Powerhouse Parramatta opens this weekend; here’s everything you need to know

• Powerhouse Parramatta opens this Saturday, November 7, with a festival of performances, talks and exhibitions running throughout November.
• More tickets have been released for select opening events, with most paid events costing $15 and four major exhibitions free to enter.
• After checking out the museum, explore Parramatta’s historic landmarks, Eat Street, leafy parklands and cultural attractions.

After more than four years, the $915 million Powerhouse Parramatta will officially open its doors to the public this Saturday.

It’s a huge weekend for Western Sydney, as Parramatta welcomes its newest landmark, which also happens to be New South Wales’ largest cultural investment since the Sydney Opera House.

Affectionately labelled the “milk crate” by locals, thanks to its bright white, criss-cross exoskeleton, Powerhouse Parramatta will celebrate its opening in style, with a festival program taking place across November, featuring a total of 179 events.

We’ve got your perfect, last-minute guide, whether you’re thinking of heading West this weekend or have already booked your tickets. Here’s everything you need to know.

What’s on this weekend?

Powerhouse Parramatta officially opens on November 7, with a stacked weekend of performances, talks, exhibitions and free family-friendly activities.

Aside from the Opening Festival events, the museum will also open with five exhibitions, including Task Eternal, The Mall, The Dark, Overflow and Es Devlin: The Turning.

General admission for opening weekend is fully booked, but more tickets have just been released for select Opening Festival events this weekend, including a talk from Es Devlin, creator of one of the exhibitions. The events with tickets available include the following:

• Making a Museum That Changes With the World: Architects and engineers reveal the vision and design behind the new museum. Book here
• Family DINEasties: A celebration of eight Western Sydney family-run eateries, featuring talks, cooking demonstrations and tastings with local chefs. Book here
• Es Devlin: The internationally acclaimed artist discusses her first Australian exhibition, The Turning, and how art can bring communities together. Book here
• Bharti Kher: The British Indian artist discusses her public art commission Tree of Life, exploring multiculturalism and connections between the living and spiritual worlds. Book here

The best part? A ticket to any Opening Festival event also gives you access to the new museum and four of its five major exhibitions (the exclusion is Task Eternal). So, even if the events themselves don’t take your fancy, booking a ticket to one is the best way to secure your place at the museum this weekend.

Ticket prices

Looking to go to an Opening Festival event this weekend?

The good news? Around 65 per cent of the opening program is completely free, while most paid events cost just $15.

Guests can go to four of the five exhibitions at no cost, including The Mall, Overflow, Es Devlin: The Turning and The Dark.

Task Eternal will cost $30 for adults with a $20 concession. You can also add on entry to James Turrell: Shangri La (Over the Hump), an immersive light installation, to your Task Eternal ticket for an extra $10.

Where to eat

Powerhouse Parramatta has three places to eat and drink, all of which will open on November 7.

• Folded: All-day casual café serving coffee, jaffles, focaccia and sandwiches. Croissants are $9, jaffles range from $10-$14 and they also have some dinner dishes that are much less expensive than Simara, with pasta starting at $26.
• Simara: Sit-down restaurant with contemporary Australian dishes and Parramatta River views. This restaurant is on the pricier side, with pasta dishes starting at $36 and mains ranging from $29-$65.
• Green Bar: Rooftop bar serving cocktails, mocktails and spritzes.

How to get there

We’d recommend hopping on public transport to get to the new museum, as there is no onsite parking and traffic could be heavy on opening weekend.

There are several public transport options that put you in walking distance of Powerhouse Parramatta.

• Train: Take a train to Parramatta Station, then walk about 8–10 minutes (600–700 metres) to the museum.
• Light rail: Take the L4 line to Church Street stop, then walk around 4 minutes.
• Bus: Get off at Smith Street near Phillip Street, around a 3-minute walk away.
• Ferry: Catch the F3 from Circular Quay or Barangaroo to Parramatta Wharf, then walk along the river for about 7 minutes.

For the opening weekend, a free vintage bus shuttle will also run between Parramatta Station and the museum from 10am to 5pm on November 7 and 8.

What to do in Parramatta

So, you’ve explored the new Powerhouse Parramatta but still have time to spare? Here are five more things to do that’ll make you fall in love with Western Sydney’s biggest city.

1. Step back in time at Elizabeth Farm and Old Government House

Discover Parramatta’s colonial history at Australia’s oldest surviving homestead, Old Government House.

Though it’s a museum, you can walk through every room in the house, take a seat at the dining table and look through the family’s personal papers. Outside, the beautiful gardens feature plants that date back to the original owners. Entry is free, though it is recommended that you book tickets ahead of arrival.

2. Eat your way along Eat Street

Head to “Eat Street”, the pedestrianised section of Church Street lined with outdoor tables and restaurants serving up cuisine from every corner of the globe. Choose from Middle Eastern mezze at Armani, authentic Indonesian street food at Ria, tapas and sangria at Lola Cucina, mouthwatering lamb at Kouzina Greco or classic American diner fare at Three Stacks.

3. Discover Western Sydney’s creative side

Burn off some of your lunch with a 10-minute walk to Pari, an artist-run space that celebrates the colour and culture of Western Sydney. Exhibitions change regularly (check their website or socials to see what’s on), and there are also artist talks, workshops and pieces for sale.

Next door is the Hunter Street Gallery of Fine Art, home of the Parramatta Art Society. This is both a commercial gallery with works for sale and a community space with weekly art classes and regular workshops.

4. Wander through the leafy Parramatta Park

Wander through 85 hectares of gardens, bushland and riverside trails, keeping an eye out for grey-headed flying foxes and the park’s historic monuments. To best explore the World Heritage-listed park, download a detailed map and itinerary from the Walks Near Me website and follow a four-kilometre path that takes you to all the highlights.

5. Catch a show at Riverside Theatre

Round off your day with a performance at one of Parramatta’s leading cultural venues, with a program spanning Shakespeare, ballet, comedy, live music and more. You can check out their program here.