The poll, which surveyed 1,100 voters in August and September, asked respondents whether they were "likely" or "very likely" to attend the museum once it opens. Forty‑eight per cent answered yes, 42 per cent said they were unlikely to go, and another 10 per cent were unsure, indicating more than half of the sample are either doubtful or opposed to visiting.
The Powerhouse Museum, slated to open its doors on 7 November, has already seen the Riverside construction fence removed, signalling that the building is physically ready for visitors even as public opinion remains divided.
The timing of the poll coincides with a leadership shake‑up at the museum: chief executive Lisa Havilah stepped down two weeks ago while governance and procurement investigations are underway, adding another layer of uncertainty to the project’s rollout.
Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue chief executive Adam Leto downplayed the poll’s mixed results, likening the museum’s eventual impact to that of the Western Sydney International Airport. He argued that “people won’t really appreciate the impact and the offering until it’s up and running,” and predicted a “mass arrival” once the doors open.
Organisers have announced a 23‑day opening festival beginning on 7 November, featuring large‑scale installations, workshops, dance performances, panel discussions and a 124‑year‑old steam train ride to the museum. A donor preview and media tour are scheduled for 6 November, and entry will be free but requires timed‑slot bookings to manage crowd capacity.
The state government says 65 per cent of the launch programme will be free, with notable events including a conversation with former NASA astronaut Charles F. Bolden Jr., a talk by science‑fiction author Ted Chiang, and performances by Pasifika artists and dancers from the Badu Islands.