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.

Joseph Henry Maiden

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Botanist and public servant Joseph Henry Maiden (1182 - 1896) was the curator of the precursor to the Powerhouse - The Technological, Industrial and Sanitary Museum from 1882 to 1896.

As Curator, Maiden witnessed the museum’s destruction in the burning of the Garden Palace in 1882, oversaw the relocation of the museum to the Domain in 1883, and its eventual relocation to Harris Street Ultimo where it was rebranded as The Technological Museum.

With a passion for Australian flora, Maiden …

85/1285-1316 Glass plate negative, full plate, 'Linnean Society Excursion - Nepean River, N.S.W.', Henry King, Sydney, Australia, 29 September 1888
'Linnean Society Excursion - Nepean River, N.S.W.' by Henry King
1888
86/1341 Timber samples (95), wood / leather, made by The Technological Museum, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1920-1940
Collection of Australian timber samples in the form of books
1920-1940
On display
D10201 Botanical model (flower of Christmas Bush), mixed media, modelled by Arthur Edward Rice, coloured by Charles Toms, Sydney Technical College, Sydney, Australia, c. 1900
Botanical model of a Christmas bush
1900
P1142 Botanical drawing, 'Ficus rubiginosa (Port Jackson Fig)', watercolour, paper / canvas made by Agard Hagman, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1887
Botanical illustration of 'Ficus rubiginosa (Port Jackson Fig)' by Agard Hagman
1887
MRS/7-1 Powerhouse Museum Record Series (Item), Letterbook, volume 1, 12 April 1883 - 4 April 1887
Powerhouse Museum letterbook 12 April 1883 - 4 April 1887
1883-1887
D4445 Timber specimen, Red Box (Eucalyptus polyanthema), Grenfell, New South Wales, before 1895
Red Box (Eucalyptus polyanthema) timber specimen
D10202 Botanical model, fruit of Christmas Bush, mixed media, modelled by Arthur Edward Rice, coloured by Charles Toms, Sydney Technical College, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, c. 1900
Christmas Bush model
1900
P1143 Botanical drawing, 'Castanospermum Australe (Moreton Bay Chesnut)', watercolour, paper / canvas, made by Agard Hagman, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1887
Botanical illustration of 'Castanospermum Australe (Moreton Bay Chesnut)' by Agard Hagman
1887
1148 Insect model, queen bee, papier mache / metal, made by Dr Auzoux, Paris, France, 1883
Model of a queen bee
1883
P1343 Botanical drawing, 'Eucalyptus stuartiana (Apple Scented Gum)', watercolour, paper / canvas, made by Agard Hagman, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1888
Botanical illustration of 'Eucalyptus stuartiana (Apple Scented Gum)' by Agard Hagman
1888
D10203 Botanical model, flower of Dendrobium speciosum (Rock Lily), paint / papier-mâché, made by Arthur Edward Rice and Charles Toms, Sydney Technical College, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1895-1905
Botanical model of Rock Lily
1895-1905
P1144 Botanical drawing, 'Eugenia smithii (Lilly-Pilly)', watercolour, paper / canvas made by Agard Hagman, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1887
Botanical illustration of 'Eugenia smithii (Lilly-Pilly)' by Agard Hagman
1887
On display
1150 Insect model, worker bee bearing wax, papier-mâché / metal / hair, made by Dr Auzoux, Paris, France, 1883
Model of a worker bee
1883
P1349 Botanical drawing, 'Eucalyptus saligna (Blue Gum)', watercolour, paper / canvas, made by Agard Hagman, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1888
Botanical illustration of 'Eucalyptus saligna (Blue Gum)' by Agard Hagman
1888
P1082 Botanical drawing, 'Podocarpus elata (Pencil Cedar)', watercolour, paper / canvas painted by Agard Hagman, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1887
Botanical illustration of 'Podocarpus elata (Pencil Cedar) by Agard Hagman
1887
P1146 Botanical drawing, 'Casuarina suberosa (She-Oak)', watercolour, paper / canvas painted by Agard Hagman, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1887
Botanical illustration of 'Casuarina suberosa' (She-Oak) by Agard Hagman
1887
On display
1154 Model, portion of honeycomb, papier-mâché / metal, Maison Auzoux, Paris, France, 1883
Model of honeycomb made by Maision Auzoux
1883
D10206 Botanical model, Australian native, Lambertia formosa (Honey Flower), mixed media, modelled by Arthur Edward Rice, coloured by Charles Toms, Sydney Technical College, Sydney, Australia, c. 1900
Botanical model of Lambertia formosa (Honey flower)
1900
P1127 Botanical drawing, 'Sambucus Xanthocarpa (Native Elder)', watercolour, paper / canvas, painted by Agard Hagman, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1887
Botanical illustration of 'Sambucus Xanthocarpa (Native Elder)' by Agard Hagman
1887
P1160 Botanical drawing, 'Tarrietia argyrodendron (Stave-Wood)', watercolour, paper / canvas made by Agard Hagman, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1887
Botanical illustration of 'Tarrietia argyrodendron (Stave-Wood)' by Agard Hagman
1887
86/889D Book, 'Native Flora of New South Wales', paper / cardboard, photographed by J H Maiden, printed and published by William Applegate Gullick, Government Printer, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,1911
'Native Flora of NSW' book by J H Maiden
1911
On display
D10200 Botanical model, Eriostemon salicifolius (Willow-leaved Erisostemon), mixed media, modelled by Arthur Edward Rice, coloured by Charles Toms, Sydney Technical College, Sydney, Australia, c. 1900
Botanical model of a fossil fern
1900
P1128 Botanical drawing, 'Tristania laurina (Swamp Mahogany)', watercolour, paper / canvas painted by Agard Hagman, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1887
Botanical illustration of 'Tristania laurina (Swamp Mahogany) by Agard Hagman
1887
P1163 Botanical drawing, 'Acacia dealbata (Silver Wattle)', watercolour, paper / canvas painted by Agard Hagman, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1887
Botanical illustration of 'Acacia dealbata (Silver Wattle)' by Agard Hagman
1887