The CSIRAC Archive

The CSIRAC Archive contains material documenting the computer from its conception in the late 1940s to its decommissioning in 1964. Consisting of nine folders, 18 Archive boxes and one large box of paper tapes, it contains:

• 458 paper tape reels comprising CSIRAC's complete software library
• CDs containing programs read from paper tapes
• program documentation
• programming manuals produced at various stages of CSIRAC's life
• documents relating to courses, annual reports, plans for the Laboratory, staff information, published papers and reports, and correspondence
• original photographs and footage
• oral histories
• engineering drawings, most of which have also been scanned
• miscellaneous objects, including a metal commemorative plaque.

Archive Examples

click images to enlarge

Archive Title	PDF File
Principles and Operation of Electronic Digital Computer (PDF 203k)

Behind the Archive

While most material was provided by the University of Melbourne’s Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, important items were also provided by the University of Melbourne’s Physics Department, courtesy of Dr Ed Muirhead, A number of items were also donated by individuals.

The University of Melbourne CSIRAC History Team, and former University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory staff and users, contributed significantly to the material’s preservation and assemblage. Their work has extended over many years. These individuals include but are not limited to Ron Bowles, Frank Hirst, Judith Hughes, Doug McCann, Jurij Semkiw, John Spencer and Peter Thorne.

The Archive was documented using the HDMS (Heritage Document Management System) developed by the Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre. This work was done by The University of Melbourne CSIRAC History Team with guidance from Gavin McCarthy and Helen Morgan of Austhec.