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Showcase-Timeline

Early

1916

Formation of the Advisory Council of Science and Industry

A precursor to CSIRO, this was the first Commonwealth commitment to national science capability.

1920

1926

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is established

A Bill to amend the Institute of Science and Industry Act 1920 was passed in June 1926. This Act established the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. The first meeting of the Council was opened by the Prime Minister S. M. Bruce on 22 June 1926.

1928

Our first national collection

The Australian National Insect Collection started in 1928 as a series of collections in CSIR’s Division of Economic Entomology, and is now part of the National Research Collection Australia, with more than 15 million biodiversity specimens, from tiny flies to huge sharks.

1929

First knighthood awarded to CSIRO leader

Sir George Julius became the first member of CSIRO (then CSIR), to be awarded a knighthood, recognising his leadership and contribution to Australian science and industry. In total ten CSIRO staff members were awarded knighthoods, prior to the establishment of the Australian honours system in 1975.

1930

1930

First statistician employed

Betty Allan is acknowledged as being CSIRO’s first statistician. She championed and demonstrated the usefulness of biometrics in science, providing statistical and mathematical support across the organisation.

1939

First patent granted

CSIR’s first patent was for The Freney Lipson Shrink Proofing Apparatus, which processed wool through chemical baths that modified fibre surfaces, preventing interlocking and reducing shrinkage during washing.

1939

Supporting Australia’s World War II war effort

CSIR undertook critical wartime research, including radar and defence related science, and opium poppy trials in Canberra to support local morphine production after medical supply lines were cut.

1939

Our first dairy research

CSIRO began dairy research in Werribee in the late 1930s, focusing on butter and cheese at Australia’s first dairy school. Early work supported wartime butter storage, and since then we’ve helped the multi-billion-dollar dairy industry innovate and compete in global markets.

1940

1944

First radio astronomy experiment in Australia

We pioneered the new field of radio astronomy in Australia, observing the Sun using new techniques and equipment at several sites in Sydney. Early leaders in the field included our researchers Joseph Pawsey and Ruby Payne-Scott.

1948

CSIRO Publishing’s scholarly journals program commences

The CSIRO scholarly journals program commenced in 1948, with CSIRO Publishing established as a stand-alone imprint and publishing house in 1995. Australia's leading science publisher of books, peer-reviewed journals, and news, CSIRO Publishing releases 2,000 articles annually.

1949

New name, new Board

The CSIRO Board was established under the Science and Industry Research Act, when CSIRO was constituted as a statutory authority. CSIR was renamed CSIRO, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

1949

Australia’s first digital computer

The CSIR Mk1, later known as CSIRAC, was the first computer in Australia to run a test program on 14 November 1949. Led by Trevor Pearcey and his team, the project laid the foundations for Australia’s early computing capability. CSIRAC continued to provide computing services until 1964 and is now on display at Scienceworks in Victoria.

1950

1951

CSIRO partners to help manufacture snack food Twisties

CSIRO scientists assist inventor Isador Magid to overcome manufacturing challenges when developing Twisties, applying food‑processing expertise that helped bring the iconic Australian snack to market.

1960

1961

Opening of Murriyang, our Parkes radio telescope

An icon of Australian science advancing our understanding of the Universe. Its large dish surface and regular technology upgrades mean Murriyang, on Wiradjuri Country, continues to be one of the world’s leading radio telescopes. It also played a key role in receiving television images from the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969.

1963

CSIRO Computing Network established

CSIRO establishes Australia’s first national scientific computing network in the 1960s, linking central and regional computers to support research across CSIRO, universities and government.

1964

‘Petrichor’ first used to describe the distinct scent of rain in the air

The term “petrichor” was coined in 1964 by scientists Isabel Joy Bear and Richard Grenfell Thomas in a paper published in the journal Nature, to describe the distinctive earthy smell produced when rain falls on dry ground.

1970

1970

Black Mountain Library opens

CSIRO libraries have supported the organisation for over a century, with the first Chief Librarian, Mary Ellinor Lucy Archer, appointed in 1923. Black Mountain Library houses 17 linear kilometres of print materials stored across 3 buildings. In 2026, Library Services continues to support the organisation with over 360,000 digital resources accessible to all staff alongside the print collections.

1972

Cotton Research Unit established in Narrabri

Cotton production has grown into one of Australia’s biggest agricultural industries and CSIRO-bred varieties now comprise the entire Australian market including new varieties with improved yield, disease resistance and fibre quality.

1976

Baseline air pollution monitoring begins

We began monitoring the world's cleanest air in remote northwest Tasmania at Kennaook / Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station, supporting global efforts to track human-driven changes to the atmosphere.

1979

Collecting satellite data for Australia

We started acquiring and archiving satellite data for the Australian Government. This data underpins research from inland water, bushfire and land use mapping to ocean colour monitoring and minerals exploration.

