Powerhouse Collection Conversations: Steamfest

Collection Conversations is a free program that brings the Powerhouse Collection to life through storytelling led by Powerhouse Volunteers. Each talk invites audiences to discover objects in new and meaningful ways.

This month, explore the power of steam — the technology that drove the Industrial Revolution and transformed how we live, work and travel. From one of the world’s earliest surviving steam engines to Australia’s first railway locomotive and Sydney’s steam trams, this talk traces the evolution of steam from factory floors to city streets.

Along the way, discover how steam-powered machines not only moved people and goods, but also helped build the roads and infrastructure of a growing society — shaping the modern world we know today.