others.

Sport is an inspiration. Charismatic coach Brian

Gorjian turned around the fortunes of the Sydney

Kings basketball team. The Gorjian touch reversed a

long losing streak in just one season. Gorjian, who

also works the motivational speaker circuit, created a

team of winners with a mix of ball skills, fitness, flair

and competitive spirit. He claims the high he gets

from coaching is better than being a player. As a

player, the high when you win is for you and maybe

some for your team. But as a coach, its for the team,

the fans, the board and yourself.

Sport changes lives. Eight years ago David Liddiard,

former professional rugby league player, used his

fame on the field to begin the National Aboriginal

Sporting Corporation Association (NASCA). The

association takes Indigenous sports stars to

Aboriginal communities around Australia to raise

awareness, and promote a strong focus on health,

education and participation in sport. NASCA also

works with the Sydney Kings to encourage inner-city

kids to regularly attend lessons at Alexandria Park

Community School. The kids who do are rewarded

with a weekly bus trip to a Kings game. The Kings

also held a six-week basketball clinic for the school,

run by Kings coach Brian Gorjian and players.

Sport drives innovation in other fields. David Howell isa prosthetic limb-maker. Ten years ago David went to

a meeting of para-athletes and saw them run. He was

impressed with the times they recorded but not with

the performance of their prosthetic limbs and offered

to work with them. One of the first was Neil Fuller,

who became a national and Olympic champion. Im

never bored; each patient is a new challenge. These

athletes are single-minded, they train six days a week

and dont want to miss. Its like being a coach, you

make the prosthesis for them, and they develop and

run faster times. Its a fairly evocative, emotional time

when they break a world record. They become part

of your family too.

Sport offers a lifetime of spectator enjoyment.

Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Warwick Bruce is an ex-

rugby player and athlete. Hes a collector of

memorabilia with a passion for the games and the

people who play them. He admires excellence in any

field but sport offers a more precise measure: You

can't always judge the best musician or surgeon but

you can judge the best in sport. Its how high they

jump or how fast they run. The good thing in sport is

you can measure it.

a national necessityOUR NEW EXHIBITION SPORT: MORE THAN HEROES ANDLEGENDS EXPLORES AUSTRALIAS PASSION FOR SPORT.story _ ANNI TURNBULL, ASSISTANT CURATOR AUSTRALIAN HISTORY, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN



11/26


collectioncompanions

aquisition

from themembersmanager

Funds donated by the

Collection Companions of

Powerhouse Members have

enabled the Museum to

acquire two significant new

porcelain works bydistinguished Tasmanian

potter Les Blakebrough.

Both are new forms for

Blakebrough, and reflect his

increasing interest in the

dazzling white, translucent

material he calls Southern Ice

porcelain. The platter is the

only one to survive from about

six made, and the vessel is

based on a ship form he had

noticed in Federico Fellinis

films. The diamond pattern on

these objects is made by

masking the clay with shellac,

and then sponging it back.The surfaces have been

compared with the subtle

texture of damask. The

Museum holds a number of

works by Blakebrough from

the 1960s to the 1980s. These

fine new shapes reflect the

developments in his career.

They are on display in the

Members Lounge.

The festive season will be

upon us sooner than we think

so Id like to remind you all

about our great Christmas and

New Years Eve events. It pays

to book early, especially for

New Years Eve at the

Observatory, which is a hugely

popular night out for family

and friends, especially

overseas visitors.

But back to whats happening

in spring. Our terrific new

exhibition Sport: more than

heroes and legendsopens on

26 September. This exhibition

strikes right at the heart of

what it is to be Australian. At

the other end of the spectrum,

we also have a special

members viewing of Great

expectations. For anyone with

an interest in design, this is a

chance to see how the

creative process works. And

dont forget that Mars is closer

to Earth than it has been for

70 000 years at the moment,

so now is a great time to visit

Sydney Observatory. See our

calendar overleaf for more

details of all these events.

The annual Members dinner

on 19 July was a fabulous

night (the pictures tell the

story, see page 14). One of the

highlights for me was the

chance to meet some of you

personally.

Our new Members Lounge on

level 5 wouldnt be the special

place it is without the Eternity

tapestry, designed by Martin

Sharp, greeting everyone. Id

like to gently remind you that

we are seeking sponsorship to

assist the Museum in

purchasing the tapestry. If you

can help, contact Senior

Curator of Decorative Arts and

Design Grace Cochrane on

(02) 9217 0388.

Jane Turner

mem

be

rs+

MEMBERS CAN WIN AN INVITATION TO THE CELEBRITY-PACKED LAUNCH OF SPORTBY RENEWING NOW!

BOOK NOW!FOR NEW YEARS EVE

+ news

+ walk-throughs

+ exclusive events

+ family activities

+ special offers

DIAMOND SHIP-FORM AND DIAMOND PLATTER BY LESBLAKEBROUGH, TASMANIA 2002. PHOTO BY MARINCO KOJDANOVSKI.

+

DETAIL OF THE ETERNITY TAPESTRY, DESIGNED BY MARTIN SHARP ANDWOVEN BY THE VICTORIAN TAPESTRY WORKSHOP, WHICH IS ON DISPLAY INTHE MEMBERS LOUNGE. ON LOAN FROM THE AUSTRALIAN GALLERIES.

L


12/26

september

october

november

Tuesday 9 SeptemberNASA talk: Stardust and Genesis

A rare opportunity to join NASA scientists to find out

more about the Stardust and Genesis sample return

missions, which are collecting particles from deep

space for return to earth.

6.00 8.00 pm

Cost: $5 members/$7 guests

Thursday 9 OctoberAge of Aquarius legends night

Enjoy a fun night at Sydney Observatory to learn

about the legend of Aquarius. 3-D Space Theatre

session, telescope viewing (weather permitting) and a

pizza supper are included.

