Discover the Grote Reber Museum – Where Amateur Radio Meets the Birth of Radio Astronomy

If you're visiting southern Tasmania, one destination should be on every amateur radio operator's bucket list: the Grote Reber Museum at the University of Tasmania's Mt Pleasant Radio Observatory near Cambridge.

Located alongside the iconic 26-metre radio telescope, the museum celebrates the life and work of Grote Reber, widely regarded as the father of radio astronomy. Long before giant observatories became commonplace, Reber built the world's first purpose-built parabolic radio telescope in his backyard, opening an entirely new window on the universe and laying the foundations for modern radio astronomy. After moving to Tasmania in the late 1950s, he spent more than 40 years conducting pioneering low-frequency radio astronomy research from Bothwell and in partnership with the University of Tasmania.

What many newer amateurs may not know is that Grote Reber was also a licensed amateur radio operator. During his years in Tasmania he maintained strong links with the amateur radio community and presented a number of memorable talks to the Wireless Institute of Australia Tasmanian Division – Southern Branch, generously sharing his knowledge, experiences and passion for experimentation with local amateurs. His legacy continues to inspire both professional astronomers and radio amateurs alike.

The museum is packed with fascinating exhibits, including Reber's original radio shack from Bothwell, his radio equipment, models of his pioneering telescopes, displays explaining the radio spectrum, and a virtual reality theatre. A guided visit also includes the Mt Pleasant Observatory, a close-up look at the impressive 26-metre radio telescope and, when conditions permit, additional demonstrations including solar observing.

Tours are available by appointment for individuals, schools and community groups, generally Monday to Friday, and bookings should be made several days in advance. Mobile phones must be switched off during the visit to prevent interference with the observatory's sensitive radio astronomy equipment.

Whether you're interested in amateur radio, astronomy, science or engineering, the Grote Reber Museum is a remarkable reminder of how one curious experimenter changed our understanding of the universe. It's well worth adding to your itinerary on your next visit to Tasmania.

A group of amateur radio operators toured the Museum and Radio Telescope before the 2024 Tassie Ham-E-Con Amateur Radio Conference Link and the picture accompanying the story was taken during that visit.

Page Last Updated: Wednesday, 22 Jul 2026 at 07:13 hours by Justin Giles-clark

Click Here To Return To Previous Page