Frog Rock Observatory

On our property was an old wheat silo which I converted into an observatory. It is 4.2 metres in diameter and 5.45 metres high. The "dome" is homemade and cost about $500 to built. Construction took about three months with some help from a couple of mates, Steve Pocock and  Peter Hartnett . The slit doors simply hinge open and the observatory can be readied in under a minute, and closed down just as fast.

Below is a plan of the observatory showing side view, top of roof and downstairs floor plan

<-- This shows the slit doors, the right hand side and top are open and the left hand ones are closed.   The top doors hinge up and over and the side doors hinge out and around. All the doors are kept firmly closed with pins or clamps.

<-- The roof rotates on six wheel assemblies bolted to the roof. These roll around a steel track bolted to the wall of the observatory. A rubber flap covers the gap.   --> Three of the wheel assemblies have extra clamps used when the observatory is not in use. I lost one roof to high winds and I don't want to lose this one!

Uptairs, the business area

Down stairs, the pier and upper floor support structure