Townsville Astronomical Trigonometrical Station
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Townsville Astronomical Trigonometrical Station | |
|---|---|
  Location of Townsville Astronomical Trigonometrical Station in Queensland  Townsville Astronomical Trigonometrical Station (Australia) | |
| Location | Stanton Hill, North Ward, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Coordinates | 19°15′19″S 146°48′47″E / 19.2553°S 146.8131°E |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1891 |
| Architect | Robert Hoggan |
| Official name | Townsville Astronomical Trigonometrical Station, Townsville Observatory |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600926 |
| Significant period | 1891 (fabric) |
Townsville Astronomical Trigonometrical Station is a heritage-listed triangulation station at Stanton Hill, North Ward, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Robert Hoggan and built in 1891. It is also known as Townsville Observatory. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.[1]
In 1891 an astronomical observatory and trigonometrical (trig) station were constructed at the top of Stanton Hill in Townsville, to the design of government surveyor and astronomer Robert Hoggan. The observatory no longer survives, but the concrete trig station remains.[1]
In the late 19th century, trig stations were erected in most of the principal towns of Queensland, as part of the first attempt to map Queensland on a large scale using common data. Despite the passage of years this data remains important because of its comparative value for modern surveyors. Most of the Queensland trig stations were timber posts, only remnants of which survive, erected to support a theodolite which measured vertical and horizontal lines. At Townsville and Thursday Island, concrete pillars rather than timber posts were erected, and these have survived largely because of their more substantial construction.[1]
Although surveyors no longer need to use the Townsville trig station, it is still in a serviceable condition.[1]
