The Powerhouse Museum saw a 12 per cent leap in visitors this year, contradicting Deputy Premier Troy Grant's claim the museum must be moved west because fewer Sydneysiders are using it.

Attendance figures for the Powerhouse outstripped the Australian Museum, which saw visitor numbers fall 4.7 per cent.

The fight to keep the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo will go to State Parliament next year. Credit:Fiona Morris

As a culture war raged over the Baird government's plan to sell the Powerhouse Museum site to property developers and shift its collection to Parramatta, an extra 46,595 people visited the Powerhouse.

One- quarter of the 428,177 visitors were children.