Melbourne Observatory (South Yarra)
Melbourne Observatory is an observatory located on a hill adjacent to the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. The observatory commenced operations in 1862 and was decommissioned from official Government work in 1945. The observatory has since continued as an astronomical observatory and remains open to the public.
The Melbourne Observatory was expanded until 1902 to eventually comprise 22 rooms. Far from only stargazing, the Observatory staff provided critical scientific data essential for the smooth running of industries ranging from shipping to farming and city business to politics. The Observatory was the home for weather forecasting, time setting, setting weights and measures standards and for the surveying of Victoria.
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria manages the site of the Melbourne Observatory and works closely with the Astronomical Society of Victoria to maintain this historical site and provide regular public tours.
Tours
Much of the historic equipment used when the Observatory was fully operational is preserved and still used for observing the southern night sky. Experienced guides from the Astronomical Society of Victoria host regular tours in the Melbourne Observatory buildings.
Please note that the Observatory is only open for tours and not for general visits. Tours are conducted at night and are not suitable for wheelchairs due to narrow entrances and staircases.
Observatory tours will not be cancelled due to overcast or inclement weather conditions. Your guide will conduct an informative tour although the use of telescopes for observation in these conditions will not occur.
Great Melbourne Telescope
The Great Melbourne Telescope was constructed in 1868 in Ireland by John Hershcell for the Melbourne Observatory. For 20 years, the Great Melbourne Telescope was the largest in the world. The telescope was acquired by Woolley for Mount Stromlo in Canberra and was transferred there in 1955.
During the middle of the 19th century the Government of Victoria voted the sum of 5,000 pounds for the construction of a large equatorial telescope to be erected at the Melbourne Observatory.
1n 1868 the completed telescope arrived in Australia, reaching Melbourne in November of that year; it was ready for work by the end of June 1869, and the observations commenced in August of the same year.
The Great Melbourne Telescope was for many years after 1869 employed in the revision of nebulae and clusters in the hope of recording any changes which may have occurred since the time of Sir John Herschel's observations of the same material at the Cape of Good Hope in the years 1834-38.
Location
Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra 3141 Map
✆ (03) 9252 2300
Web Links
→ Friends of Melbourne Observatory on Facebook
→ asv.org.au
