CSIRAC
CSIRAC (/ˈsaɪræk/; Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Automatic Computer), originally known as CSIR Mk 1, was Australia's first digital computer, and the fifth stored program computer in the world.[1] It is the oldest surviving first-generation electronic computer[2] (the Zuse Z4 at the Deutsches Museum is older, but was electro-mechanical, not electronic), and was the first in the world to play digital music.[3][4][5][6][7][8]
Also known as
After being exhibited at Melbourne Museum for many years, it was relocated to Scienceworks in 2018 and is now on permanent display in the Think Ahead gallery.[9] A comprehensive source of information about the CSIRA collection, its contributors and related topics is available from Museums Victoria on their Collections website.[10]
History[edit]
The CSIRAC was constructed by a team led by Trevor Pearcey and Maston Beard, working in large part independently of similar efforts across Europe and the United States, and ran its first test program (multiplication of numbers) sometime in November 1949.[11][7] In restricted operation from late 1950, publicly demonstrated and operational in 1951.[12][13][14]