Great Melbourne Telescope

The Great Melbourne Telescope is an optical telescope with a primary mirror measuring about 48 inches (1.2 meters) housed at Melbourne Observatory. The instrument served as a major research tool for observing the southern sky during its operational years.

The telescope was built in Dublin in 1868 and arrived in Melbourne in 1869, making it the second largest instrument of its kind in the world at that time. It became central to astronomical research in the southern hemisphere throughout the late 1800s.

The telescope represented Melbourne's scientific advancement during the 1870s and established the city's position as a leading research center in the southern hemisphere.

The site can be visited from Tuesday through Thursday to view the restoration work in progress. Entry is included with general museum admission, so plan enough time for a thorough look around.

The instrument survived a major bushfire in 2003 with only partial damage, and roughly 70 percent of its original components remain intact. The restoration efforts demonstrate how such an old piece of equipment can be carefully preserved for future study.