3 ms·

The fellow who lived next door to me told me of a similar model system used to model Sydney Harbour which he worked on in the 1970s. IIRC it was instrumented wi

The fellow who lived next door to me told me of a similar model system used to model Sydney Harbour which he worked on in the 1970s. IIRC it was instrumented with electronics and linked to a VAX or similar early machine.

emmelaich 4mo ago
The Aus Navy had a computer simulation of Sydney Harbour, dating from the 70s or maybe 80s. One particular feature of the system was a disk drive about 1m in diameter with about 12 heads. Cost a bomb, but I guess it was worth it. When I saw a demo, they had an easter egg of a Loch-Ness type monster in it. There's also a topographical map of the harbour at St Ives showground but it's purely non-hydrographical. But it's almost disappeared now through neglect.
- cucumber3732842 4mo ago
  >The Aus Navy had a computer simulation of Sydney Harbour, dating from the 70s or maybe 80s. One particular feature of the system was a disk drive about 1m in diameter with about 12 heads. Cost a bomb, but I guess it was worth it. Meanwhile the Soviets probably found a little inlet somewhere that was "close enough", evicted anyone who lived there and excavated it to match. Some junior engineer probably had to wake up at 1am to take a kayak out to "Little Kotlin Island" to change the tape in the recording equipment in time for the tide change.
- contingencies 4mo ago
  Interesting about the St Ives showground map. Where is it exactly? They have a nice orchid show. Usually it seems to be mostly a bunch of HK dudes playing with RC cars.
  - emmelaich 4mo ago
    I think it is under heritage order now. I looked for it last time I was there; maybe it's covered up ready for restoration? It's actually a topographical map of the whole Sydney basin. This article has a pic: https://www.neighbourhoodmedia.com.au/post/st-ives-showground-a-military-training-camp-in-wwii https://www.neighbourhoodmedia.com.au/post/st-ives-showgroun... [edit: Seems to be where the RC cars race!]
    - contingencies 4mo ago
      Awesome local history, thanks. I vaguely recall seeing it myself. Another page on that site mentions Eben Gowrie Waterhouse OBE CMG (1881–1977) ... while he is known for Camellia cultivation my research suggests he met with Mussolini and the Japanese government around war time and was a bit of a fascist. They don't mention that bit.
      - emmelaich 4mo ago
        Huh, your mention of camellias immediately (to me) suggested Eryldene. And sure enough: https://www.eryldene.org.au/ https://www.eryldene.org.au/ Interesting guy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eben_Gowrie_Waterhouse https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eben_Gowrie_Waterhouse

emmelaich 4mo ago

The Aus Navy had a computer simulation of Sydney Harbour, dating from the 70s or maybe 80s. One particular feature of the system was a disk drive about 1m in diameter with about 12 heads. Cost a bomb, but I guess it was worth it. When I saw a demo, they had an easter egg of a Loch-Ness type monster in it. There's also a topographical map of the harbour at St Ives showground but it's purely non-hydrographical. But it's almost disappeared now through neglect.

cucumber3732842 4mo ago
>The Aus Navy had a computer simulation of Sydney Harbour, dating from the 70s or maybe 80s. One particular feature of the system was a disk drive about 1m in diameter with about 12 heads. Cost a bomb, but I guess it was worth it. Meanwhile the Soviets probably found a little inlet somewhere that was "close enough", evicted anyone who lived there and excavated it to match. Some junior engineer probably had to wake up at 1am to take a kayak out to "Little Kotlin Island" to change the tape in the recording equipment in time for the tide change.
contingencies 4mo ago
Interesting about the St Ives showground map. Where is it exactly? They have a nice orchid show. Usually it seems to be mostly a bunch of HK dudes playing with RC cars.
- emmelaich 4mo ago
  I think it is under heritage order now. I looked for it last time I was there; maybe it's covered up ready for restoration? It's actually a topographical map of the whole Sydney basin. This article has a pic: https://www.neighbourhoodmedia.com.au/post/st-ives-showground-a-military-training-camp-in-wwii https://www.neighbourhoodmedia.com.au/post/st-ives-showgroun... [edit: Seems to be where the RC cars race!]
  - contingencies 4mo ago
    Awesome local history, thanks. I vaguely recall seeing it myself. Another page on that site mentions Eben Gowrie Waterhouse OBE CMG (1881–1977) ... while he is known for Camellia cultivation my research suggests he met with Mussolini and the Japanese government around war time and was a bit of a fascist. They don't mention that bit.
    - emmelaich 4mo ago
      Huh, your mention of camellias immediately (to me) suggested Eryldene. And sure enough: https://www.eryldene.org.au/ https://www.eryldene.org.au/ Interesting guy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eben_Gowrie_Waterhouse https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eben_Gowrie_Waterhouse