Vignette 125: Observatory

Since the University’s inception, students have been encouraged to aspire to greatness and to reach for the stars. In the Observatory they can look through the telescope and see those stars for themselves.

Part of the old astronomy building, and recognisable for its domed roof and external spiral staircase, the Observatory is an important and iconic campus resource. It was gifted to the University in 1948 by FW Wheadon, who was the general manager of the Adelaide Electric Supply Company and an amateur astronomer.

This significant building is noble, but by no means idle. The role of the building has diversified over time to include the Adelaide Campus Children’s Centre. And then there is the telescope, which remains in use for teaching purposes, connecting students to planets and moons otherwise too distant to observe.

The University of Adelaide: 150 Years of Making History.  Providing a place. p.170