Linden Observatory Complex

Tucked into the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia, Linden Observatory Complex is both a working heritage site and a monument to one man's obsession with telescope-making. Built by optical engineer Ken Beames between 1938 and 1948, it now serves as a museum, observatory, education facility, and meeting venue.

About Linden Observatory Complex

Ken Beames designed and constructed the complex at 91–111 Glossop Road in Linden over a full decade, and went on to produce roughly 450 telescopes ranging from 6 to 24 inches in aperture from the site, under the name K Beames Engineering Co. The property remains owned today by the Linden Observatory Trust.

History

The complex's centrepiece was a 24-inch reflector built by Beames, which was the largest and most technologically advanced telescope in New South Wales from the late 1930s through the mid-1960s. It also featured electric motors driving the telescope and dome, among the first such systems used in Australia. In recognition of its significance, Linden Observatory Complex was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 5 March 2010. Its telescopes were later donated to Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits in the town of Linden, in the Blue Mountains region west of Sydney, an area known for its cooler climate, forested ridgelines, and relatively dark skies compared with the city.

Visiting Linden Observatory Complex

The site today functions as a museum, observatory, and education and meeting venue, though opening hours and tour arrangements can change, so it's worth checking the observatory's official website before travelling.

See your named star from here

A site built around the craft of telescope-making is a natural place to think about seeing a named star for yourself. Every star named through Star Register comes with exact coordinates that any observatory telescope can be pointed toward. Take a look at our naming packages or explore the star catalogue.