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Melbourne Observatory Collection
Image: Album - Photographs
Source: Museum Victoria
The Melbourne Observatory Collection comprises over 400 objects and images relating to the operation of Melbourne Observatory from 1863 to 1944. It includes large telescopes, other astronomical instruments, clocks, and scientific instruments relating to the Observatory's work in meteorology, geomagnetism, seismology, geodetic surveying and weights and measures administration. There is also a selection of photos relating to the Observatory's work, including photos of buildings, instruments and observational photos.
The majority of the collection was transferred to the Industrial & Technological Museum (now part of Museum Victoria) following the Observatory's closure in 1944. The Museum oversaw the remaining astronomical instruments in the former Observatory site for many years during the 1950s and 1960s, which were retained for public viewing and use by the Astronomical Society of Victoria. Several smaller groups of material were transferred to the Museum during this period. The Weights & Measures Branch, which continued this function of the Observatory, progressively transferred items as they ceased to be of operational value.
Archival material relating to the Observatory is primarily held by the Public Record Office Victoria; some material that was sent to Mount Stromlo Observatory in 1944-45 is now held in the Australian Archives, Canberra. Several small groups of archives have been acquired by the Museum.
Items per page: 10 50 (showing 1 - 50) 494 items
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Transit Telescope - 8-inch, Troughton & Simms, London, 1883
Transit telescope with 8 inch aperture; 9 foot focal length, made by Troughton & Simms, London in 1883 and installed at Melbourne Observatory in July 1884. The telescope was ordered by ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 1 -
Digital Image - Portrait of Frederick Kemp, circa 1880
Portrait of Frederick Kemp, circa 1880. Kemp was assistant astronomer at Melbourne Observatory from 1873 to 1914.
Images: 1 -
Digital Image - Portrait of Frederick Kemp, circa 1895
Portrait of Frederick Kemp, circa 1895. Kemp was assistant astronomer at Melbourne Observatory from 1873 to 1914.
Images: 1 -
Digital Image - Poem on the Departure of Joseph Burley, Melbourne Observatory, 1890
Poem by W. J. Swan on the departure of Joseph Burley, Melbourne Observatory, 10 or 18 September 1890. Joseph Burley was a messenger and mechanical attendant at Melbourne Observatory fr ...
Images: 1 -
Digital Image - Family Portrait of Kemp Family, Melbourne, circa 1886
Family portrait of Frederick Kemp, Emma Frances Kemp and children, Melbourne, circa 1886 Frederick Kemp standing at rear, Emma Frances Kemp (nee Lanham) on the left, Walter at right, B ...
Images: 2 -
Photograph - South Collimating Mark, Melbourne Observatory, South Yarra, Victoria, circa 1 ...
Small building housing the south collimating mark at Melbourne Observatory. The collimating mark was on the meridian line of the East Transit Telescope, and used to check the alignment ...
Images: 2 -
Photograph - National Herbarium of Victoria, The Domain, South Yarra, Victoria, Jan 1935
Construction of the new building for the National Herbarium of Victoria, in the grounds of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. Photograph taken by Rolf Baldwin, son of the third Gove ...
Images: 2 -
Technical Paper - Vincent Arnould, Havoplane-Avicyclateur, 1909
A short paper in French by Vincent Arnould of Brussells, Belgium. Arnould describes his design for a man-powered flapping wing flying machine he calls the 'Havoplane-Avicyclateur' based ...
Images: 5 -
No Image Available
Technical Paper - Lawrence Hargrave, Flying Machine Memoranda, 1889
Short paper with diagrams read to the Royal Society of New South Wales on 7 August 1889 by Lawrence Hargrave. In this paper Hargrave discusses his various experiments with an off-centr ...
Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Technical Paper - Lawrence Hargrave, Flying Machine Motors & Cellular Kites, 1893
Short paper with four diagrams read to the Royal Society of New South Wales on 3 Dec 1893 by Lawrence Hargrave. In this paper Hargrave discusses his various experiments with a model pr ...
Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Technical Paper - Lawrence Hargrave, On A Compressed-Air Flying Machine, 1890
Short paper with diagrams read to the Royal Society of New South Wales on 4 June 1890 by Lawrence Hargrave. In this paper Hargrave discusses his various experiments with what he called ...
Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Technical Paper - Lawrence Hargrave, On the 74oz Compressed-Air Flying Machine, 1890
Short paper with diagrams read to the Royal Society of New South Wales on 3 Dec 1890 by Lawrence Hargrave. In this paper Hargrave discusses his various experiments with what he called ...
Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Standard Length - Yard, A.D. Potter, London, 1864
Standard brass yard, made by A.D. Potter, London, expressly for the Melbourne Observatory, 1864. Used at Melbourne Observatory as the secondary standard yard for Victoria.
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Astrograph Screen - Melbourne Observatory, 1890s
Circular metal screen, 35 cm diameter, used with astrograph at Melbourne Observatory. In original shipping box sent from Paris Observatory.
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 0 -
Great Melbourne Telescope - Grubb, 1868
Great Melbourne Telescope, built by Thomas Grubb of Dublin in 1868 and erected at Melbourne Observatory in 1869. Reflector telescope, Cassegrain design, with a 48 inch speculum (metal ...
From: Dublin, Ireland Images: 1 -
No Image Available
Photograph - Construction of Oddie Dome at Mount Stromlo Observatory, 1911
Workers completing the construction of the Oddie telescope dome at Mount Stromlo, 1911. A 9 inch refracting telescope by Grubb, Dublin, was donated in 1910 by James Oddie of Ballarat, ...
From: Mt Stromlo, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Altitude & Azimuth Instrument - Troughton & Simms, 12 Inch
Altitude and azimuth instrument, 12 inch circle, made by Troughton & Simms, London. This instrument was used for the Geodetic Survey of Victoria, 1858-71, which established the primary ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Glass Negative - Construction of Astronomer's Residence, Melbourne Observatory, 1889
Construction of Astronomer's Residence, Melbourne Observatory, 1889.
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 0 -
Star Catalogue - Epoch 1870, Melbourne Observatory, 1874
First Melbourne General Catalogue of Stars, for the Epoch 1870, Melbourne Observatory, 1874. The published catalogue of 1227 stars is based on observations primarily undertaken by Edwa ...
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 2 -
Engraving - Main Building, Melbourne Observatory, South Yarra, Victoria, 1880s
Coloured engraving of Main Building of Melbourne Observatory. Depicts the observatory after 1883 (when the East Transit Room was built) and prior to 1892 (when the Computing Room was bu ...
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 1 -
Glass Negative - Pietro Baracchi at Melbourne Observatory, South Yarra, Victoria, circa 19 ...
Pietro Baracchi, Government Astronomer 1895-1915, standing at the entrance of the main observatory building, Melbourne Observatory
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 1 -
Glass Negative - Solar Eclipse Expedition, Goondiwindi, Queensland, Sep 1922
In 1922, Victorian Government Astronomer Joseph Baldwin led a Melbourne Observatory solar eclipse expedition to Goondiwindi, Queensland, joining with another group from Sydney Observato ...
From: Goondiwindi, Australia Images: 1 -
No Image Available
Sextant - Potter, London, circa 1853
Sextant by J. D. Potter, London, in wooden case. This is probably the sextant that was in use at Williamstown Observatory from February 1854. The Victorian Government had ordered a nu ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Measuring Rods - 10 Foot, Geodetic Survey of Victoria, 1860
Three iron measuring rods used in the Geodetic Survey of Victoria in the 1860s. The measuring rods were used to measure accurately a base line of approximately 5 miles near Werribee. Di ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 0 -
Glass Negative - Construction of Astronomer's Residence, Melbourne Observatory, South Yarr ...
Construction of Astronomer's Residence at Melbourne Observatory, 1889.
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 1 -
Glass Negative - Cloud Camera, Melbourne Observatory, South Yarra, Victoria, circa 1896
Cloud Camera erected in grounds of Melbourne Observatory, circa 1896. One of a pair of cloud cameras located at Melbourne Observatory and Parliament House to measure the height and velo ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 1 -
Glass Negative - Observing Site, Solar Eclipse Expedition, Goondiwindi, Queensland, Sep 19 ...
View of the observing site, Solar Eclipse Expedition, Goondiwindi, Queensland, Sep 1922, prior to erection of temporary huts. In 1922, Victorian Government Astronomer Joseph Baldwin le ...
From: Goondiwindi, Australia Images: 1 -
Negative - Portrait of Robert Ellery, Government Astronomer, circa 1880s
Robert Lewis John Ellery, Victorian Government Astronomer
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 1 -
No Image Available
Altitude & Azimuth Instrument - Troughton & Simms, 12 Inch, circa 1836
Altitude & azimuth instrument, 12 inch circle, made by Troughton & Simms, London, circa 1836 This instrument was used for the Geodetic Survey of Victoria, 1858-71, which established th ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Sextant - Hoppe, London, circa 1810
Sextant in wooden case, made by Hoppe London, circa 1810. Probably one of the two 'indifferent sextants' used by astronomer Robert Ellery when he established Williamstown Observatiry ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Photograph - Construction of Oddie Dome at Mount Stromlo Observatory, 1911
Workers completing the construction of the Oddie telescope dome at Mount Stromlo, 1911. A 9 inch refracting telescope by Grubb, Dublin, was donated in 1910 by James Oddie of Ballarat, ...