6.15 10.00 pm

Cost: $18 members/$55 member family. Bookings

essential. Phone Sydney Observatory on (02) 9217 0485.

Thursday 9 OctoberTea and textiles

Curator Christina Sumner has just returned from

Central Asia. She will be talking about recent

acquisitions and more.

10.00 11.30 am

Cost: $5 members/$10 guests.

Saturday 1 November

First Quarter moon viewingSee the fascinating detail on the moons surface as

well as other interesting celestial objects.

8.15 10.00 pm (weather permitting)

Cost: $8 members/$6 child/$22 family/$12 guests.

Bookings essential. Phone Sydney Observatory on

(02) 9217 0485.

Friday 14 November

Legends of Pegasus pizza nightJoin in for a fun night at Sydney Observatory to learn

about the legend of Pegasus. 3D theatre session,

telescope viewing (weather permitting) and a pizza

supper are included.

8.15 10.00 pm

Cost: $18 members/$55 member family. Bookings

essential. Phone Sydney Observatory on (02) 9217 0485

Saturday 6 SeptemberKids craft: Fathers Day gift workshop

Make a memorable one-off gift for dad in our Fathers

Day craft workshop.

At least one accompanying adult must be in

attendance to supervise and assist their child.

1.00 3.00 pm

Cost: $8 per member child.

spring 03

+

+

+

coming soon

Christmas Party Join us in the Members Lounge on Sunday 7December for music, festive fare and childrens entertainment,including a craft workshop to make Christmas presents. See nextPowerlinefor more details or book now on (02) 9217 0600.



13/26

Saturday 20 SeptemberExhibition walk through: Balarinji

Join Decorative Arts and Design Curator Anne-Marie

Van de Ven to explore the creative process of

Indigenous design studio Balarinji, from concept

through to product development. See designs for

everything from Qantas jets to silk kimonos.

2.00 3.00 pm


Saturday 11 OctoberKids quiz: Sport

See how much you can learn about sport in Australia.

Its also a chance to win a $50 gift voucher from the

Powerhouse shop.

1.00 3.00 pm

Cost: $8 member child/$10 guest child

members+

how to book formembers events

Due to limited places, bookings are essential for

every event. Please ring the Members hotline on

(02) 9217 0600 to make your booking before you

send in payment. Please leave a message quotingyour membership number, what event you are

booking for and the number of members and

guests. We will confirm your booking.

Payment for members events

We accept: credit card payments by phone, fax or

mail; cheques; money orders; or cash at the level 4

entrance to the Museum. We pay for all events

once bookings are confirmed, so if you are unable

to attend your event, please let us know ASAP or

we will charge you to cover costs.

All events are held at the Powerhouse Museum

unless otherwise stated. All dates, times and

venues are correct at time of publication

Members e-newsletterIf you would like to receive the regular Members

e-newsletter with updates on all new members

events please call (02) 9217 0600 or e-mail

[email protected] with you membership

number and e-newsletter in the subject line.

special offers

Renew your Membership in the first three weeks of

September and go into the draw for an invitation

to the Museums exclusive celebrity-packed

launch of Sport: more than heroes and legends.

Renew your Membership in September, October or

November and go into the draw for a family pass

to our New Years Eve event at the Observatory.

Introduce a new Member to the Museum and go

into the draw for a beautiful Royal Doulton

collectors item valued at $475.

ABOVE FROM LEFT: SPRING IS A GREAT TIME FOR AN EVENING VISIT TO SYDNEY OBSERVATORY. OUR NEW SPORTEXHIBITIONEXPLORES AUSTRALIAS PASSION FOR SPORT. PHOTO BY MARK EVANS, COURTESY NEWSPIX. LOUISE SAUVAGE WINS GOLD IN THESYDNEY 2000 PARALYMPIC GAMES. HER WHEELCHAIR IS ON DISPLAY IN SPORT: MORE THAN HEROES AND LEGENDS. PHOTO BYBRETT FAULKNER, COURTESY NEWSPIX. HAVE FUN WITH OUR KIDS CRAFT WORKSHOPS. PHOTO BY SUE STAFFORD

Wednesday 19 November

Members viewing: SportDiscover the heroes and legends of Australian sport

and get a hands-on experience of scientific

phenomenon such as how your body works to play

sport.

6.00 8.00 pm including pizza, wine and soft drinks.

Cost: $25 adults/$12 children/$65 family (2A+2C)

Friday 26 SeptemberSport: more than heroes and legends

Special Members Viewing

Find out why Australians are passionate about sport.This exhibition displays more than 100 items belongingto top Australian athletes including Ian ThorpesSpeedo Fastskin swimsuit and Louise Sauvageswheelchair from the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

6.00 8.00 pm including pizza, wine and soft drinks.Cost: $25 adults/$12 children/$65 family (2A+2C)

Saturday 18 OctoberMembers Day at Sydney Observatory

A special day of history and exploration including

guided tours of the Signal Station, and a presentation

of the results of an archaeological dig held on the site

in February.

Cost: members free/$8 guests.

Bookings essential. Phone Sydney Observatory on

(02) 9217 0485.

Saturday 22 November

Exhibition walk through: BalarinjiJoin Curator James Wilson-Miller for a tour of the

Balarinji exhibition which showcases the work of one of

the original trailblazers in Indigenous-based design in

Australia. Includes a performance by the National

Aboriginal Dance Conference.


New Years Eve This is one not to be missed. Sydney Observatory is aspectacular site in its own right, but its even better when fireworksover the harbour are part of the deal. See next Powerlinefor moredetails or book now on (02) 9217 0600.


14/26

membersscene

SUZANNE AND JOHN ALLEN.

