Looking on the sunny side at Dapto

By Local Studies librarian Jenny McConchie

You may be surprised to know that in 1952 our city was leading the way for the world in solar research. The Dapto Solar Radio Field Station, opened in that year by the CSIRO, was hailed as the world’s first sun station.

Established on a dairy farm west of Dapto, the station’s purpose was to find out more about the sun and the sun’s atmosphere. It was also hoped that it would help to predict occurrences of magnetic storms, and eruptions from the sun that caused disruptions to radio services.

The antennas (pictured), along with other equipment, formed a solar radio spectrograph. The site was selected because it was level and as it was under the escarpment it blocked out any radio signals from Sydney that would have interfered with operation of the equipment.

In 1965 running of the station was handed to the University of Wollongong who later moved the operation to somewhere near Mt Keira. Industrial expansion at Port Kembla had contributed to increased electrical interference at the Dapto site. This played a part in the CSIRO’s decision to move their operations to Narrabri.

The rusted antennas ended their days being cut up and sent as scrap to the Port Kembla Steelworks.

Staff from  the Local Studies Section of the Wollongong City Library are available to help you to access any information, past or present, about our city. Just email localhistory@wollongong.nsw.gov.au or call us on 42277414