Restored by hand. Aligned with the sky.
A disused rural building became a permanent telescope floor, control room and quiet retreat beneath the southern sky. Friends helped transform the old structure into a practical field station for visual astronomy and long-exposure imaging.
Equal parts instrument room and labour of love
A single workstation drives displays in the downstairs control room and beside the telescope, allowing the imaging equipment to be managed from either level. The building also has a bunk, fireplace and the small comforts needed for long winter sessions.
The observatory sits in the Bombay Hills at Auckland's southern edge, about 250 metres above sea level. It is a private facility, although visits can be arranged in advance.
From shed to sky
The restoration is preserved as a visual sequence, from demolition and framing to the arrival of the dome, power, data, first light and the finished telescope floor. Follow the complete observatory build.