Contact Artefacts please if you have any comments or more information regarding this record.	Menu Home Upfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon		Observatory - later the Union Weather Station Observatory, Johannesburg, Gauteng BAKER, MASEY and SLOPER: Architect

Date: 1904 Type: Observatory Status: Extant   Click to view map Coordinates: 26°11'05.44" S 28°04'30.63" E

The Observatory was founded as the Transvaal Meteorological Department, and was initially meant to be used to watch weather patterns. Astronomer Dr Robert Innes moved from Cape Town to become the first director of the centre. It was officially opened in 1905 and the first telescope was installed in 1906. The Observatory sits on a hill in the suburb of the same name. The land was owned by the Bezuidenhout family before they gave it to the government. South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) acquired the Johannesburg Observatory in 2003 and has since refurbished the site to accommodate a multifaceted interactive science awareness facility with a specific focus on astronomy and engineering. The observatory is now open to teachers, learners and members of the public in general. The centre also organizes night tours. (South African History Online, accessed 2023 03 03) See also Johannesburg Meteorological Observatory. See also Cathy Munro's review of the book Living Amongst the Stars at the Johannesburg Observatory on The Heritage Portal. Books and articles that reference Observatory - later the Union Weather Station Greig, Doreen. 1970. Herbert Baker in South Africa. Cape Town: PURNELL. pg 238 Vermeulen, Dirk J . 2006. Living amongst the stars at the Johannesburg Observatory. Johannesburg: Chris van Rensburg Publications. pg All