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Why build in Maidenwell?
- The concept for this self-funded $500,000 Educational and Tourist Astronomical Observatory came about when astronomer James Barclay was approached by the Maidenwell Eco Tourism Association and the Nanango Shire Council (NSC) in August, 2003 and was offered land on the western side of the Maidenwell Sports and Recreation Field
- To finance this project we sold our house in Manly near Wynnum, in Jan. 2004 and gave up our jobs - James as a Boilermaker/Welder Special Class and Lyn as an Admin. Officer. Once the plans were drawn up by James and passed in by the NSC, construction began in April 2004 and was completed a week before the Opening on August 16, by Prof. Fred Watson - head astronomer for the Anglo Australian Telescope.
- Thanks to Ergon Energy they replaced the old High Pressure Mercury lights with full-cut off High Pressure Sodium vapour type. These lights do not shine up into the night skies, into people's houses and drivers eyes.
- James has been an astronomer for over 50 years and has written many papers and articles on astronomy. He loves this science so much, he founded three Astronomy clubs:
The Sun Coast Astro. Society in March '79;
Brisbane Astro.Society in July '86;
South East Qld Astro. Society in August '89.
He also taught Astronomy for 15 years at Brisbane TAFE Colleges.
- James is also a freelance Photo-Journalist and writes regularily for the South Burnett Times and the South Burnett Observer.
- Maidenwell also has a modern general store, an olive plantation, a school and a pub, all of which lie wiothin 200 meters of the Observartory, which is just 27 kilometres south of Nanango and the Bunya Mts.National Park.
- The name chosen for the South Burnett - Maidenwell Astronomical Observatory was for three reasons:
- Identifies the region (South Burnett) in the state of Queensland;
- Identifies the town in the region, and
- what we are all about.
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Last Updated on Sunday, 18 January 2009 10:39 |
