The Powerhouse acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the ancestral homelands upon which our museums are situated. We respect their Elders, past, present and future and recognise their continuous connection to Country.

Australian Inventor Lawrence Hargrave

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Lawrence Hargrave was an Australian scientist who after failing to matriculate and follow his father into Law, worked as an apprentice with the Australasian Steam Navigation Company. Here he gained invaluable skills in woodworking, metalworking and design. He then participated in a number of prospecting and exploratory voyages before settling down with his wife. From this time he worked as an extra astronomical observer at the Sydney Observatory where he made a number of important observations …

B1559 Box kite model, reproduction, based on 1893 design by Lawrence Hargrave, aluminium / silk / wire, commissioned by QANTAS Airways, Australia, pre 1964
Model box kite
pre 1964
B113 Model flying machine, flapping wing 'Experiment L', paper / wood / rubber, made by Lawrence Hargrave, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales, Australia, 1887
Flying machine model 'Experiment L' by Lawrence Hargrave
1887
B1420 Model gun powder turbine engine, metal / wood / cardboard, Lawrence Hargrave, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales, Australia, 1891
Model gun powder turbine engine by Lawrence Hargrave
1891
B1426 Tin plate from model kite 'Water Dragon', made by Lawrence Hargrave, Stanwell Park, New South Wales, Australia, 1899
Tin plate from 'Water Dragon'
1899
B109 Model flying machine, flapping wing 'Experiment A', paper / wood / leather / plastic / metal / string, made by Lawrence Hargrave, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales, Australia, 1885
Model flying machine 'Experiment A' by Lawrence Hargrave
1885
B114 Model flying machine, 48 band propeller type, paper / wood / rubber, made by Lawrence Hargrave, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales, Australia, 1889
Model flying machine by Lawrence Hargrave
1889
On display
B1421 Turbine engine model, steam reaction, wood / metal, made by Lawrence Hargrave, Stanwell Park, New South Wales, Australia, 1893
Turbine model made by Lawrence Hargrave
1893
On display
B1427 Experimental ship model, wood / metal, made by Lawrence Hargrave, Australia, 1883
Experimental ship model
1883
B2245 Model aero engine, three cylinder rotary replica, metal / wood / paper, designed by Lawrence Hargrave 1889, made by the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1976
Model three cylinder rotary aero engine
1976
B115 Model flying machine, compressed air 'No 10', paper / wood / metal / string, made by Lawrence Hargrave, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales, Australia, 1889
Model flying machine 'No 10' by Lawrence Hargrave
1889
Image unavailable
Model of a single cylinder aircraft engine
1888
B1428 Engine, on frame with propeller and boiler, metal / wood / asbestos, made by Lawrence Hargrave, Woollahra Point, New South Wales, Australia, 1902
Experimental engine by Lawrence Hargrave
1902
B110 Model flying machine, flapping wing 'Experiment B', paper / wood / rubber / metal, made by Lawrence Hargrave, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales, Australia, 1886
Flying machine model 'Experiment B' by Lawrence Hargrave
1886
B116 Model flying machine, compressed air 'No 12', paper / wood / metal / string, made by Lawrence Hargrave, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales, Australia, 1890
Model flying machine 'No 12' by Lawrence Hargrave
1889
B1423 Experimental models (3), snake movement, wood / metal, made by Lawrence Hargrave, New South Wales, Australia, 1882
Snake movement models
1882
B1429 Four cylinder petrol engine, frame and propeller, No 27, metal / wood / wire / string, made by Lawrence Hargrave, Woollahra Point, New South Wales, Australia, 1900
Engine and test rig for flying machine
1900
B111 Model flying machine, flapping wing 'Experiment C', paper / wood / metal / plastic / string, made by Lawrence Hargrave, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales, Australia, 1887
Flying machine model 'Experiment C' by Lawrence Hargrave
1887
B117 Model flying machine, compressed air 'No 13', paper / wood / metal, made by Lawrence Hargrave, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales, Australia, 1891
Model flying machine 'No 13' by Lawrence Hargrave
B1424 Model of bird wing movement, wood / metal / paper, Lawrence Hargrave, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales, Australia, 1888
Model of bird wing movement by Lawrence Hargrave
1888
B1430 Kite winder, wood / metal, made by Lawrence Hargrave, Stanwell Park, New South Wales, Australia, [1893]
Kite winder by Lawrence Hargrave
1893
B112 Model flying machine, flapping wing 'Experiment H, J, K', paper / wood / rubber / plastic / string, made by Lawrence Hargrave, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales, Australia, 1887
Flying machine model 'Experiment H,J,K' by Lawrence Hargrave
1887
B537 Aero engine with propeller, three cylinder rotary, designed by Lawrence Hargrave 1889, made by Geoffrey Hargrave, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1911
Engine made by Geoffrey Hargrave, 1911
1889
On display
B1425 Experimental model, undulating movement, wood / metal, made by Lawrence Hargrave, Australia, 1883
Undulating movement model
1883
On display
B1431 Solar heater model, wood / metal / felt, made by Lawrence Hargrave, Woollahra Point, New South Wales, Australia, 1907-1912
Solar heater by Lawrence Hargrave
1907-1912