Summary
Plaque for the CSIRAC computer officially unveiled at Melbourne Museum by the Federal Government Minister for Science, Peter McGauran on Friday 23 July, 2004.
The CSIRAC Computer collection consists of over 300 objects, over 300 images and over 1000 documents relating to the CSIRAC computer. First run in 1949 and fully operational by 1951 CSIRAC was the first stored memory digital electronic computer in Australia and the fourth in the world.
Physical Description
Bronze coloured oblong plaque.
Significance
CSIRAC's significance comes from its pioneering contribution to software development and computer training; and its computation of scientific, industrial and business problems in Australia. In addition, CSIRAC is now the only remaining and intact first generation computer in the world, as a result its components, peripheral equipment and Archive are today unique artefacts from this early period of computing.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Engineers Australia, 11 Aug 2004
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Presented By
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Person Named
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Person Named
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Organisation Named
Division of Radiophysics, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia, 2004
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Inscriptions
Text reads:"CSIRAC Computer / Physicist and mathematician Trevor Pearcey and electrical/mechanical engineer Maston Beard led the design team for this computer, the first in Australia, and it was built by the CSIRO Division of Radiophysics. CSIRAC demonstrates how Australian designers, working largely in isolation, could successfully build on of the world's first computers. CSIRAC ran its first program in 1949 and operated until 1964, performing computations for scientific, engineering and commercial projects. It is now the only intact first generation computer. / The Institution of Engineers Australia / Museum Victoria and / The University of Melbourne, 2004".
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Diameter
5 mm (Depth), 300 mm (Outside Diameter)
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Keywords
