P007665revisedAU-VU:EOASEncyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation
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EnglishAACR2Anglo-American Cataloguing RulesCorporate Bodycreated2025-04-10humanHelen Cohnupdated2026-03-02humanhttps://www.eoas.info/biogs/P007665b.htmcorporateBodyParramatta ObservatoryColony of New South WalesAACR218221848Start PlaceParramatta, New South Wales, AustraliaAstronomy or Space ScienceObservatoryThe Parramatta Observatory was a private observatory built in 1822 by the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane. (It did not become a Colonial agency until after Brisbane returned to the United Kingdom.) An experienced astronomical observer, Brisbane had previously built an observatory at his home in Scotland. He both purchased the necessary instruments for Parramatta and paid the salaries of the two staff, Carl Rümker and James Dunlop. The main reason for building the Observatory was to prepare a catalogue of bright stars in the southern hemisphere, necessary for navigational and surveying purposes. Approximately 40,000 observations were made of over 7,000 stars; the catalogue was published in 1835 with the services of William Richardson of the Greenwich Observatory, London. Brisbane also instituted regular meteorological observations. Detection of comet Encke in June 1822 brought Parramatta international recognition, confirming as it did Newton's theory of gravitation as it applied to comets. This was the first of a number of comets Dunlop and Rümker observed. Dunlop took charge of Parramatta in 1823, Rümker having left after a dispute with Brisbane. The Observatory, together with its library and instruments, was acquired by the New South Wales Government after Brisbane's departure. Rümker was appointed Government Astronomer in 1827, but travelled to the United Kingdom in 1830 to acquire new instruments and did not return. Dunlop was Superintendent of the Observatory from 1831 to 1847. The Observatory closed in 1848.
Rümker, Christian Carl Ludwig (1788 - 1862)
Astronomer 1821 - 1823
Dunlop, James (1793 - 1848)
Superintendent 1831 - 1847
Brisbane, Thomas Makdougall (1773 - 1860)
Established and equipped the Observatory 1822
Sydney Observatory, Colony and State of New South Wales (1858 - )
William Dawes' Observatory, Sydney Cove (1788 - c. 1791)
'Parramatta Observatory', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of TechnologyParramatta ObservatorySwinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative InnovationEncyclopedia of Australian Science and InnovationBook: A catalogue of 7385 stars: chiefly in the southern hemisphere, prepared from observations made in the years 1822, 1823, 1824, 1825 and 1826, at the observatory at Paramatta, New South Wales, founded by Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane, the computations made, and the catalogue constructed by William RichardsonRichardson, WilliamA catalogue of 7385 stars: chiefly in the southern hemisphere, prepared from observations made in the years 1822, 1823, 1824, 1825 and 1826, at the observatory at Paramatta, New South Wales, founded by Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane, the computations made, and the catalogue constructed by William RichardsonLondonHis Majesty’s Stationery Office1835Journal Article: Christian Carl Ludwig Rumker (1788-1862). Australia's first Government AstronomerBergman, George F. J.Christian Carl Ludwig Rumker (1788-1862). Australia's first Government Astronomer1960Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society465247-288Journal Article: The historic observatory at ParramattaRichmond, J. T. C.The historic observatory at Parramatta1962Australian surveyor193189-91Book: Preliminary catalogue of fixed stars intended for a prospectus of a catalogue of the stars of the Southern Hemisphere included within the Tropic of Capricorn now reducing from the observations made in the observatory at Paramatta [sic]Rümker, Christian Carl LudwigPreliminary catalogue of fixed stars intended for a prospectus of a catalogue of the stars of the Southern Hemisphere included within the Tropic of Capricorn now reducing from the observations made in the observatory at Paramatta [sic]Perthes and BesserHamburg1832Journal Article: Astronomical observations made at the Observatory Paramatta [sic] in New South WalesRümker, CharlesAstronomical observations made at the Observatory Paramatta [sic] in New South Wales1829Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London11931-152Journal Article: Sir Thomas Brisbane's Legacy to Colonial Science: Colonial Astronomy at the Parramatta Observatory, 1822-1848Saunders, Shirley D.Sir Thomas Brisbane's Legacy to Colonial Science: Colonial Astronomy at the Parramatta Observatory, 1822-18482004Historical Records of Australian Science152177-209Journal Article: The Instruments from Parramatta ObservatoryLomb, NickThe Instruments from Parramatta Observatory2004Historical Records of Australian Science152211-222Journal Article: Parramatta Observatory: the story of an absurdityGoodin, Vernon W. E.Parramatta Observatory: the story of an absurdity1947Journal and proceedings. Royal Australian Historical Societyxxxiii173-187Journal Article: Some Scientific Aspects of Parramatta ObservatoryBhathal, RagbirSome Scientific Aspects of Parramatta Observatory2012Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales145111-27Journal Article: Observations on the temperature of the Earth at Paramatta, New South WalesBrisbane, T.Observations on the temperature of the Earth at Paramatta, New South Wales1824Edinburgh philosophical journal10219-22Journal Article: James Dunlop's Historical Catalogue of the Southern Nebulae and ClustersCozens, Glen, Walsh, Andrew and Orchiston, WayneJames Dunlop's Historical Catalogue of the Southern Nebulae and Clusters2010Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage13159-73Journal Article: Approximate places of double stars, in the southern hemisphere, observed at Paramatta [sic] in New South WalesDunlop, J.Approximate places of double stars, in the southern hemisphere, observed at Paramatta [sic] in New South Wales1829Memoirs of the Astronomical Society of London3257-75Journal Article: A catalogue of nebulae and clusters of stars in the southern hemisphereDunlop, J.A catalogue of nebulae and clusters of stars in the southern hemisphere1828Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society118113-51Book Section: Rümker, Christian Carl Ludwig (1788-1862), astronomerBergman, George F. J.Rümker, Christian Carl Ludwig (1788-1862), astronomerMelbourneMelbourne University Press1967Australian dictionary of biography, volume 2: 1788 - 1850 I-ZDouglas Pike403-404