  thumb|right|remains of the old administration building with the dome of the farnham telescope thumb|right|remains of the dome of the 50-inch great melbourne telescope  thumb|left|upright|mount stromlo locality map mount stromlo observatory (mso) located just outside of canberra, australia, is part of the research school of astronomy and astrophysics at the australian national university (anu). ==history== the observatory was established in 1924 as the commonwealth solar observatory. the mount stromlo site had already been used for observations in the previous decade, a small observatory being established there by pietro baracchi using the oddie telescope being located there in 1911. the dome built to house the oddie telescope was the first commonwealth building constructed in the newly established australian capital territory. in 1911 a delegation for an australian solar observatory went to london seeking commonwealth assistance. the league of the empire sought subscriptions to assist raising funds. survey work to determine the site's suitability had begun as soon as the idea of a new capital was established. by 1909 the australian association for the advancement of science was assisted in this effort by hugh mahon (minister for home affairs). until world war ii, the observatory specialised in solar and atmospheric observations. during the war the workshops contributed to the war effort by producing gun sights, and other optical equipment. after the war, the observatory shifted direct
1924_establishments_in_Australia Astronomical_observatories_in_Australia Australian_National_University Buildings_and_structures_in_Canberra