Deakin Telephone Exchange
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| Deakin Telephone Exchange | |
|---|---|
 A photo of the Deakin Telephone Exchange in 2019 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Telephone exchange |
| Address | 105 Kent St, Deakin, ACT, Australia |
| Town or city | Canberra |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 35°19′31″S 149°05′47″E / 35.3253816°S 149.0963668°E |
| Opened | |
| Owner | Telstra |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 2 |
| Design and construction | |
| Developer | Postmaster-General's Department |
| Known for | Being part of NASCOM |
The Deakin Telephone Exchange is an exchange established in 1965, the bottom floor of which was used in the NASA Communications Network (NASCOM) until 1988, when the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex took over its role.[3]
In 1976 a new telephone exchange complex began construction behind the original one to meet the demands of the rapidly growing population.[4] The new complex was to be much larger and include space for commercial lease. By 1980 the complex had completed construction, but lay empty for over a year due to contract issues with tenants and the old facility meeting the needs of the population.[2]
Previous to the establishment of the exchange an underground fire had been located underneath a tip behind the complex, in 1987 concerns were raised about the stability of the ground and the possibility of the fire still existing after smoke rose from the ground. The ACT Electricity Authority examined the site and found it safe.[5]
In 1983 a National Computing Centre for the Department of Social Security was established in the new complex,[6] before being privatised in 1992.[7]
On 25 March 1992 the telephone exchange was upgraded from analogue equipment to digital.[8]