State Library of South Australia

WREDAC computer [B 69684] • Photograph

Info

Share
- facebook
- twitter
- pinterest
- google+
- email
Buy
Download
Permanent link
Print

Prev Next

Summary

The WREDAC computer, 'the first high speed digital automatic computer in the southern hemisphere' at the then Weapons Research Establishment at Salisbury. The operators (from left) are Barbara Lane, Bronte Walter and Robin Fleming.

Restrictions

This image has no known copyright restrictions.

Please refer to the State Library's Conditions of use.

Learn more about copyright and our collection.

Physical description

Photograph; 17.6 cm x 12.5 cm

Dates / Publication details

1956

Photographer

Defence Science & Technology Organisation

Collection

Part of Salisbury Collection

Subject

Fleming, Robin
Walter, Bronte
Lane, Barbara
Computers -- South Australia

Catalogue record

Return to catalogue

General notes

WREDAC was brought out from the United Kingdom in 1955 and installed by engineers from its manufacturer, Elliotts. It occupied a whole room, had valves, and only 512 words of direct access storage, but with high speed disk backup, and paper and magnetic tape input and output. Those who worked on this computer were in a groundbreaking field for Australia, and went on to lead the introduction of computers at government level in many corners of Australia. Some of those who worked on WREDAC continued on to its replacement in 1961 by an IBM 7090 that incorporated transistors, an amazing new development at the time. [Barbara Biggins, 2005].

Digitisation information

Date

20/10/2005

Format

image/tiff

Resolution

3,183 x 2,242 pixels (7.1 MP)

Size

7.16 MB

Ask Us

If you would like further information about this image, please Ask Us