Corporate Body

Williamstown Observatory (1853 - 1863)

Colony of Victoria

From
July 1853
Williamstown, Victoria, Australia
To
November 1863
Functions
Astronomy or Space Science and Observatory

Summary

The Williamstown Observatory was established in 1853 on a site southwest, but close to the centre, of Melbourne. Its purpose was to undertake astronomical observations to provide accurate time signals so that ships's crews might correct their chronometers. Robert Ellery was Superintendent of the Observatory and, from 1858, Director of the colony's Geodetic Survey. For various reasons the Observatory's instruments were not always fit for purpose particularly in its early years. In addition the encroaching city created conditions that militated against the optimal operation of the instruments. In 1863 the Observatory merged with the Flagstaff Observatory to form the Melbourne Observatory at a new site in South Yarra, just to the south of the city. Ellery was Director of the new Observatory and Victorian Government Astronomer until 1895.

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Timeline

 1853 - 1863 Williamstown Observatory
       1863 - 1944 Melbourne Observatory

Related People

Published resources

Resource Sections

Theses

  • Cohn, Helen M., 'Some Foundations of Science in Victoria in the Decade After Separation', MA thesis, University of Melbourne, 1990. Details

See also

  • Ross, C. Stuart, 'Our Observatory: the story of its establishment', Victorian historical magazine, 6 (4) (1918), 134-44. Details

Helen Cohn

Created: 3 March 2020, Last modified: 15 February 2024

EOAS ID: biogs/P006821b.htm

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