The Trailblazing First Generation Computer the World Forgot

At the dawn of the computer age, Australians developed a 2.5 tonne behemoth named CSIRAC — now recognised as one of the grandfathers of modern computers.

CSIRAC in a warehouse after being reassembled in preparation for its permanent move the Melbourne Museum [Paul Doornbusch]

IN NOVEMBER 1949, CSIRO scientists in Sydney independently created what is now recognised as only the fourth…