Go Back   IceInSpace > General Astronomy > General Chat

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread
  #1  
Old 14-06-2011, 01:28 PM
stevemac
Registered User

stevemac is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Perth
Posts: 18
Gingin(WA) Observatory up for sale

Well here's a bargain? (depending upon how you view it) for those who have a keen interest in Astronomy, and would like a purpose built site ...

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-...-up-for-grabs/

As the news article says ..

"Gingin Observatory is one hour's drive north of Perth.
For $165,000, the new owner will get giant telescopes, access to a leased building with a retractable roof and everything needed to run an observatory .."

It'll be interesting to see how this goes ..
Cheers,
Steve
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 14-06-2011, 01:58 PM
mswhin63's Avatar
mswhin63 (Malcolm)
Registered User

mswhin63 is offline
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Para Hills, South Australia
Posts: 3,622
I wonder how much the lease is!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 14-06-2011, 02:05 PM
OICURMT's Avatar
OICURMT
Oh, I See You Are Empty!

OICURMT is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Laramie, WY - United States of America
Posts: 1,555
I suspect it is A$165000 plus acquisition of debt.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 14-06-2011, 03:02 PM
AstralTraveller's Avatar
AstralTraveller (David)
Registered User

AstralTraveller is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Wollongong
Posts: 3,819
You call them 'giant'??
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 14-06-2011, 05:12 PM
GrahamL's Avatar
GrahamL
pro lumen

GrahamL is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: ballina
Posts: 3,265
The dob looks pretty big ?
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 14-06-2011, 06:10 PM
bobson (Bob)
Registered User

bobson is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: perth
Posts: 599
As far as I know they have 25" Obsession Dob. They have other big telescopes as well.

This is from their website "about us":


Quote:
About us Gingin Observatory was opened as a public observatory in October 2001 and has always been operated as a private business, co-located with the Gravity Discovery Centre, an hour drive north of Perth. The founding Astronomer was Mr David Nicolson.

The business is now operated by Donna Vanzetti (aka "The Stargazer") and Carol Redford (aka "Galaxy Girl")! In October 2007, the opportunity to manage Gingin Observatory came up whilst Donna and Carol were employed as Co-Managers at the Gravity Discovery Centre. With a love of astronomy in their back pockets, they took this special chance to take on a new business with lots of potential.

At Gingin Observatory visitors experience the wonders of space by viewing through telescopes, engaging with astronomers and by interacting during a big screen presentation that highlights our Universe.
The building is split into two areas. The space observatory (with a fully retractable roof) houses 5 large telescopes, including the largest in Australia for public access, and 6 pairs of high magnification binoculars. The other half of the building is a theatre room that also contains a reception and shop.
In addition to these facilities, the new $1M science grade Zadko Telescope, committed to Gamma Ray Burst research, is situated next door to the observatory in its own dedicated dome. It is the largest telescope for public access in the Southern Hemisphere and is integrated into stargazing nights at Gingin Observatory.

http://www.ginginobservatory.com/


cheers
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 14-06-2011, 06:14 PM
AstralTraveller's Avatar
AstralTraveller (David)
Registered User

AstralTraveller is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Wollongong
Posts: 3,819
Quote:
Originally Posted by nightstalker View Post
The dob looks pretty big ?
The article, which is all I had seen, has 2 SCTs on GEM.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 14-06-2011, 08:26 PM
tlgerdes's Avatar
tlgerdes (Trevor)
Love the moonless nights!

tlgerdes is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sydney
Posts: 2,285
Quote:
Originally Posted by AstralTraveller View Post
The article, which is all I had seen, has 2 SCTs on GEM.
That's just not any GEM, it is a G-11
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 15-06-2011, 12:29 AM
Blue Skies's Avatar
Blue Skies (Jacquie)
It's about time

Blue Skies is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,221
They've got a 25" Obsession, one of the earlier ones. But remember any scope looks huge to the uninitiated.

I've known Carol and Donna for several years now and I seriously doubt they're in debt. They are selling because they are both moving out of the area for family reasons, and they've made no secret of it. They put the word out on the grapevine some months ago but I guess they need to get things moving. They've always had a way with advertising and I guess they're really getting their money's worth today! Article in the West Aus paper, interview on the local talk-back radio... they are really lovely genuine ladies and there is no need to knock them, thanks.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 15-06-2011, 07:24 PM
Matty (Matt Fowler)
Matty

Matty is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Sydney Inner West
Posts: 29
Awesome. Would sell my place now and go for the sea change but doubt that i could finacially survive the impending divorce such a move would create. Dough! Nice to dream though.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 15-06-2011, 08:56 PM
Davi5678 (Dave)
Registered User

Davi5678 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 123
Perhaps 165 IIS'ers can chip in a grand each!
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 15-06-2011, 09:47 PM
Matty (Matt Fowler)
Matty

Matty is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Sydney Inner West
Posts: 29
Nice idea Dave. I'm in like Flinn. Any other takers? Part ownership in a working observatory a very nice dream at that. Who would we get to run it though?
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 15-06-2011, 09:59 PM
mswhin63's Avatar
mswhin63 (Malcolm)
Registered User

mswhin63 is offline
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Para Hills, South Australia
Posts: 3,622
I would love to do it, but not sure if my wife would go for it.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 15-06-2011, 10:12 PM
scagman's Avatar
scagman (John)
Registered User

scagman is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Kinglake West
Posts: 717
Quote:
Originally Posted by Matty View Post
Nice idea Dave. I'm in like Flinn. Any other takers? Part ownership in a working observatory a very nice dream at that. Who would we get to run it though?
3 people take 1 weeks holiday each week
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 05-09-2015, 02:19 PM
SadisticSarz's Avatar
SadisticSarz (Sara Freeman)
SadisticSarz

SadisticSarz is offline
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Gingin, WA, Australia
Posts: 68
Update

There seems to be a big change happening over there. The people who ran the Gingin Observatory are moving out to Toojay and the Gravity Centre will be taking it over to include it in there brand new tourism plan as a public tourism program. I saw a ad by the Gingin Observatory on their facebook asking people if they have any land that they can use for the new observatory closer to Gingin township. I guess the best they could find is out in Toojay. I never been there but i hope it goes well for them. I notice though that they must have been in some strife because of the mounting complaints and negative reviews they were getting just from what I have read in the reviews and what the towns folk share. The location is isolated and yes would make a great place to sit amongst the stars at night. It's settled right back off the main road almost deep in no man's country. I went to one of their shows and to be honest I didn't think anything of it mind you I was probably thinking huge telescope and just me all night skipping across the night sky. I never met the two owners but with star names like they have I would think they would be very entertaining to speak too and listen. I love my stars, planets, and assorted furry feelings in our southern night sky.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 08:52 AM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement