Stargazers in South Australia are hopeful about the development of a new observatory and planetarium. They’d like it to be built at the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve close to the Swan Reach Conservation Park. This reserve spans over 1,250 square miles. Perhaps because of its higher elevation, it offers one of the clearest night skies in the state, often achieving a 21.9 SQM reading. Since achieving accreditation in 2019, the region has attracted over 150,000 tourists. They come to experience the stunning splendor of an unlight polluted night sky.
River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve is less than 90 minutes’ drive from Adelaide! It is one of the proximate dark sky areas to a capital city. Hundreds of thousands of visitors come to the wide open skies of the region each year to indulge in some of the best stargazing available. Docent Kelly Kuhn runs midnight dark sky tours in the area. She’s led visitors from 18 countries through this starlit oasis, a testament to the global wonder of this celestial paradise.
Proposal and Vision
The proposal for a new observatory and planetarium has just taken root, but it stands a good chance of growing into something truly unique. Early designs indicate an underground facility that blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape while meeting dark sky standards. This facility will provide new opportunities for research and education for universities and space researchers.
Gary Mavrinac, director of development and community services at Mid Murray Council, stressed the importance of the proposal. It serves as a guidepost for a broader astrotourism initiative. He noted, “Part of our strategy is to hopefully set up an independent board that could potentially become the owner of such a facility.”
The envisioned observatory would take especially advantage of 21st century technology. Most current telescopes feature the ability to access them remotely. Chris Tugwell, a local advocate for the project, expressed enthusiasm about this feature, stating, “A telescope here can be operated by somebody in New York or Paris or anywhere, and people can do their own research.”
Enhancing Visitor Experience
Beyond advancing scientific study, the goals of the planetarium would focus on enhancing the guest experience. As Tugwell pointed out, “The weather isn’t always reliable. We want people to experience the amazing night sky, especially if they’ve come a long way from [places like] China or Japan.”
He added, “If it’s cloudy, we still want to give them that experience, so a planetarium can do that. They can still see an extraordinary site.” Their vision is not just to preserve the quality of the night sky, but to foster an environment that awes and inspires visitors. Tugwell remarked, “We want to create a building that’s inspiring as well, so people want to come to visit the building as much as they want to see the dark sky.”
Community Impact and Investment Needs
The effects of a facility like this reach far beyond the ability to gaze at the stars. The reserve lures travelers who tend to spend at least one night—sometimes many more—to experience the beauty of a “proper night sky.” Mavrinac highlighted the need for careful planning: “We still have to look at ways we can protect the reserve because, ultimately, any design that we come up with has to be light-friendly, but equally, [the] location needs to provide access to services and infrastructure.”
Making this vision a reality will take billions in new investment. To move the proposal further, federal, state or private funding would be necessary. With ongoing support from local tourism operators like Kuhn, who noted that “a lot of people have never seen stars in their life because of light pollution and one third of the world’s population living in cities,” there is hope that this project will resonate.