LEFT: STRING DUET TWO TOTANGO ENTERTAINED DINERS.BELOW: FRANCESCA VON BRAUN-BATES AND MICHAEL BATES.

ROYAL CROWN DERBY CROCODILE PAPERWEIGHT DESIGNED BY JOHNALBITT (PICTURED RIGHT). PHOTOS COURTESY ROYAL DOULTON.

LEO FROM EUROPEAN CATERINGADDS THE FINISHING TOUCHES.

ABOVE: BARRIE BUTT


The Royal Doulton Company

invites Powerhouse membersto the 2003 tour of John Albitt,

designer of Royal Crown Derby

paperweights.

Born in Ipswich and now living

in Somerset, John has been

associated with Royal Crown

Derby since 1993. Johns work

is held in a number of private

collections and museums in

New Zealand, Belfast and

Cambridgeshire.

At each in-store event John

will share his knowledge and

give an insight in to the

inspirations behind his

designs. His first paperweightfor Royal Crown Derby was the

Hummingbird, introduced in

1993. John works initially with

pencil drawings, then moves to

full colour illustrations. In thecase of paperweights he then

creates a clay model and

prepares full artwork, fitting

colours on to the modelled

shape.

As a special offer to

Powerhouse Members

attending the talks, make a

purchase from the Royal

Crown Derby collection to the

value of $599 and receive a

free copy of Royal Crown

Derby paperweightsbook

(RRP $69.95) along with a

Goldcrest paperweight (RRP

$139). Please present yourPowerhouse Museum

membership card at time of

making purchase.

invitationfrom RoyalDoulton

The annual Members

Dinner on 19 July was an

astronomical occasion.

PHOTOS BY GEOFF FRIEND

John Albitt will be in-store at:

Doulton & Company,Chatswood Chase

Thursday 30 October, 6 8pm

(02) 9411 7770

David Jones, Market Street

Sydney

Friday 31 October, 12 2pm

(02) 9266 6328

David Jones, Wollongong

Monday 3 November, 12 2pm

(02) 4252 5678

For appearances in other

states, please phone Royal

Doulton Customer Service on

1800 252 034.

John Albitts itinerary is correct at time ofprinting, but may change. Please contactthe store to confirm.

THE SCENE IS SET FOR A STARRYNIGHT. BELOW FROM LEFT: CATHYMILETTA, PENNY VLAHOS ANDMARIA VALOS.

GUEST SPEAKER FOR THE EVENING,NOTED ASTRONOMER DR PAULMURDIN FROM THE INSTITUTE OFASTRONOMY, CAMBRIDGE, UK.


15/26

WATERMONKEY (LEFT) AND JUG, MAJOLICA GLAZE WITH FERN-LEAFDECORATION. DESIGNED BY WILLIAM HOLFORD AND ATTRIBUTED TOLITHGOW POTTERY ABOUT 1882.

CHEESE COVER AND PLATE, CANE WARE AND MAJOLICA GLAZED,DECORATED WITH COW HANDLE AND WILLIAM HOLFORDS PREMIERPATTERN, MADE BY ABRAHAM JAMES AT HIS POTTERY INCOORPAROO, QUEENSLAND ABOUT 1891.

PHOTOS COURTESY GEOFF FORD.

POWERHOUSEMUSEUM SHOPOpen 7 days, 10.00 am 5.00 pm

powerhouse members receive 10% off selected merchandise

For more information call (02) 9217 0331

Or email [email protected]. Delivery available. Free gift wrapping.

Gift selection service. Comfortable browsing atmosphere.


artisan of influence

A TRAVELLING EXHIBITION FROM THE NATIONALMUSEUM OF AUSTRALIAN POTTERY SHOWCASES THEWORK OF TALENTED POTTER WILLIAM HOLFORD.

William Holford (1840-1914) was

a skilled modeller and mould

maker who arrived in Australia

in 1876 and enjoyed a

successful career across three

states. His work and influence

is the subject of a small

travelling exhibition of pottery

made between 1887 and the

1930s.

The 50 items in the exhibition

range from bread crocks to

water filters and have been

selected from the collection of

the National Museum of

Australian Pottery, Wodonga, by

its owner-director Geoff Ford.

They track Holfords career withexamples of his work and

works by other potters that

were influenced by him.

Trained in Staffordshire,

William Holford worked for

some years at the famous

Minton Pottery, and arrived in

Australia in 1876 after two

years in New Zealand. He

worked first at a number of

potteries in Victoria, then

briefly at the Lithgow Pottery

in 1882-83, where he made

distinctive moulds for a range

of slip-cast domestic wares

such as plates, basins, bread

plates, pickle jars and jugs.

He set up the Phoenix Pottery

in Sydney, then established his

own Standard Pottery in what

is now Lane Cove, before

leaving for Adelaide in 1887.

After some time working at

Trewenacks Pottery in Magill

and at Kosters Pottery in

Norwood, in 1890, with his son

Thomas and two partners, heset up the first of a series of

his own potteries including the

London Pottery Works (1890;

1903-1906) and the Adelaide

Pottery Co in Maylands (1891-

1905), and the Federal Pottery

Co (1906-1909).

William Holfords work is

recognised by its competently

made forms and characteristic

decoration. One of these is

the flower and fern pattern

that became known as the

Premier design. Mould

makers like Holford often took

their moulds with them when

they moved to new potteries.

At other times the moulds

remained in the pottery and

influenced others. The

exhibition also features

documents, photographs,

tools and catalogues.

William Holfords art and

design influence on Australianpotteryis on display near the

schools entrance on level 3.

Grace Cochrane, Senior

Curator, Australian Decorative

Arts and Design

An exhibition by the National Museum ofAustralian Pottery, Wodonga, Victoria.Supported by Northcote Pottery andBendigo Pottery.

