On 13 June 2006Liverpool City Council awarded Kane Construction the contracts to re-develop Stage 3 of Casula Powerhouse. The new incarnation of the Casula Powerhouse has been designed by award winning architects Tonkin Zulaikha Greer. Casula Powerhouse is now a multi-disciplinary arts centre, located on Tharawal country. The centre boasts:
6 galleries with a year round exhibition program of changing exhibitions produced and presented by Casula Powerhouse
326 seat theatre with full seasons of touring productions from some of Australia's most renowned companies
2 artist studios including the Clayhouse Ceramics Studio
Climate controlled storage facilities for the collection of over 30, 000 items
Green open spaces: Weaving Garden, Alice Klaphake Amphitheatre, and 20 hectares of parklands.
A proud facility of the Liverpool City Council, and funded by Arts Council NSW, the Casula Powerhouse draws on the strengths of its community, to make work that speaks to people of all denominations.
About the Building
Built in 1951 by the NSW Electricity Commission, the Casula Powerhouse, was one of a series of identical buildings erected to supplement electricity production during winter and power shortages. In 1955 the 250 foot stack was erected, replacing four shorter chimneys. Residents had complained that the smoke from the powerhouse dirtied their washing. The Powerhouse was closed in 1976, and bought by Liverpool Council in 1978 for $75 000. The building became derelict over the following decade, and in 1985 the residents of Liverpool decided by plebiscite that the building should become an arts centre. By 1987 Council had appointed two staff members to oversee the first capital works program. Electricity was installed, building reviews carried out and an office space was furnished. In 1993, while Mark Latham was Mayor of Liverpool, Casula Powerhouse, as it had then become known, was allocated funding in council budgets for the very first time. An ambitious development took place, and the centre opened its doors in 1994. During the period between opening and June 2006, the Casula Powerhouse ran a busy program of exhibitions and events. Highlights include Shaghai Star, I Love Pho, Vietnam Voices and Cybercultures. After a 22-month closure, the Casula Powerhouse reopened on 5 April 2008 with significantly improved and new facilities. The centre now houses an international standard exhibition space, and a 326-seat state of the art theatre. The centre also boasts a multi-purpose theatre/performance space, artists' studios and artists' residency spaces 7 exhibition spaces. In addition, climate control has been installed in one gallery and a collection storage space, and a new office space. This capital project has been a partnership between the NSW Government, ArtsNSW, Liverpool City Council and its communities.
