This Observatory, situated at Mount Pleasant in Ballarat, was established on the initiative and with the financial support of James Oddie, and was formally opened to the public in 1886. When Oddie presented the Observatory to the people of Ballarat, it became the first municipal observatory in Australia.

For over 100 years, it has served the Ballarat community and for the last 50 years it has been managed by the Ballaarat Astronomical Society. This is a unique situation; a municipal observatory, run by an amateur group. Apart from its astronomical use, the Observatory buildings and telescopes are of great historical interest, and were classified by the National Trust in 1989, and added to the Historic Buildings Register in 1992.

Scinema is coming in August.

BAS is celebrating the International Year of Astronomy with a number of events.

The Climate Change Forum will run again this year in Ballarat. The Forum will provide expert knowledge and information for the Regional community to take personal action on dealing with Climate Change impacts.
Tickets are essential and can be purchased by calling 5338 0980 Adults $15 Students and concession $10
Saturday August 8th 12.45pm-5.30pm Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts, Howitt St, Ballarat. website

Ballaarat or Ballarat?

The Observatory is located on the corner of Magpie and Cobden Street, Mount Pleasant, Ballarat East and is open every Friday and Saturday evening.

For the local weather information courtesy of "Weatherzone" click here.


The banner at the top of this page is from a sketch by John Brittain when he was Superintendent of the Observatory, and shows its appearance in about 1922.