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 inventions and innovations

View Objects
From the Sydney International Exhibition of 1879 to the present day, the MAAS collection is rich with examples of Australian creativity and ingenuity that have had a real impact on our lives. This list is a small selection of the best.

The innovations cover all areas of life, including transport, energy, health, manufacturing, communications and leisure. The Museum continues to collect examples of Australian ingenuity in science, technology and design that have helped shape the world.

On display
K798 Victa 'Rotomo' rotary motor mower, Victa's first production model lawn mower, metal, designed and made by Mervyn Victor Richardson, Concord (Sydney), New South Wales, Australia, 1953
Victa lawnmower, first off the production line
1953
2001/76/1 Water removal system , 'Super Sopper', galvanised iron/ electroplated zinc/ polyurethane foam, invented by Gordon Withnall, developed and manufactured by Kuranda Manufacturing, Taree, New South Wales, Australia, 2001
Super Sopper water removal system
B2400 Header-harvester, ground drive, full size, 'Sunshine', made by H.V. McKay Pty Ltd, Sunshine Harvester Works, Sunshine, Victoria, Australia, 1935, used by the Hyland and Stapleton families of Cudal, New South Wales, Australia,
Sunshine header-harvester, c.1935
1935
86/474 Digital synthesiser, made by Fairlight Instruments, Australia, 1985
Digital synthesiser by Fairlight Instruments
90/1050 Beverage dispensing machine, 'Cafe Bar Mini 3', metal / plastic / glass, by Cafe Bar International, Australia, 1965-1970
'Cafe Bar Mini 3' beverage dispensing machine
1965-1970
2005/160/1 Wearable GPS tracking device and accessories, 'SPI-10 Sports Performance Indicator', various materials, designed and made by GPSports Systems Pty Ltd, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia / Vietnam, 2003
Wearable GPS tracking device by GPSports Systems Pty Ltd
H4613 Submachine gun, Owen Machine Carbine, Mark II, centrefire, automatic, 9mm, sectioned, steel / wood, designed by Eveyln Owen, made by John Lysaght (Australia) Ltd, Australia, 1941-1944
Owen Submachine gun
1941-1944
86/1287 Pacemaker, medical apparatus, titanium / rubber, Telectronics Pty Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1973
Pacemaker by Telectronics Pty Ltd
1973
92/282 Toilet cistern, dual flush, DuoSet, plastic, by Caroma Industries Limited, Adelaide, South Australia, 1990
DuoSet dual flush toilet cistern by Caroma
1990
2006/58/1 Miner's cap lamp with base station, 'Integrated Communications Cap Lamp' (ICCL), plastic / metal / cardboard, designed by Tiller + Tiller, made by Mine Site Technologies Pty Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2004
Integrated mining cap lamp and communications system
2004
H5255 Automatic totalisator model, brass / metal / glass / timber / rubber, designed by Sir George Alfred Julius, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1907-1913
Automatic totalisator model designed by Sir George Alfred Julius
1907-1913
On display
87/234 Traffic light pedestrian crossing buttons (2), ATPD, 'Audio -Tactile Pedestrian Detector', metal / plastic, made by K J Aldridge Automatic Systems Pty Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1976-1987
Traffic light pedestrian crossing buttons
c 1984
92/297 Flight recorder, 'Davall Recycling Recorder', sectioned, metal / plastic / electrical components, designed by Dr David Warren, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1960, made by S Davall & Sons Ltd, Greenford, Middlesex, England, 1968-1978
Flight recorder designed by Dr David Warren
1960
2011/63/1 Ultrasound device, 'Signos Personal Ultrasound', plastic / electrical, designed by Design + Industry / Signostics Pty Ltd, 2009-2010, made by Signostics Pty Ltd, South Australia, 2011
Signos portable ultrasound device
2009-2010
K805 Transceiver, with microphone, type 60T25, metal / plastic / glass / possibly bakelite, Traeger Transceivers Ltd, Adelaide, South Australia, c. 1950
'Type 60T25' transceiver used by the Flying Doctor Service
c. 1950
87/544 Baby safety capsule, plastic / nylon / metal / lambswool, Safe N Sound Pty Ltd, Australia, 1986
Safe N Sound baby safety capsule
1986
95/131/1 Hypodermic syringe, disposable, opaque polyethylene / metal, designed by Harry Willis, made by Charles Rothauser, Industrial Products Limited, Australia, 1949
Disposable plastic syringe by Harry Whillis and Charles Rothauser
1949
B2125 Pedal generator, brass / steel / metal, designed by Alfred Traeger, maker unknown, Australia, used by the Flying Doctor Service, Cloncurry area, Queensland, Australia, c. 1930 - 1940
Traeger Pedal generator used by the Flying Doctor Service
c.1930-1940
On display
85/826 Surf lifesaving reel, wooden, used by South Curl Curl Surf Life Saving Club, Curl Curl, New South Wales, Australia, c. 1960
Surf lifesaving reel from South Curl Curl Surf Life Saving Club
c 1960
87/1547 Steering assembly (sectioned), variable ratio, rack and pinion, power assisted, A E Bishop and Associates, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1987
Sectioned variable ratio steering assembly
1987
97/125/2 Knife and scabbard, brochure and point of sale display card, Wiltshire Staysharp series 700 Mk II, steel / plastic / paper, designed by Peter Bayly and Associates, Australia, made by Wiltshire International, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, / Hong Kong, 1972
Wiltshire Staysharp series 700 MkII knife and scabbard
B2309 Architectural model, Sydney Opera House, Jorn Utzon's design for the major hall, wood / plastic, constructed by Finecraft Scale Models Pty Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1964-1966
Sydney Opera House architectural model
1964-1966
86/12 Cochlear implant, speech processor and headset microphone, metal / plastic / electronic components, Nucleus Ltd, Lane Cove, New South Wales, Australia, 1983
Cochlear implant and accessories made by Nucleus Ltd
1983