The historic Qantas Avro 504K aircraft, a replica of the airline’s first plane will feature in the major opening exhibition, Task Eternal. The Avro is suspended above a Cierva C.30A Autogiro — a forerunner of the helicopter — and the Skycraft Scout Mark 1, an ultralight aircraft designed and made by Australian Ron Wheeler.

Featured in the new museum’s largest exhibition space, Task Eternal will explore the intersection of design, innovation and technology and trace humanity’s quest to human ambition to defy gravity, take flight and journey into the sky.

The Qantas Avro 504K aircraft is one of two replicas of the airline’s first plane, built in Mascot by Qantas engineers and apprentices in 1988. Weighing more than 760 kilograms and at almost 9m long with a wingspan of 11m, the aircraft is one of more than 750 objects which will feature in the foundational opening exhibition.

The Avro installation marks the beginning of a 10-year partnership, bringing together two iconic Australian institutions — Qantas, the nation’s flagship airline and a global leader in aviation innovation, and Powerhouse, Australia’s leading museum of applied arts and sciences.

The collaboration will see Qantas become Presenting Partner for Task Eternal, supporting the Qantas Terrace — a prominent public space overlooking the Parramatta River — and contributing to a program of public and learning initiatives throughout the exhibition period, offering museum visitors unique insights into aviation, design and innovation.

Additionally, Qantas will loan more than 6000 pieces from the Qantas Heritage Collection, spanning more than a century of aviation history, which the Powerhouse will conserve and digitise at Powerhouse Castle Hill.

Developed over four years, Task Eternal is one of the most ambitious aerospace exhibitions ever staged in the world. More than 750 objects on display including 350 objects from its own collection, and more than 250 objects on loan from more than 120 domestic and international lenders, plus 12 new commissions will be presented in the new museum’s largest exhibition space.

The exhibition reflects the scale and ambition of Powerhouse Parramatta and the NSW Government’s investment in science, culture and innovation.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Western Sydney, Prue Car said:

“The Powerhouse Museum is bringing our nation’s history to Western Sydney.

“Powerhouse Parramatta will give our region’s young people more access to our engineering and innovation history, inspiring the next generation of scientists, designers and engineers.”

Minister for the Arts, John Graham said:

“I love that the first object going into the Powerhouse Parramatta is such an important piece of our aviation history.

“This is a moment in history as the first exhibition starts to come together ahead of the Parramatta Powerhouse opening to the public.”

Minister for Lands and Property, Steve Kamper said:

“Powerhouse Parramatta is shaping up to be one of the great cultural institutions of the world, and the arrival of this historic aircraft shows just how close we are to opening the doors following the completion of building last month.

“Seeing the first major object arrive at Powerhouse Parramatta is a powerful reminder of the opportunities this museum will bring — jobs, tourism, education and a new icon for the region.”

Danielle Keighery, Qantas Group Chief Brand and Corporate Affairs Officer said:

“We’re proud to partner with Powerhouse Parramatta and to bring our aviation history to life. Qantas and Powerhouse share a commitment to preserving and celebrating Australian heritage, and we look forward to Australians connecting with the stories that have defined the Flying Kangaroo.”

David Thiess A330 Captain, Qantas said:

“Seeing the Qantas Avro 504K, the first aircraft to carry the Qantas name, on display is a reminder of how far Australian aviation has come. From the early long-range flights linking remote communities such as Longreach, Winton and Cloncurry, to the lead up to the inaugural A350 Project Sunrise services, Qantas has continued to lead the way in aviation innovation.

“The Qantas Heritage Collection brings more than a century of pioneering spirit to life, and it’s something all of us at Qantas are incredibly proud to share. Partnering with the Powerhouse Museum to celebrate both the innovation and the enduring legacy of Qantas is a fitting way to honour our past while looking toward the future of flight.”

Member for Parramatta, Donna Davis said:

“The people of Parramatta are watching the Powerhouse coming closer and closer to completion. When it opens later this year it will truly change our city. The ambition of this exhibition matches the ambition of the people of Parramatta, and I can’t wait to see it.”

Member for Granville and Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts, Julia Finn said:

“The programming inside the Powerhouse will be wonderful, matched by the beauty of the public space outside and along the riverbanks. There is going to be something for everyone to enjoy across the applied arts and sciences, so many extraordinary objects and ideas to discover.”

Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah said:

“Powerhouse is proud to partner with Qantas, an organisation that has shaped how Australia connects with the world for more than a century.

“The installation of the Avro 504K as the first object at Powerhouse Parramatta is a defining milestone—anchoring the museum in stories of engineering, ambition and innovation that continue to shape our future.’

Background

• The Qantas Heritage collection spans more than a century of aviation history and includes archival documents, photographic negatives and films, artworks and material relating to the founding of the airline in 1920.
• These items will be conserved and digitised by Powerhouse to museum standards, ensuring the legacy of Qantas is preserved for future generations.
• The Task Eternal exhibition will highlight Qantas’ design legacy, from the evolution of the Flying Kangaroo and iconic uniforms, interiors, tableware and advertising—demonstrating how design innovation has shaped one of the world’s most recognisable brands over more than a century.
• Powerhouse Parramatta opens across the Museum visitors will be able to explore more than 1600 collection objects including 122 new acquisitions, as well as 780 objects on loan from over 180 domestic and international lenders.