Books, CDs, writing accessories, art glass &

ceramics, scarves & textiles, jewellery and

watches, greeting cards, educational toys


16/26

Now available!

WHATS IN STORE?A HISTORY OF RETAILINGIN AUSTRALIA

Kimberley Webber and Ian Hoskins

An engaging historical journey that brings to

life Australias colourful retail heritage.

Discover shopkeepers stories plus retail

technology and fashion.

128 pages with over 200 illustrations.

RRP $34.95

Reprint by popular demand!

RAPT IN COLOUR

Claire Roberts and Huh Dong-hwa (eds)

Discover the beauty, wondrous colour and

fascinating patterns of Korean wrapping

cloths and costume from the Chosondynasty.

108 pages with 68 beautiful illustrations

RRP $32.95

And coming soon...

2004 Sydney Observatory sky guide, the

ever popular annual. Available Dec 03.

EcoLogic: creating a sustainable future, an

essential resource book. Available Nov 03.

Powerhouse books are available from the

Powerhouse Shop, good bookstores and

by mailorder. For more information

contact Powerhouse Publishing on (02)

9217 0129 or email [email protected]

www.phm.gov.au/publish

BOOKS FROMPOWERHOUSEPUBLISHING

Ken Done has donated his prized tapestry Twenty-

eight views of the Opera Houseand the related small

painting Twenty-five views of the Opera House 15 to

the Powerhouse Museum under the Commonwealth

Governments Cultural Gifts Program.

The magnificent tapestry was woven by the Victorian

Tapestry Workshop in Melbourne and is based on

Dones series of 25 small canvas paintings (each

measuring 25 x 20 cm) of the Sydney Opera House.

These paintings, exhibited in Paris during 1996, depict

light and colour on the surface of the Opera House

and its surrounding waters. Reminiscent of French

impressionist painting, they provided an interesting

challenge for the Victorian Tapestry Workshop, whichis renowned for fostering collaborations between

contemporary artists and the workshop weavers.

For Twenty-eight views of the Opera House, the

weavers worked closely with Done in choosing the

initial design and colours. Using three visual

reference sources 35 mm slides of all the

paintings, a selection of the original artworks, and the

overall design to which Done had added oil pastel

borders (all kept close to the loom for reference)

they commenced the tapestry in 1998, completing it

40 weeks later in 1999. Hand-woven and measuring

286 x 398 cm, the tapestry weighs approximately 34

kg. It is woven from fine Australian wool dyed in the

workshops own dye house.

The tapestry becomes part of the Ken Done design

archive, acquired by the Museum in 2001, which

includes designs associated with events of national

significance such as the Australian Pavilion in World

Expo '88 and the programs for the opening and

closing ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympic

Games.

Ken Done, a Museum Life Fellow, has earned a

special place in the history and development of

Australian art through his distinctive graphics and, at

times controversial, mass-production of images.

Made a member of the Order of Australia for services

to art, design and tourism in 1992, Dones contribution

to the development of Australian identity during the

latter part of the 20th century is indisputable,

particularly his portrayal of Australia as a colourful,

sophisticated, relaxing and fun place to visit.

Dones Twenty-eight views of the Opera House

tapestry is on display on level 2 of the Powerhouse

Museum (Musical instruments made and played

exhibition foyer).

Anne-Marie Van De Ven,

Curator Decorative Arts and Design

woven impressions

ARTIST AND DESIGNER KEN DONE HAS RECENTLY ADDED A MAJOR

NEW WORK TO HIS DESIGN ARCHIVE AT THE POWERHOUSE MUSEUM.

TWENTY-EIGHT VIEWS OF THE OPERA HOUSETAPESTRY DESIGNED BY KEN DONE, WOVEN BY THE VICTORIAN TAPESTRY WORKSHOP,SYDNEY/MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 1998-1999 WITH GRAND PIANO, STUART & SONS, NEWCASTLE, 1999. PHOTO BY JEAN-FRANCOIS LANZARONE.


17/26

The whole family can enjoy a day at the Museum. You

can have fun and learn something about yourself,

each other and the society around you. Here we

outline six steps for a satisfying day out.

1. Plan it

To make the most of your visit, make sure you plan it

well. You can visit the exhibitions or you can join in

public programs that include demonstrations, toursand performances. To find out whats new, check out

our regular publications, such as the new Exhibitions

+ eventsbooklet, or go to our website. The monthly

Whats onlists the times and dates of all exhibitions

and public programs. Phone (02) 9217 0202 to be

placed on the mailing list or pick one up on arrival.

Call (02) 9217 0222 to find out the plans for each

holiday program or book into special activities. When

you arrive for your visit, pick up a copy of the Guide,

which has a map showing the location of exhibitions,

plus details of services and facilities, including where

to find food, toilets and shops. You can make

enquiries about daily events at admissions or the

information desk on level 4.

2. Explain it

Give your children some idea of where they are going

and what they will see. Explain that the Powerhouse

Museum is housed in the shell of an old power

station and is filled with many precious things called

objects. The objects come from the Museums vast

collection. The Museums job is to preserve and

protect this collection. Thats why some objects are in

cases and you cant touch them. There are also films

and videos to see and interactives to play with.

3. Stage it

Stage your visit so that the exhibitions you visit are indecreasing order of complexity. The childrens

concentration levels will be the highest in the first

exhibition you visit. At this early stage, they will be

more likely to help you read the labels and look at

the objects. The Bayagul, Cyberworldsand EcoLogic

exhibitions have special label trails for children. Later

on, exhibitions with large objects, interactives and

public programs with hands-on activities will extend

their concentration. Check the Guidefor the locations

of the popular interactive KIDS units. A new series of

childrens trails, catering for 5-12 year olds is also

being developed. The first of these, Dressing up, was

launched in August. Using the trail, children follow a

series of clues around the ... never doneand Whats

in store?exhibitions to find selected objects.

