Canberra Space Dome and Observatory - Gone!

[koputai]

The Space Dome is on fire!

I am staying at the hotel next door, and was woken at 5:45 this morning and evacuated. It's still burning.

Not sure if the scope's are still in there, but at this stage the telescope domes haven't burned. The main club building is totally alight, and it looks like the big main dome is on fire now.

Not good.

Cheers,
Jason.

[koputai]

Sorry the pictures aren't better, I don't have any image software with me.

82577

82578

82579

Cheers,
Jason.

[Scorpius51]

I believe that the telescopes were removed some time ago and are at Mt Stromlo. I gather vandals had done some damage there before they were removed. There were issues regarding the sites future.

Others with better knowledge/info will comment hopefully.

Cheers
John

[strongmanmike]

Holly cow! :eyepop:

That's a real shame, I worked there for 10 years. I know the scopes were going to Stromlo but I don't know if they had been taken yet..? God I hope so!

Can anyone confirm this?

And what about the million dollar planitarium, projector, sound system etc???

Mike

[Octane]

This looks very, very suspicious.

H

[wavelandscott]

Bummer, I went there with my family and we enjoyed the show.

Hope no one was hurt!

[Dave_H]

There is a decent write up, including video and a radio interview with Peter Williamson, at eth local ABC web site:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/27/3022440.htm?site=canberra (mhtml:{80DC1664-B32E-478C-9797-51E7A0D37CBD}mid://00000081/!x-usc:http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/27/3022440.htm?site=canberra)

[Dave_H]

Re the telescopes - on my understanding all the telescopes were moved to Stromlo several weeks ago. And none had been damaged by vandals. Listen to the radio interview on the ABC web site I just posted to get more details about what was lost (& previously saved.)

[ballaratdragons]

Dave, that link won't work for me.

Is there another link please?

EDIT: I found it here thanks: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/27/3022440.htm

[Octane]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/27/3022440.htm?site=canberra

H

[mozzie]

shame shame shame !!!!!!!!!

[peterl]

This is and end to an era.
My wife Sue and I called in to the observatory every time we travelled to Canberra but were disappointed last january when we drove in and all locked up and deserted..including the club next door.
Does anyone know why it closed?? :(

Peter.

[koputai]

It was run by the Tradies Club wasn't it?

If they were like any of the tradies I've tried to employ over the last few years, they probably just couldn't give a ****!

Realistically thought, I suppose it was a commercial decision based on turnover in the club versus running costs. Even if the planetarium was a viable concern, if the club itself couldn't compete with other establishments, then they'd have no choice but to close.

Cheers,
Jason.

[Screwdriverone]

MAN, that's a real Downer!

Too soon?

Cheers

Chris

[higginsdj]

Its been closed for quite a long time (years) due to management issues at the adjoining club (the Tradies) I believe. I know that the volunteers trying to restore the planetarium had legal issues trying to access the premises. The local news tonight reports that the fire is suspicious.

[torana68]

well there is no power there so the only way a fire could start is if someone started it, the inside had been trashed some time ago. There was a mount or two in there (and the remains of the planetarium stuff)no doubt now rubbish. It wasnt secured and had been the haunt of local kids for some time. There was never any chance of "restoration" as the land is slated for redevelopment. The legal issues were probably due to them not "owning" anything there, they were gifted the IK-6 but at least some of it was still there

[koputai]

There was power there Roger. I've been staying in the hotel next door on and off for the last six months, and I sometimes have a room that overlooks the place, as I do right now. On many nights a movement sensor light went on and off continuously on the loading dock side of the building, and sometimes there were lights on inside the observatory, I just figured it was security lighting. On one night I even saw flashing rope lights going around the outside of one of the observatory buildings.

The guy on the radio this morning was saying that 'recyclers' had been in there cutting out cabling for scrap. Now if they'd left dodgily cut wiring, and there was power.......

I'm not saying it wasn't vandalism or other neffarious circumstances, but the building did appear to be in a bad state.

Who knows. I guess the fire investigators will find out.

Cheers,
Jason.

[Ric]

That's a real bummer, I've only visited the once many years ago and it definitely was a great experience.

I really hope the ACT government allocate some money to have it rebuilt in a new location.

[astro744]

Don't count on it. They're too busy wasting money on 'piles of junk' artwork along the side of the road.

If they ever do build another planetarium it should be part of Questacon as that it will attract most visitors there and most importantly have it open during the daytime not like the current planetarium that was only open at night.

[Jen]

:eyepop::eyepop: oh no that looks so sad :(

[koputai]

Well, the wreckers are in. The old club building has been totally demolished, and is on its way out in trucks.

I watched this morning as the machinery tore through the observatory buildings. All four domes smashed up, including two Sirius domes. One had minor smoke damage, the other was undamaged by the fire.

The biggest disappointment so far was as I watched them destroy the red Antarctic 'Apple Hut' that was also untouched by the fire.

I had contacted the 'Tradies' General Manager several times with the aim of purchasing the undamaged observatory buildings, but they just weren't interested.

[Ric]

Blimey Jason, I can't believe that they couldn't be bothered to sell off the untouched sirius domes.

They could have used the money to pay for some of their demolition costs.

[MuntiNZ]

Light it up grab the insurance then flog the land to developers right?