CSIRO Computing History
Last updated: 17 March 2020.
Robert C. Bell
Status: Framework and chapters 1, 2 and 5 largely complete; appendix 8: locations added. Added headings for sidebars.
These pages attempt to give some of the history of CSIRO’s use of computing in its research, focussing mainly on the large shared systems and services. The pages do not cover the myriad applications that were run on the systems through the era, although the book “The Last of the First” does have extensive accounts of applications run on CSIRAC.
See the page for an entry to Computer Museums.
Chapter 1. CSIR Mk 1 (CSIRAC) and Trevor Pearcey. 1945-64
Chapter 4. Csironet – later 1980s – privatisation and decline: growth of local computing:
(in preparation)
Chapter 5. Joint Supercomputing Facility – the Cray Research era
Chapter 7. The HPCCC – Bureau of Meteorology
(in preparation)
Chapter 8. CSIRO HPSC
(in preparation)
Chapter 9. CSIRO ASC
Chapter 10. CSIRO IM&T Scientific Computing
Sidebar 1: The start of on-line data
Sidebar 2: The start of the on-line network
Sidebar 3: Recollections of CSIRO CRS/DCR/Csironet staff
Appendix 1: Timeline
(in preparation)
Appendix 2: Organisations
(in preparation)
Appendix 3: Staff
(in preparation)
Appendix 4: Opportunities
Appendix 5: References
(in preparation)
Appendix 6: Resources
(in preparation)
Appendix 7: CSIRO Computing Museum / Artefacts
(in preparation)
Appendix 8: Locations
(in preparation)
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