Heritage Building Re-opens

A significant milestone was reached today by one of the nation’s leading astronomical research centres with the reopening at Mt Stromlo of the heritage Commonwealth Solar Observatory building, which was extensively damaged in the Canberra bushfires of January, 2003.

The Commonwealth Solar Observatory (CSO) building has been returned to its former glory and was officially opened by the Federal Minister for Finance, the Hon. Senator Nick Minchin.

“This building is where the tradition of success in astronomy at ANU began. It’s the local, national and international symbol of Mt Stromlo – the site of first class research, student training and astronomical instrument construction,” ANU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Chubb, said.

“Today, we again celebrate it as a symbol: one that links a proud history of respected scholarly inquiry into the workings of our Universe with the challenges after a natural disaster faced and overcome, and a reinvigorated future for research, teaching and innovation.”    

Professor John Norris, of the Mt Stromlo based Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, accompanied Senator Minchin and Professor Chubb on a tour of the new building and said that the CSO opening was another great boost for staff, students and the University.

“This building will once more become the administrative and learning hub of the RSAA, with a high tech library, as well an inspiring meeting space for our staff and students. It heralds a great future,” Professor Norris said.

“But the little touches - such as the column of the East Solar telescope anchoring the library space, and the dark timber in the floor indicating where the old walls were - will always maintain our link with its history.”     

The restored CSO building will house the RSAA library - which will concentrate on providing high quality access to digital material, administration staff, student and academic offices and the director’s office. A modern staff and student common room, which has spectacular views overlooking the Brindabella mountain range to the North-West, has been added to the back of the building. 

“This milestone will add to our ongoing focus of leading international research, through such projects as the SkyMapper telescope, our role as a founding institution of the Giant Magellan Telescope consortium, and partner in the Mileura Wide-field Array,” Professor Norris said.

“Our research efforts will continue to inform RSAA’s respected doctoral and honours programs, as well as our capability to produce world class telescopic instruments at the Advanced Instrumentation Technology Centre, which opened at Mt Stromlo late last year.” 

More information: Amanda Morgan, ANU Media Office, 02 6125 5575 / 0416 249 245