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Port
Macquarie Observatory By Jim Daniel The Observatory was built in 1961/62. I always like to give credit to the late Albert York
for it was through him that the Port Macquarie Observatory came into
being. I worked with Albert York for many years at the
Observatory not only assisting him with lectures on the Solar System
& Universe but on the upkeep of the Observatory, repairs and the
fitting of equipment. He
loved the Observatory so much that he lived for it. Albert York was a master builder and architect, who
did contract building in various places in Australia. In the course of
contract work he won a contract to build an astronomical dome to house a
telescope at the Sydney Observatory. Through this project he became interested in
astronomy and put a great deal of study into the sciences of astronomy
in fact, he eventually became a lecturer at the Sydney Observatory and
lectured there for many years on the various sciences of astronomy.
He also became Hon. Secretary and Treasurer of a group of
non-professional astronomers at the Sydney Observatory.
During that time Dr. Harley Wood was Government Astronomer for
NSW and in charge of the Sydney Observatory. In Port Macquarie Albert York (where he later
retired) was interested in building
“The Town Beach Motel” in Stewart Street, Port Macquarie. He notified Hastings Council that he intended
building an Observatory on top of the second floor of the building at
the corner of Joffre St. the back lane to the premises.
The application was apposed by an adjoining owner in that the
Observatory, about 12 feet in diameter, would cast a shadow on his
building. An
enquiry group from Council into the matter and among them was some
Rotarians. It was from there that Albert York was invited to an
after dinner speech to the local Rotarians on astronomy. From this
speech, Dr. McLaren suggested that he inspect a 5 in. f15 refracting
telescope that was laying in disuse at the Hastings District Public
Hospital. Upon inspection of the telescope A. York advised
that it was not suitable for setting up in the street for viewing out to
sea because of its cumbersome size, and suggested that it should be
contained in an Observatory. It was resolved that Albert York draw up plans and
specifications for an Observatory and this he did. The plans he drew up
was for a 12ft diameter dome with an annexure of 21 by 13 ft. The
Local Council approved and a few months later the Lands
Department approved the allocation of the building in Rotary Park.
The Rotarians approved the building and so this became a Rotary
Project and was constructed during 1961/62. A
public meeting was held in the CWA Hall were the Astronomical
Association was formed and it was also resolved that the Observatory be
called “The Port Macquarie Observatory”
Mr. York was elected President.
A position he held until 1983. I (Jim
Daniel) was elected and
accepted with pride, and pleasure, the position of president in 1983 a
position that I have had the honour bestowed on me at each of the Annual
General Meetings that followed until the last AGM in January 2002 when I
relinquished the position as I felt it was time for new blood at the
helm. The Late Albert York built some of the buildings at
the Ken Beams Observatory on the Blue Mountains
(The Lindon Observatory). I
did have the pleasure of spending many hours with Ken Beams at his
Observatory and home . Mr. York passed on in 1984 at the ripe old age of
94. The Observatory is manned voluntary by
members of the Port Macquarie Astronomical Association Inc. Additions to the Observatory has been an auditorium
with seating for approx. 50, a small planetarium designed by Dr Harley
Wood and built by the late Mr. Pinnock, a 16 mm film projector, a slide
projector and a PC projector for video & computer. The Observatory now houses a 14 in. Celestron
Telescope, equatorial mounted with drive pendulum clock regulated, an
8in celestron, an 8in and
4in. Newtonian reflectors. The equatorial mount and clock was constructed
mainly by the late Mr. Horrie Pinnock. The clock has 2 faces one for sidereal time and one
for solar time. The Observatory also contains a small planetarium,
designed by Dr. Harley Wood Government Astronomer for NSW and also
built by the late Horrie Pinnok. Some photographic work was carried out by me during
the latter end of the 60`s and during the 70`s.
I used to develop and print the astronomical photographs using
the facilities that we had had at the Observatory. The last photographs work that I did was in the
80`s and early 90`s. and that was of Halleys Comet
during March / April 1986, the Orion Nebula and the 2 most
conspicuous craters on
the Moon. It is now virtually impossible to do astro
photgraphy at the Observatory
due to light pollution. The second convention of amateur astronomers was
held at the Observatory in 1968. A few years ago I forwarded information regarding
the Convention as requested, to Professor Pendrix of Perth for to be
included in the history that he was compiling. In past years we made many donations in the way of
money and furniture to Hasting District Hospital. The last donation was
ray lamps presented
on behalf of the Port Macquarie Astronomical Association by me, to the
Director of Nursing of
the Hospital, Sandra O`Brien in 1982. We have for many years made an annual Award to the
local High Schools. The
Award a book on astronomy was to a year 7 student for achievements in
maths and science. This
award was excepted for a number of years when it was suggested by the
Principles that we make a cash donation instead of the book award. This
we did until recent times when our finances became limited to the
instillations of toilet facilities in the building. Many organised groups including schools, Senior
citizen and various clubs visit the Observatory through special opening
nights. Jim Daniel
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