Logo
  • Menu
  • Awards
    • National Awards
      • Pearcey Medal
      • Pearcey Hall Of Fame
      • Pearcey National Entrepreneur
      • Pearcey Media Awards
    • State Awards
      • ACT Awards
      • NSW Awards
      • Qld Awards
      • SA Awards
      • Tas Awards
      • Vic Awards
      • WA Awards
    • Nominations
      • National Awards Process
      • National Nomination Form
      • State Awards Process
      • State Nomination Form
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Orations
    • Conversations
    • Special Events
    • Forums And Roundtables
  • Initiatives
    • Heritage Project
    • Pearcey Institute
    • Public Policy
    • Australia 3.0
    • Computing History
    • CSIRAC
  • Blog
  • About
    • Who We Are
      • Pearcey Foundation History
      • Dr Trevor Pearcey
    • Board & State Committees
    • Newsroom
    • Sponsorship
  • Contact

23 January, 2012 | Special EventsCSIRAC2012

2012 CSIRO ICT Executives Visit CSIRAC

The new world of computer science met the old on 23rd January 2012 when senior executives from CSIRO's ICT Centre paid a visit to CSIRAC - Australia's first electronic digital computer.

"I first saw CSIRAC when I was in Melbourne on holiday recently," said ICT Centre Director Dr Ian Oppermann. "I was truly inspired by its complexity and power and hoped it would similarly move my colleagues so I wrote an excursion to the museum into our meeting schedule."

Dr Peter Thorne (who worked on CSIRAC when an undergraduate and decades later, while Head of Computer Science at the University of Melbourne, initiated and led the project to document the history of the computer and ensure its place in our nation's history) gave the visitors a guided tour of the computer. He reminded the visitors that the CSIR MK1/CSIRAC is the only intact survivor of the machines which launched the information age. Dr Thorne is also a member of the National Committee of the Pearcey Foundation named in honour of Dr Trevor Pearcey who led the team at CSIRO that designed and built CSIRAC in 1949.

Museum Victoria CEO Dr Patrick Greene dropped by and explained his connection with early computer history; he once lived in a property originally owned by Charles Babbage and he was later involved in the creation of the replica of the first stored program machine - the Manchester Baby.

Curator Mr David Demant then took the visitors behind the scenes to the CSIRAC collection in the museum store where the detailed archive of the computer's history is preserved, including original hardware schematics and program tapes. Initially shy before the rolls of tape and hand-made equipment (not to mention the famous screwdriver!), it wasn't long before gloves went on so the increasingly fascinated visitors could turn the pages of the manuals and logs Mr Demant had brought out for inspection.

"CSIRAC is a beautifully restored technology artefact of great historical significance," said ICT Centre Chief Scientist Dr Branko Celler. "I admit I was excited to be so close to one of Australia's great early achievements in computing and I hope it excites the next generation of ICT professionals. All of our staff should take any opportunity to visit this important exhibit."


2012 CSIRO ICT Executives visit CSIRAC

Dr Peter Thorne explaining the finer points of CSIRAC to members of CSIRO's ICT Centre Executive team

related posts
  • 2022 Riding the Digital Wave Summit
  • 2021 The Future of Work Roundtable
  • 2019 CSIRAC 70th Anniversary
  • 2019 Dr Trevor Pearcey Centenary
  • 2018 Ballarat Heritage Event
  • 2018 Pearcey Day Heritage Panel
  • 2016 - 60 Years of Computing in Victoria
  • 2009 Pearcey Celebration of CSIRAC 60th Anniversary
  • 2003 Pearcey to the PC - History Conference

Need more information or want to get in touch?

Enquire now Enquire now Email us Email us

The Pearcey Foundation operates broadly across the Australian ICT sector encouraging innovation through awards, events and public policy initiatives.

Contact | Legal
Quick Links
  • Awards
  • Events
  • Initiatives
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
Discover more
  • Who We Are
  • Board & State Committees
  • Newsroom
  • Sponsorship
Newsletter
WE WON'T SPAM YOU

All Rights Reserved. 2023 Pearcey Foundation

Powered By Oncord.