Crohamhurst Observatory, Research observatory in Crohamhurst, Queensland.
Crohamhurst Observatory is a research facility housed in a fibro-cement building designed with open sides facing north and east while shielding against winds from the south and west. The structure retains its original deep earth temperature pits and weather equipment dating to the 1930s.
Inigo Owen Jones established this weather observatory in 1935 as a center for scientific observation and measurement. The site became part of Australia's documented history of meteorological research and its contributions to understanding regional weather patterns.
The site served as a center for early Australian weather science, where observers recorded solar data and atmospheric conditions to help farmers plan their work. Visitors can still sense how research was conducted with straightforward observation methods adapted to the local climate.
The site is accessible and visitors can view the original measuring equipment set up in its working arrangement. It is best to visit during mild weather since the building has open sides and the equipment is exposed to the elements.
The site is registered as the only known long-range weather forecasting observatory built in Queensland during the 1930s. This distinction makes it a rare example of specialized meteorological research infrastructure from that era.
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