Whichever path you take, allow for rest stops and free

time. Encourage children to scan exhibitions in their

own time and then focus on an area of interest.

4. Go with it

In any one visit you will be caregiver, minder, follower,

leader, interpreter, font of all knowledge and an active

listener. The children will want to make their own

connections but it is also an opportunity to share

some family stories. The interactives are sure to be a

winner with the kids but the objects will speak with a

little help. Questions are a useful way to keep them

interested and talking.

Some questions for very young children might be:

What are all the things you can see in this showcase?

How many wheels on the train? How many colours in

that costume? How can you tell this is very old? What

does it sound like? Do we have something like that at

home? Does grandma?

5. Express it

Debrief on what you have seen. What did you all like

the best? What is your favourite thing in the Museum?

You could choose a postcard from the shop and

send to grandparents or best friends. Buy a souvenir

of your visit. Talk about it in the car or on the train on

the way home.

6. Plan to come backThere is always much more to do and see at the

Powerhouse Museum.

HOW DO YOU KEEP UP WITH CURIOUS (AND NOT SO CURIOUS)CHILDREN IN THE MUSEUM? SOME TIPS FOR THE ADULTS.story_HELEN WHITTY, EDUCATION SERVICES COORDINATOR, photo_GREG ANDERSON

rules of engagement



18/26

A fascinating collection of architectural and

engineering drawings and some engineering models

of the Sydney Opera House were recently donated to

the Museum by Ove Arup and Partners, who were theprincipal engineering consultants on the technically

complex and socially controversial project. The new

acquisitions will feature in an exhibition to mark the

50th anniversary of the design competition for the

Sydney Opera House, which is planned for 2005.

Just over a year after the design competition opened

in December 1955, NSW Premier John Joseph Cahill

announced that Jrn Utzon, a relatively unknown

architect living and working in Hellebaek, north of

Copenhagen, had won first prize with Scheme 218.

Utzons collaboration with Ove Arup began soon after

he won the competition. The architects original

design required considerable intervention from the

structural engineer. Arup recognised Utzons design

talents, but there were structural implications for what

he had proposed. One of Arups biggest challenges

was that while the shells of the Opera House roof

had obvious aesthetic appeal, the shapes devised by

Utzon were free form without geometric definition and

their structural viability was unproven.The intense collaboration between architect and

engineer continued throughout the first two stages

(1959-1966) of the three-stage project. In 1966 Utzon,

who had gained world recognition for his Opera

House design, resigned from the project. He left

Sydney and never returned.

Among other things, Ove Arup and Partners has

donated a timber wind-test model, which was used in

experiments to gather data about the wind-pressure

distribution over the shells, and a spherical model

which was important to work out the geometry of the

roof. There are also several portfolios of drawings that

Utzon presented to Premier Cahill in 1958. He

prefaced one set of drawings with I am happy with

this book I am able to give a project which realises

in a practical form the vision of the competition.

A RECENT ACQUISITION SHEDS LIGHT ONHOW THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE WAS BUILT.story_DES BARRETT, CURATOR photos_MARINCO KOJDANOVSKI

how did Utzonsdesign stand up?

MAIN PHOTO: A TIMBER WIND-TEST MODEL. INSET: MODELDEMONSTRATING THE SPHERICAL DERIVATION OF THEGEOMETRY FOR THE ROOF SHELLS.



19/26


splendid isolation

THE REVOLUTION IN MOBILE AND WEARABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES

OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS HAS INFLUENCED EVERYTHING FROMFASHION AND MUSIC TO SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR.

Two of the most significant products to emerge over

that time were the Sony Walkman in the late 1970s

and Nintendo GameBoy a decade later. Both used

advances in transistor and microprocessor

technologies, and applied them to personal

consumer products. The Museums collection

contained neither of these items but a request to all

Powerhouse staff earlier this year promptly produced

suitable examples of each. They are valuable

additions to our collection, which represents the

changing uses, design and impact of new

technologies over the latter part of the 20th century.When the Sony Walkman (model # TPS-L2) was

released in 1979, it was the first (truly) portable and

wearable personal cassette player. Sony reconfigured

existing technology into a compact package that was

attractive, portable, simple to operate and delivered

high quality sound. It was an immediate commercial

success internationally and within months several

other manufacturers issued imitations of the design.

The original model had no speaker, so the listener

had to don the headphones supplied. So

revolutionary was this product that the design team

at Sony had reservations about the isolation a user of

the Walkman might experience. They countered this

with two features. The first was a button on the top

which, when depressed, mutes the audio program,

engages a small microphone and plays the sound of

the immediate environment into the headphones. The

second feature was provision for two sets of

headphones. Both features were deleted from

subsequent models when it became clear that a

major part of the appeal of the Walkman was the

isolation and individually programmed listening

pleasure it provided.

Once music had gone private in public, the

floodgates opened. The years since the Walkmans

first appearance have seen continuous change and

adaptation in a variety of products and mechanisms.

The Walkmans impact has gone far beyond product

design into fashion, music and social trends.

GameBoy was the first portable, hand-held game

system with interchangeable games and it remains

the most popular game console in history. Since its

inception in 1989, through to 1996 when Nintendo

began production of the GameBoy pocket model, it

has sold in excess of 500 million units. Gunpei Yokoi,who designed GameBoy, had been employed in

Nintendo's games department since the 1970s. In 1981

Yokoi teamed up with Shigeru Miyamoto (who later

produced Super Mario Brothers) to develop Donkey

Kong. GameBoys initial success was in part due to

the decision to bundle the Tetris game with all

purchases. Tetris, a real-time, puzzle-based game,

was developed by Russian Alexey Pajitnov in 1984.

