Following an enormously successful run at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum, Harry Potter™: The Exhibition is extending its Australian run by an additional three weeks.  The exhibition will remain open through Easter to Monday, 9 April 2012.

Harry Potter: The Exhibition, which made its debut in Australia at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, has driven record-breaking traffic to the Museum with the best ever recorded summer attendance to date, with more than 325,000 visitors to the Powerhouse over summer.  The Museum has also seen a significant boost in tourist visitation, with almost half the visitors coming from beyond Sydney’s city limits.

During the exhibition’s Sydney run at the Powerhouse, the Museum has broken a number of visitor records.  The exhibition has contributed to the Powerhouse Museum’s biggest December ever with more than 109,000 visitors; busiest day for paid entry with 7,140 visitors on Friday, 6 January 2012; and biggest month with over 153,000 admissions in January 2012.

“We have been absolutely delighted by the incredibly positive response from visitors and are pleased to announce a three-week extension,” said Powerhouse Museum Director, Dr. Dawn Casey. “As a museum for inspiring and engaging young minds, it was so fitting and such a wonderful opportunity for the Powerhouse to stage this unique exhibition, and we hope to inspire future generations of writers, filmmakers and costume designers!”

Harry Potter: The Exhibition showcases hundreds of original film artefacts from the entire Harry Potter film series.  In partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Global Experience Specialists, Inc. (GES) created the 1,400 square-metre exhibition, allowing visitors to experience dramatic displays inspired by the Harry Potter film series and see up close the amazing craftsmanship behind the authentic costumes, props and creatures that appeared throughout the films.

Many of the great Hogwarts™ moments that the young wizards encountered in the films are replicated in the exhibition.  Visitors may be sorted into Hogwarts’ houses by the Sorting Hat™, toss a Quaffle in the Quidditch™ area, pull a Mandrake from its pot, and even take a tour of Hagrid’s hut and sit in his oversized armchair.

In addition to the hundreds of film artefacts on display, two new showcases were added for the Sydney exhibition and feature several items on display for the first time — the Deathly Hallows™ case displaying the Resurrection Stone, the Invisibility Cloak and the Elder Wand; and the Horcrux case containing five of the notorious magical items used to safeguard pieces of Voldemort’s soul.

Exhibition tickets can be purchased online with pre-allocated session times.  Fans are encouraged to book in advance to avoid queues and sold-out sessions.  Ticket prices will vary for peak times (Friday evenings, weekends and school holidays) and off peak times (Monday to Friday, excluding school holidays). Buy tickets online now at www.powerhousemuseum.com or www.ticketek.com.au

On view: Harry Potter: The Exhibition
Dates: 19 November 2011 – 9 April 2012 (extended closing date)
Address: Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street Ultimo, Sydney
Telephone: (02) 9217 0111 or infoline (02) 9217 0444
Website: www.powerhousemuseum.com
Hours: 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (open at 9 a.m. on weekends and during school holidays for Harry Potter: The Exhibition only)
Admission:
Peak sessions: (Fri. 5 p.m.– 7.00 p.m.; weekends Sat. 9 a.m.– 7.00 p.m. & Sun. 9 a.m.– 5 p.m.; and school holidays 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.). Families $95, Adults $32, Children (4 – 15 yrs.) $22, Student card holders, pensioner and concession $32, Groups $32, Schools $22 per person.
Powerhouse members peak sessions: Families $71, Adult $24, Child $16.50
Off-peak sessions: (Mon.– Fri. 9.30 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Families $79.50, Adults $28, Children (4 – 15 yrs) $19 Student card holders pensioner and concession $25, Groups $23.50, Schools $19 per person
Powerhouse members off-peak sessions: Families $60, Adult $21, Child $14.25
Audio guides: Be guided through the exhibition by the films’ creators.  Available in English at $7.50 per guide. Pre-book at ticketek.com.au