Mount Stromlo Observatory, astronomical observatory located on Mt. Stromlo, near Canberra, Australia. Established in 1924 (14 years after the first telescope was erected there), it has been operated by the Australian National Univ. since 1957. A wildfire destroyed the observatory in 2003, but the university will rebuild it. The principal instrument was a 74-in. (188-cm) reflecting telescope, controlled by computer and having a battery of auxiliary equipment. Other instruments included 50-in. (127-cm) and 30-in. (76-cm) reflectors, and a 26-in. (66-cm) refractor.