1152 Hoskinstown Road

Hoskinstown NSW 2621

This really is an unusual opportunity, a chance to secure your own piece of Australian astrophysics history with this sale of the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope. Located in close proximity to Bungendore (14kms) and Queanbeyan (26kms). The block, centrally sited on the beautiful and fertile Hoskinstown plain, is an irregular shaped 84.76 hectares, fully fenced and is designated RU1 Primary Production Zone. This is superb grazing country, it would suit livestock, cropping and agistment enterprises.

The main residential dwelling comprises a 1960s fibro clad three bedroom cottage and garage, with a 32,000 rainwater tank and new septic system. There is also an administration building with a number of offices and a kitchen, a student residence, a workshop, shed with change rooms and an electrical hut. Water is supplied to the student quarters, office and sheds by five Poly 32,000L water tanks. The property has additional water security via a stock and domestic bore, that is equipped with a mains electric, submersible pump.

The Molonglo Radio Observatory was established as part of the School of Physics of the University of Sydney and opened in 1965 at this Hoskinstown site. The Observatory's telescope is a Cross telescope and it was designed by Bernard Mills, Professor of Physics at the University, with E-W and N-S arms of 1.58 km. The telescope has been a valuable instrument in radio astronomy and has provided a hands on opportunity for students to learn on site over the years staying in the accommodation and working out of the offices. The telescope was then upgraded to the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescopw (MOST). MOST was used to carry out major research projects include mapping the entire southern sky, known as the Sydney University Molonglo Sky Survey, and the Molonglo Galactic Plane Survey. Further upgrades allowed the detection of fast radio bursts and continued research on pulsars. The Observatory was closed in 2023, and the site is now available to purchase at auction on 4th October, 2025.