Astronomy

Sydney Observatory guide

A large number of the Observatory’s records, along with records relating to an earlier observatory based in Parramatta, are held in our Collection and provide an intriguing resource for the history of science in Australia.

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Convict Sydney

William Dawes

Officer of marines, scientist, astronomer, engineer, surveyor, teacher and administrator

St James’ Church Under Construction on Gadigal Country model
Convict Sydney

David Sturrman

Chief of the Khoi of the Cape of South Africa, David Stuurman (also Steerman/Sherman) was a resistance fighter who had been captured by the British

Print from book.
Convict Sydney

Charles Anderson

Some hapless individuals experienced the full horrors of convict transportation. It was no wonder that some, like Anderson, endured periods of mental instability

Transit of Venus, 1874. NRS-22146-5-1
On This Day

9 Dec 1874 - Transit of Venus observed

On 9 December 1874 at 11:30am Henry Chamberlain Russell witnessed the first Transit of Venus at the Sydney Observatory in 105 years