[AJames]

Originally Posted by abellhunter

You get the picture. My point is this, best bet is starting with Australia's biggest club. One that comes to mind is.......

http://www.asnsw.com/

..........they have a dark site too.......

http://www.asnsw.com/wiruna/index.asp

Plus Sydney is a safe bet for amateurs with $$$.

Now i am in no way suggesting this club. i just use it as an example as i did
with my own Astonomy Club the OCA.

This particular astronomical society you have stated as an example - and a few others I know - is that none of them wish to have such a large community observatory. Worst the idea has been rejected even among its members. No one seems to be interested in such a proposition, and just consider one large aperture as undesirable.
I, personally, have been not able to change this attitude over years - and some even decades - often meeting with just a brick wall of contempt.
The "core problem" with most the larger Societies is their lack of possibility and vision. Most just don't seem to understand what a large aperture can be used for - other than just looking through or imaging. (The latter : Wanting to chase the millionth unique picture of the Orion Nebula, as I have quipped on the odd occasion. Yes important for beginners - but there ARE other deep-sky objects that are more challenging and more unique.) None seem to believe or know in the options like photoelectric or CCD photometry, or spectroscopy - all still perceiving the huge canyon-like divide between the amateurs and the professionals - who only see the distinctive differences rather than grading of many different levels. Perhaps the best example is New Zealand's Auckland Observatory. Believe me, New Zealand astronomy, in this regard, makes the majority of Australian amateur look second-rate and sadly limited. Perhaps only Sutherland Astronomical Society has come the closest in regards such a level of observational and educational astronomy, followed by perhaps the Astronomical Society of Victoria / South Australia (ASSA).
The work achieved there has never be achieved in this country, except for a few scattered amateurs who have given the astronomical society "thing" the flick. As stated in previous post to this thread, most advanced astronomers realise it is better to do it alone - avoid the political hassles and the narrow vision they persistently present.
Really the only way is to show these groups is to expose them to the capabilities that amateurs can achieve, and be involved in a serious multi-observer observational endeavour.
Clearly, the best option is an telescope/ observatory that can be both remotely and physically accessed - with an aperture exceeding anything that individual astronomers could afford or maintain. Most societies don't realise that in doing some good serious research work can actually run with financial assistance - contributions from institutions and educational or research grants. Once this is established, the telescope can then be allocated usage time, of which a portion could be used for the purposes of optical / visual astronomy. Furthermore, the larger telescope can be used as a focus for astronomy, and what normally happens - like in the US as you example - is that your Society becomes the focus of amateur astronomy. This means an increase in members and the gravitational focus of other groups, eventually merged into a larger Society representing their State or Country.
Frankly, it is the distinct lack of vision these groups that I find so abhorrent. Basically it is about controlling people, empires and finances - and in the end we all lose - because they continue to wallow forever in mediocrity.
So unless a revolution by amateurs in the country are prepared to commit to a long term goal - and attempt to raise the bar - we will stay where we are.

Again, the question remains... If you have a large aperture, what would you ACTUALLY do with it? Answer that, and the size of telescope and the type of mount is determined.

I think there is NO amateur group in Australia at the moment is capable of taking up the challenge of such an endeavour.

(As a point, the Technical Sessions at the upcoming N.A.C.A.A. in Sydney over Easter with be talking on various aspects of large telescope construction and organisation - with example of telescope use and observational programmes or capabilities.)

I can tell you now, very few Societies have any intention of going to the next level. They are happy with their own "Empires".

My bet, is that it is better to just start another group, a follow something like the organisation I have selected below.

Still, I'd be interested in what others say, and if members of other local societies are aware of these old attitudes and precepts.

The self-professed "Revolutionary Bum",
Andrew

Note: As Richard Bach says;
"Argue our limitations, and sure enough their yours."