Like the Sony Walkman, GameBoy is a personalised

accessory. The use of such portable, electronic

devices in public spaces tends to isolate the user

from their surroundings. Studies show that this non-

social behaviour in public is abhorred by many and

yet there is an increasing tolerance of the use of

such items as mobile phones and digital assistants.

The relatively short history of the electronic game

industry has produced great successes and failures.

Constant adaptation and innovation in interface

design and delivery media have kept the games in

demand. Meanwhile they have had a huge impact on

other media including film (computer-generated

graphics) and music; plus fashion and language.

Campbell Bickerstaff, Assistant Curator Information

and Communication Technology

TOP INSET: THE FIRST SONY WALKMAN MODEL RELEASED IN 1979.BOTTOM INSET: CAMPBELL BICKERSTAFF ENGAGES IN SOME NON-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR WITH THE GAMEBOY CONSOLE. PHOTOS BYJEAN-FRANCOIS LANZARONE.

BELOW: GAMEBOY SCREEN GRAPHIC COURTESY OF NINTENDOAUSTRALIA PTY LTD.


20/26

to the rescue!

ABOVE: COVER OF THE APOTHEOSIS OF VIRGIL, STONEWARE VASEBEFORE AND AFTER RESTORATION.

RIGHT: AFTER RESTORATION. APOTHEOSIS OF VIRGIL, STONEWAREVASE (BLACK JASPER DIP WITH WHITE JASPER RELIEF DECORATIONS),DESIGN OF RELIEF ATTRIBUTED TO JOHN FLAXMAN (1755-1826). MADEBY WEDGWOOD IN ENGLAND ABOUT 1878. HEIGHT: 66 CM. FROM THEART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES COLLECTION.

The two imposing black-and-white jasper vessels that

have been restored were made at the Wedgwood

factory in England in the late 1870s. The War and

peace ewer and the Apotheosis of Virgil vase were

centrepieces at Sydneys International Exhibition in

1879. They were subsequently acquired by the Art

Gallery of NSW. After periodic displays and many

years in storage, the condition of the vasessignificantly deteriorated.

The restoration process was complex and time-

consuming. Both objects had suffered extensive

staining. The cover of the Virgil vase was broken into

many pieces and a large section of the cover was

missing. The ewers handle was broken into several

pieces and its base had considerable breaks and

losses.

Conservators used a combination of techniques to

clean the vases. These ranged from brush vacuuming

and swabbing with cleaning solutions to repeated

applications of poultices and ultrasonic baths.

Broken parts were then carefully reassembled and

glued, making sure that the many broken pieces were

realigned perfectly.

Missing areas were filled with specially developed

epoxy putty mixed to match the colour and texture of

the original surfaces. Reconstruction of the missing

section of the Virgil cover was a complicated

procedure. This involved taking silicone moulds and

casting the replacement pieces in epoxy putty.

The restoration work was generously sponsored by

Waterford Wedgwood Australia. The vases are on

long-term loan from the Art Gallery of NSW and will

form part of the display in the Museums new

Decorative Arts and Design Gallery scheduled to

open in late 2004.


POWERHOUSE MUSEUM CONSERVATORS HAVE COMPLETEDRESTORATION OF TWO SIGNIFICANT WEDGWOOD PIECES.story_GOSIA DUDEK, CONSERVATOR photos_NITSA YIOUPROS


21/26


In the Museums recent competition Fresh Fruits,

fashion students were invited to create a new and

exciting fashion ensemble inspired by the exhibition

FRUiTS: Tokyo street style photographs of Shoichi

Aoki. The brief was to create an outfit based on a

recent personal obsession, using a variety of textiles

and costumes along with funky, fashionable and avant-

garde styles, materials and construction methods, andphotograph it in a streetscape.

The best entry won $1000, and their work is on display

at the Powerhouse Museum. All entrants were invited to

wear their ensemble to the Museum for the

announcement of the winner and to participate in a

promotion on the Sydney Monorail (pictured above).

The result was a visual feast and a true celebration of

the FRUiTSethos.

The winning entry (main photo), by Donna Sgro, aged

27 and Nilou Zibaee, aged 18, is called Ping-pong

ensemble. The skirt, made with handmade resin

shapes, is teamed with vintage marching girl jacket

and belts, feather pillbox hat and key-ring toys.

The FRUiTSexhibition is on display on level 5

until 26 January 2004.

fresh fruits

MAIN PHOTO COURTESY DONNA SGRO,INSET PHOTOS BY MARINCO KOJDANOVSKI.


22/26

+ 22 powerline winter 03

uncoveringObservatory

Hills history

members dayat SydneyObservatory

An archaeological dig has confirmedObservatory Hill as one of the mosthistorically interesting parts of Sydney.

An archaeological dig on the

site of Sydney Observatory

has revealed evidence of its

former use as a windmill and a

fort and has confirmed

Observatory Hill as one of the

most historically interesting

parts of Sydney.

Observatory Manager Toner

Stevenson says, Astronomy is

the big picture for the

Observatory but the site has

far wider significance. We aredeveloping new programs that

are designed to broaden

public interest in the history of

Observatory Hill, which reflects

how Sydney has developed

and changed over the years.

The dig uncovered many

hidden treasures and gave

further insight into the layers

of occupation. Archaeologists

from the NSW Department of

Commerce (Design and

Heritage section) uncovered

artefacts from the pre-

European environment, as well

as clay smoking pipes cast

with naval emblems and

government-stamped bottles

and utensils.

It also revealed evidence of

the clearing of the hill for

construction of the new

colonys first windmill prior to

1804, the construction of Fort

Phillip from 1804-6, which

appears to have taken

advantage of the steep natural

slope of the hill, and the useof the hill by the military.

