Gnangara Magnetic Observatory

North of Perth in Western Australia, the Gnangara Magnetic Observatory spent decades quietly recording the Earth's magnetic field before handing that role to a purpose-built successor.

About Gnangara Magnetic Observatory

Gnangara Magnetic Observatory was established in 1957, relocated from an earlier station at Watheroo, to continue geomagnetic monitoring and research as part of Australia's national observatory network. It sat on land within a sand mining lease near Perth.

History

As Perth's suburbs expanded over the following decades, disturbances around the site increased to the point where the station's readings were affected. Geoscience Australia established a replacement, the Gingin Observatory, roughly 90 kilometres north of Perth, and ran it in parallel with Gnangara for twelve months to calibrate the difference between the two stations. Gnangara was then closed once Gingin took over as the region's primary geomagnetic observatory.

Location & getting there

The former station is located in Western Australia, near Perth, on the Oceania continent. As a closed geomagnetic facility rather than a visual observatory, it is not set up for public visits.

Visiting Gnangara Magnetic Observatory

Gnangara Magnetic Observatory is no longer operational; its monitoring role was transferred to the Gingin Observatory. There is no public visiting programme at the former site.

See your named star from here

Though this station measured magnetism rather than starlight, the skies over Perth and its surrounds remain open for stargazing today. If you've named a star with Star Register, its exact coordinates can help you or a local observatory find it. Browse the star catalogue to find yours.