From: Mt Stromlo, Australia Images: 0 -
Negative - Pietro Baracchi, Government Astronomer
Pietro Baracchi, Government Astronomer 1895-1915,
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 1 -
Negative - Erection of Great Melbourne Telescope, 1869
Erection of the Great Melbourne Telescope at Melbourne Observatory, 1869.
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 2 -
Star Catalogue - Epoch 1880, Melbourne Observatory, 1889
Second Melbourne General Catalogue of Stars, for the Epoch 1880, Melbourne Observatory, 1889. The published catalogue of 1211 stars is based on observations primarily undertaken by Edw ...
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 2 -
No Image Available
Glass Positive - Stars, Melbourne Observatory, 1891
Experimental photograph of star cluster taken by Robert Ellery with the Astrograph telescope at Melbourne Observatory on 3 February 1891, soon after its installation.
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Free Pendulum Clock - William Shortt & Synchronome Co, London, No. 5, 1925
Impulse clock designed and built by William Hamilton Shortt, in association with the Synchronome Co, London, 1925 . About 100 Shortt impulse clocks were made and used in observatories ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 0 -
Negative - Portrait of Pietro Baracchi, Government Astronomer
Pietro Baracchi, Government Astronomer 1895-1915.
Images: 1 -
Negative - Great Melbourne Telescope, Diagram
Diagram of the Great Melbourne Telescope, erected at the Melbourne Observatory, 1868
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 1 -
Negative - Equatorial Telescope, 8 Inch, Melbourne Observatory, circa 1960
Eight inch equatorial telescope at Melbourne Observatory. Telescope made by Troughton & Simms, London, and installed at the observatory in 1874. Photograph taken circa 1960, when the te ...
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 1 -
No Image Available
Photograph - Stars, taken at Mount Stromlo Observatory, circa 1912
Photograph of stars, probably taken at Mount Stromlo Observatory, 1912. A 9 inch refracting telescope by Grubb, Dublin, was donated in 1910 by James Oddie of Ballarat, to the Commonwea ...
From: Mt Stromlo, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Depth Tool
Depth tool used to mesh clock wheels. Used at Melbourne Observatory workshop.
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Photograph - Construction of Oddie Dome at Mount Stromlo Observatory, 1911
Workers completing the construction of the Oddie telescope dome at Mount Stromlo, 1911. A 9 inch refracting telescope by Grubb, Dublin, was donated in 1910 by James Oddie of Ballarat, ...
From: Mt Stromlo, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Glass Negative - Construction of Oddie Dome at Mount Stromlo Observatory, 1911
Workers completing the construction of the Oddie telescope dome at Mount Stromlo, 1911. A 9 inch refracting telescope by Grubb, Dublin, was donated in 1910 by James Oddie of Ballarat, ...
From: Mt Stromlo, Australia Images: 0 -
Star Catalogue - Epoch 1890, Melbourne Observatory, 1917
Third Melbourne General Catalogue of Stars, for the Epoch 1880, Melbourne Observatory, 1917. The published catalogue of 3068 stars is based on observations primarily undertaken by Edwa ...
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 2 -
Journal - Astronomische Nachrichten, 25 June 1873
Issue No 1946 of the astronomical journal Astronomische Nachrichten, published in Kiel, Germany, 25 June 1873. The 8 page issue contains an article by E.J. White, First Assistant Astr ...
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 2 -
Glass Negative - Cloud Camera, Melbourne Observatory, South Yarra, Victoria, circa 1896
Cloud Camera erected in grounds of Melbourne Observatory, circa 1896. One of a pair of cloud cameras located at Melbourne Observatory and Parliament House to measure the height and velo ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 1 -
Glass Negative - Observing Site, Solar Eclipse Expedition, Goondiwindi, Queensland, Sep 19 ...
View of the observing site, Solar Eclipse Expedition, Goondiwindi, Queensland, Sep 1922, prior to erection of temporary huts. In 1922, Victorian Government Astronomer Joseph Baldwin le ...
From: Goondiwindi, Australia Images: 1