Fort Phillip was never

completed but a section of its

walls was used as the platform

for the Signal Station, built in

1847. Now the oldest building

on the site, the station is

another treasure soon to be

unveiled for the public. One of

the main tasks is the

conceptual development of

this site and the planning of

further investigation in and

around the fort walls on which

it stands. A team of curators,

historians, conservators andarchaeologists will start work

on this in the next few months,

says Toner.

Powerhouse Members have a

special opportunity to explorethe history of Observatory Hill

on Saturday 18 October. There

will be guided tours of the

sandstone Signal Station

throughout the day. Built on

the remains of the rampart of

Fort Phillip, the cottage was

used to communicate

information about ship

movements on Sydney

Harbour until the 1920s. This

building has been stabilised,

but with otherwise minimal

interference, its interior

finishes and structure show

the layers of its occupationand use.

At 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm join

archaeologist Caitlin Allen fora presentation of what was

revealed by the archaeological

dig in February. See evidence

relating to all phases of

occupation on Observatory Hill

and learn how and what

makes an archaeological dig

exciting. The film Observing

Sydney in 3-D, narrated by

actor, John Howard, will be

shown throughout the day.

For costs, bookings and other

details phone (02) 9217 0485

or see the Members calendar

on page 12.

ob

serve+

EXPLORE THE HISTORY OF OBSERVATORY HILLWITH TOURS OF THE SANDSTONE SIGNAL STATION

A SELECTION OF ARTEFACTSUNCOVERED BY THE DIG AT SYDNEYOBSERVATORY, AND THE DIG INPROGRESS (ABOVE).PHOTOS BY SOTHA BOURN.A SELECTION OF THE ARTEFACTSUNCOVERED BY A SELECTION OF THEARTEFACTS UNCOVERED BY

VIEW OF SYDNEY OBSERVATORYFROM 1871 SHOWING THE SIGNALSTATION AND SIGNAL MASTS IN THEFOREGROUND BUILT ON THEREMAINING WALLS OF FORT PHILLIP.PHOTO BY NSW GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE, POWERHOUSEMUSEUM COLLECTION.


23/26

+ 23 powerline winter 03

THE POWERHOUSE MUSEUM GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGESTHE SUPPORT OF THE FOLLOWING ORGANISATIONS

AUSTRALIAN POSTERS

SPORT: MORE THAN HEROES & LEGENDS

GRAND MARNIER

GRAND MARNIER / POWERHOUSEMUSEUM FASHION OF THE YEAR

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA SYDNEY DIVISION

ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE 2002

LEGO AUSTRALIA

METRO MONORAIL

SPORT: MORE THAN HEROES & LEGENDS

MINCOM LIMITED

LIFE FELLOWS DINNER 2003

NHK TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC.

CYBERWORLDS: COMPUTERS ANDCONNECTIONS

NIKON

SYDNEY OBSERVATORY

NOVOTEL SYDNEY ON DARLING HARBOUR

OFFICIAL SYDNEY HOTEL

SOUNDHOUSE MUSIC ALLIANCE

SOUNDHOUSE MUSIC AND MULTI MEDIALABORATORY

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

SYDNEY DESIGN WEEK

YAMAHA MUSIC AUSTRALIA

YAMAHA DISKLAVIER GRAND PIANO

ARAB BANK AUSTRALIA

WATTAN PROJECT

AUSTRALIAN GRAPHICDESIGN ASSOCIATION

BALARINJI: ANCIENT CULTURE,CONTEMPORARY DESIGN

BOEING AUSTRALIA LIMITED

SPACE: BEYOND THIS WORLD

DELTA ELECTRICITY

ELECTRICITY DISCOVERY CHALLENGE

GREAT WHITE NOISE

SOUNDING THE MUSEUM PROGRAM FORTHE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

ARAB BANK AUSTRALIA

CAPITAL TECHNIC GROUP

CONNELL WAGNER

DUNLOP FLOORING AUSTRALIA

MINCOM LIMITED

ROYAL DOULTON AUSTRALIA

SWAROVSKI INTERNATIONAL (AUST)

SYDNEY INSTITUTE

TASCO

THE RACI INC, NSW BRANCH

WEIR WARMAN LTD

WORMALD

INTEL AUSTRALIA

LOGICA CMG

NSW DEPARTMENT OF LANDS

TRANSGRID

DICK SMITH AUSTRALIAN EXPLORER BELL206B JETRANGER III HELICOPTER

INTEL YOUNG SCIENTIST 2002,SOUNDHOUSE AND ONLINE PROJECTS

COLES THEATRE, TARGET THEATRE,GRACE BROS COURTYARD, K MARTSTUDIOS

SPORT: MORE THAN HEROES & LEGENDS ECOLOGIC: CREATING A SUSTAINABLEFUTURE

STEAM LOCOMOTIVE 3830STEAM LOCOMOTIVE 3265

GREAT EXPECTATIONS: NEW BRITISHDESIGN STORIES

+principal partners

+senior partners

+partners

+supporters

+founding corporate members

+landmark corporate members

DICK SMITH


24/26

Give a gift membershipOR TURN OVER FOR DETAILS+

Sport: more than heroes and legends

LEVEL 4, FROM 26 SEPTEMBER 2003

What is it that drives Australians to be

faster, fitter and more competitive?

What makes a sporting hero? What

compels us to support our heroes rain,

hail or shine? Discover the triumphs,

the fashion, the science and the

passion of sport. This i nteractive

exhibition brings together material from

60 different sports. Special admission

prices apply.

Great expectations:

new British design stories

LEVEL 3, UNTIL 1 FEBRUARY 2004

Featuring more than 100 British design

projects, Great expectations highlights

the creative process of turning ideas

into products across a range of fields.

Treasures of Palestine

LEVEL 3, FROM 17 OCTOBER 2003

The great richness and depth of

Palestine's cultural heritage is

displayed through a selection of

traditional costumes, embroidery,

jewellery and artworks plus

contemporary paintings, posters and

photographs.

