Mount Stromlo

Mount Stromlo viewed from the Telstra Tower

Mount Stromlo Locality Map

Mount Stromlo Observatory, awaits repair.

Mount Stromlo is situated a short drive west of the centre of Canberra, Australia, near the district of Weston Creek. Its peak is at approximately 770m AHD.

It is most notable as the location of the Mount Stromlo Observatory (run by the Australian National University) and Canberra's primary water supply treatment plant, supplied by the Cotter River catchment area.

The name is derived from Mount Strom, the earlier official name.

History

The first telescope installed at Mount Stromlo was the Oddie telescope which was installed on 8 September 1911. The building housing this telescope was the first construction funded by the Commonwealth in Canberra. In January 1913 the first telephone was connected to the Queanbeyan telephone exchange.^[1]

Mount Stromlo was devastated by the Canberra bushfires of 2003. The fire, fueled by the pine plantation that covered the mountain, destroyed or badly damaged much of the observatory and water treatment plant.

Road access is via the Cotter Road on the south side, and Uriarra Road on the east and north. The summit is reached by a road joining Cotter road just outside Duffy.

Mountain biking

Mount Stromlo is home to one of the finest and most well equipped mountain biking facilities in Australia. Prior to the devastating 2003 fires Mount Stromlo hosted some of the best and oldest mountain bike trails in Australia. In May 2006 extensive remedial work and trail reconstruction was commenced by World Trail, led by Glenn Jacobs, in partnership with Canberra Off-Road Cyclists mountain bike club and the ACT Government. Stromlo Forest Park now includes more than 35 km of cross country single trail, a Four-Cross course , several observed trials areas and a downhill track.

Mount Stromlo was selected to host the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships. The Championships were staged from September 1 to 6, 2009 and attracted more than 30,000 visitors from up to 40 countries. The event involved more than 750 of the world's top riders who competed in the four mountain bike disciplines of Cross Country, Downhill, Four Cross and Observed Trials.

In addition to the mountain biking facilities Mount Stromlo also boasts an event pavilion with office space and change rooms, a kids play area, BBQ's, a road cycling criterium circuit, a groomed grass cross country running track and equestrian trails.

Geology

The rock on Mount Stromlo consists of ignimbrite from the Laidlaw Volcanics. This erupted in the upper Silurian period over the top of the Deakin Volcanics rhyodacite which is visible on the surface on the lower slopes in the east and southeast sides. The northern lower slopes are covered with a calcareous shale which is included in the Laidlaw Volcanics as it was deposited at the same time. This is cut off on the northwest side by the Winslade Fault, which heads north east to Cook and Kaleen. A spur fault heads off east from the Winslade Fault to under the Scrivener Dam. On the other side (north west and north) of these faults are middle Silurian period rhyodacite volcanic deposits from the Walker Volcanics. The northern side was uplifted compared with the southern side. ^[2]

See also: Geology of the Australian Capital Territory

Landform

Stoney Creek and its tributaries drain the north side of the mountain, The east side drains into the Molonglo River. The south side supplies Blugar creek that runs into the Murrumbidgee River.

The top of the mountain where the telescopes are located is elongated in a north-south direction with a spur running to the southwest where the water treatment plant is situated.

Links

• Aussie Fires Destroy Mount Stromlo Observatory

References

1. ^ Stromlo An Australian Observatory by Tom Frame and Don Faulkner, Allen and Unwin 1993, ISBN 1-86508-659-2
2. ^ Henderson G A M and Matveev G, Geology of Canberra, Queanbeyan and Environs 1:50000 1980.

Coordinates: 35°19′S 149°01′E / 35.317°S 149.017°E / -35.317; 149.017