Observatory House

Observatory House. . , Government Astronomers residence, observe (def): to perceive, mark, watch, take notice of, “The stars are the landmarks of our universe”, Three Government Astronomers presided over the Melbourne Observatory in its 82 years of operation. This house was built for them. Spare a thought, on bitterly cold Melbourne evenings, for those star-watchers, whose primary work began in the middle of the night., Robert Ellery Government Astronomer: 1853-1895, Robert Ellery, an English surgeon, was appointed director of a makeshift observatory at Williamstown. With no professional training in astronomy be became Victoria's first Government Astronomer in 1853. Ten years later he took charge of this Observatory., Ellery considered meteorology important to the activities of the Observatory. By the 1890s, he'd enlisted volunteers around Victoria on fantastic joint projects: measurements of rainfall from 514 locations around Victoria, and observations of cloud dynamics to decipher connections between air pressure and rainfall. He was interested in revealing the hidden links that bind the cause and effect of natural phenomena., Newspapers at the time published reports on yesterday's weather: Ellery wanted to forecast tomorrow's. In 1881, this Observatory was among the first in the world to do so., Pietro Baracchi Government Astronomer: 1900-1915, Pietro Baracchi, born in Florence, Italy, was a professionally trained astronomser. His main interest was in large-scale expeditions, observing and recording astronomical events from ideal locations. In 1910, 27 astronomers from Observatories around Australia followed him to Bruny Island, off Tasmania, to observe a solar eclipse. In 1922, he accompanied Joseph Baldwin on an expedition to Goondiwindi in Queensland, to use an impending solar eclipse to test a new theory proposed by a young scientist called Albert Einstein., He received a knighthood for services to science., Joseph Baldwin Government Astronomer: 1920-44, Joseph Baldwin was born into astronomy His grandfather had been an eminent British astronomer. As a student Baldwin received scholarships to observe at the Cape of Good Hope and at major European and American observatories. While in Europe, he accepted an offer to return to Melbourne to work as Assistant Government Astronomer., Baldwin's gift was in astrophysics research, However, the 1930s Great Depression severely restricted the scope of his research activities. As Government Astronomer he lived here with his family until his retirement at the age of 65.