Childhood memories of migration:

images, imagining & impressions

LEVEL 3, FROM MID NOVEMBER 2003

This exhibition explores the stories of

child migration from the official and

individual perspectives through toys,

drawings, interactives and memorabilia.

Balarinji: ancient culture,

contemporary design

LEVEL 2, UNTIL 30 MAY 2004,WITHIN BAYAGUL

The original trail-blazers in Indigenous

design, Balarinji celebrates twenty

years of award-winning work all with

their signature blend of traditional

motifs and contemporary graphics.

William Holfords art and design

influence on Australian potteryLEVEL 3, UNTIL 10 NOVEMBER 2003

Fifty Australian pottery items from the

National Museum of Australian Pottery,

Wodonga showcase the work and

design influence of William Holford

(18411912).

exhibitions atSydney Observatory

Mars: the closest encounter

UNTIL JUNE 2004

Mars is closer to Earth this year than it

has been in recorded history. View

Mars through the Observatorys

telescopes and learn about the most

recent explorations of the red planet

as well as early astronomical theories

of life forms.

travelling exhibitions

Intel Young Scientist 2002

Newcastle Regional MuseumUNTIL 21 SEPTEMBER 2003

Spinning around: 50 years of Festival

Records

Melbourne MuseumUNTIL 23 NOVEMBER 2003

new exhibitions at a glanceSEPTEMBER_OCTOBER_NOVEMBER 2003

FROM LEFT: LACE TABLECLOTH, AUSTRALIA, ABOUT 1925; ANDREW SYMONDS AT THEGABBA 2002, PHOTO COURTESY NEWSPIX; EARLY SKIFF RACING ON SYDNEYHARBOUR, PHOTO FROM THE TYRRELL COLLECTION, POWERHOUSE MUSEUM.

www.phm.gov.au

Golden Threads: the Chinese in

regional New South Wales 18501950

and My Chinatown

LEVEL 3, UNTIL 12 OCTOBER 2003

The Museums new Australian

Communities Gallery features two

exhibitions that celebrate the

significant and diverse contributions

made by Chinese-Australians to our

history and heritage.Closing soon dont miss out.

Intel Young Scientist 2003

LEVEL 3, FROM 25 OCTOBER 2003

An inspirational exhibition of models,

photographs and multi-media

presentations created by the top NSW

science students for the Intel Young

Scientist Awards.

Australian Design AwardsLEVEL 4, SUCCESS AND INNOVATIONGALLERY, UNTIL JUNE 2004

Improved versions of the Sunbeam

Mixmaster, Eveready Dolphin torch and

Test Series cricket helmet are among

the 14 products in the Powerhouse

Museum Selection from the Australian

Design Awards 2003.

Fruits: Tokyo street style

photographs by Shoichi Aoki

LEVEL 5, UNTIL 26 JANUARY 2004

Pink hair, kimono and platform shoes

discover fantastic fashion from the

streets of Tokyo. Shoichi Aoki's

extraordinary photographs chronicle a

'fashion revolution in Tokyo's suburbs'

from the mid 1990s to now.

Engineering Excellence

LEVEL 4, SUCCESS AND INNOVATION,UNTIL 23 NOVEMBER 2003

Outstanding engineering projects from

the Institute of Engineers (Sydney

division) awards program.

Schools Spectacular

LEVEL 2, FROM 21 NOVEMBER 2003

Celebrating 20 years of the Schools

Spectacular with the costumes, glitzand glamour of the variety

entertainment show in which thousands

of students perform each year.


25/26

Powerhouse MembershipIt makes a great gift!

I wish to join Powerhouse Members I wish to renew my membership

Membership number (if renewing):

INDIVIDUAL 1 year 2 years 3 yearsStandard $60 $108 $153

Concession/country* $30 $54 $77

Name to go on card

*Concession applies to full-time students, seniors, pensioners, unemployed.

Country members must live more than 150 km from Sydney GPO.

HOUSEHOLD** 1 year 2 years 3 yearsStandard $85 $153 $217

Country/concession $50 $90 $127

** A household is up to two adults and all students under 18 years at the same address. Country

households must be more than 150 km from Sydney GPO. Concession applies to full-time students,

seniors, pensioners, unemployed and all adults in the household must be eligible for concession.

Name to go on first card

Name to go on second card

Card number (for concession memberships)

I wish to give a gift membership

GIFT MEMBERSHIP RECIPIENT

Name

Address

Postcode

Phone number (BH)

Email

Name to go on card

Please send the membership to My address Directly to the recipient

Card message (if applicable)

MEMBER DETAILS

Name

Address

Postcode

Phone number (BH)

Fax

Email

Age group Under 15 16-18 19-24

25-34 45-54 55+

OccupationFor household members:

Number in household adults children

PAYMENT DETAILS

Payment of $ is enclosed OR

Please charge $ to my

Bankcard Visa Mastercard American Express Diners Club

Card no

Expiry date Cardholders name

Cardholders signature

Return this form to:

Powerhouse Members, PO Box K346, Haymarket NSW 1238


26/26

from thecollection

This neckpiece was made in

1988 by Australian jeweller

Margaret Kirkwood, using

stirling silver and mokume

gane, which is a married

metal. In this process different

metals are beaten together to

simulate wood grain.

It is one of a selection of 22contemporary neckpieces

from the Museums collection

that are now on display on

level 4, representing local and

international jewellery from the

late 1970s to the present. Once

a symbol of prestige and

fashion, the neckpiece is now

also a form of creative, political

and personal expression. The

materials used in these

neckpieces show the bold andsometimes radical directions in

contemporary jewellery design.

72

ISSN 1030-5750

Documents

Powerline Spring 2003