Members and friends of Mount Burnett Observatory gather for the grand opening. Picture courtesy of Robert Letizi.
By Russell Bennett
AFTER eight years in darkness, Mount Burnett Observatory took its first step back to the stars when it was reopened in front of more than 100 excited onlookers.
Members, friends and guests all gathered at the observatory in Paternoster Road, Cockatoo, for the grand re-opening.
Observatory president Perry Vlahos said people came from all over the hills and from as far away as Canberra for the 21 January event.
The observatory was built in 1972 and was once the pride and joy of Monash University’s Physics Department.
Mount Burnett was a reliable location for Monash because it was able to provide more clear nights per year than Melbourne.
Astrophysics students worked at the observatory towards the completion of their honours and doctoral theses.
Ranges Ward councillor Graeme Legge officially re-opened the facility on Saturday night to mark the first stage of its refurbishment.
It had been left unused since 2004 as most of the Monash staff who originally used it had retired.
Of those remaining, few knew how to use the observatory’s instruments.
Students then started to travel to Siding Springs in western New South Wales to use newer and larger telescopes at the Australian Astronomical Observatory.
The facility was in danger of being dismantled before four members of the Astronomical Society of Victoria, together with a hills resident, formed Mount Burnett Observatory Inc (MBO) as a last ditch effort to save it.
They signed a new lease agreement for the site in early December last year.
“It would have been a great shame to lose such an important astronomical facility,” Mr Vlahos said.
“We couldn’t let it happen.”
MBO secretary Ray Schmidt added: “Our aim is to fully restore the observatory back to its former glory for the use of MBO members, the local community and educational institutions.
“Tonight (21 January) has been a marvellous start.”
Since signing its new lease agreement, MBO has signed more than 50 contributing members, many offering to chip in with restoration work at the observatory.
“It’s far from complete yet,” Mr Vlahos said. “But this event tonight shows we’ve started on our journey to the stars once again.”
To learn more about the observatory, or become an MBO member, visit www.mtburnettobservatory.org or call Ray Schmidt on 0419 516 560.