1980

1980

Helen Alma Newton Turner awarded the FAO Ceres Medal

Helen Alma Newton Turner, one of CSIRO’s most influential scientists, was awarded the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Ceres Medal in recognition of her internationally significant contributions to sheep genetics and animal breeding. Fellow recipients of the award history include Mother Teresa of Culcutta, and Queen Sofía of Spain.

1981

National STEM education prioritised

CSIRO established Education and Outreach to create strong connections between scientists, industry, educators and communities. Today, more than 100,000 students across Australia take part in CSIRO education programs.

1983

Pioneering aerial firefighting research began

Project Aquarius is widely recognised as one of the world’s earliest (and generally cited as the first) systematic scientific evaluations of large aircraft used for bushfire suppression, including aerial water and retardant bombing.

1984-1985

Expanding Australia’s national research infrastructure

Australia’s national research capability expanded with the opening of major scientific facilities including the Australian National Herbarium (one of the nation’s largest plant collections), the CSIRO Marine Laboratories in Hobart, and the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (now the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness), supporting biodiversity science, marine research and high‑containment disease preparedness critical to Australia’s environment, biosecurity and industries.

1986

First edition of Double Helix (the Helix) magazine

CSIRO launched the Double Helix Science Club newsletter, which evolved into The Helix and Scientriffic magazines, before relaunching in 2015 as Double Helix, a youth focused science magazine inspiring generations of young Australians. Its publication continued until 2025.

1988

First polymer banknotes circulate

Australia pioneered the use of plastic banknotes; a world first that improved currency security and durability using CSIRO developed Exelgram technology. Now adopted globally, more than 3  billion polymer notes are in circulation across 22 countries.

1988

Expansion of radio astronomy

Our Australia Telescope Compact Array, a six-dish radio telescope on Gomeroi Country opened and the Australia Telescope National Facility was formed.

1990

1996

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) innovation patented

CSIRO scientists solved the challenges of signal distortion caused by indoor reverberation, paving the way for reliable high speed wireless communication. Known as WLAN, this breakthrough underpins modern WiFi, and is now embedded in billions of devices worldwide.

1996

Spacecraft tracking

We were given responsibility by the Australian Government to provide oversight of the treaty relationship between Australia and the United States for spacecraft communications and tracking at the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex on Ngunnawal Country. The station is vital for communicating with NASA missions exploring the Solar System.

1997

Breakthrough in controlled polymer chemistry

Developed by CSIRO scientists and commercialised with DuPont, Reversible Addition Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) polymerisation underpins hundreds of patents and is used worldwide in products from paints to electronics, manufacturing, medicine, and even art preservation.

2000

2000

Pioneering low-emission, fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles

In collaboration with over 100 companies CSIRO produced two low-emission, fuel-efficient hybrid cars: the aXcessAustralia LEV and the Holden ECOmmodore.

2003

Australian National Soil Archive established

One of the earliest archives of its kind, ANSA brought together existing soil collections, including from the Australian Soil Data Bank established in 1971, into a single national facility with more than 100,000 samples and data, supporting long term research into soil health, carbon, erosion and environmental change.

2004

Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme adopted

NatHERS became the nationwide approach for rating building energy efficiency. It is currently used to assess about 90 per cent of new home designs.

2005

The CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet published

Published by Penguin in 2005, offering a science-backed, easy-to-follow structured eating pattern for sustainable weight loss.

2009

Ultra Battery™ developed, a game-changer for hybrid electric vehicles

We developed the Ultra Battery™, combining a lead acid battery and supercapacitor in one unit to deliver high power, long life and rapid charging at lower cost for hybrid vehicles and renewable energy systems.

2010

2010

First edition State of the Climate report released

The biennial CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology State of the Climate report draws on the latest climate research to describe changes and long-term trends in Australia’s climate.

2012

Handheld 3D laser mapping system introduced

Zebedee, a handheld mapping device and software system, simultaneously maps environments and tracks user location. It has been used to map museums, forests, caves, mines, heritage sites and large public buildings.

2012

Opening of our ASKAP radio telescope

Our 36-antenna ASKAP radio telescope – a precursor to the international SKA telescopes – and our WA observatory were enabled by our first Indigenous Land Use Agreement signed with the Wajarri Yamaji People in 2009.

2012

World’s first continental-scale mineral maps

CSIRO’s ASTER mineral maps delivered the first consistent, continent-scale view of Australia’s surface mineralogy, setting a global benchmark in remote sensing. Developed with Geoscience Australia, NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey, they are widely used to reduce exploration risk and drive investment, while supporting land management, research and education.

2013

CSIRO Futures shapes Australia’s long term strategic thinking

CSIRO’s strategic foresight and economic advisory team combines science, technology and economics to help governments and industries plan for long term national challenges. The team has led influential outlooks and roadmaps, including Our Future World on global megatrends, the Australian National Outlook exploring Australia’s future to 2060, and nationally significant roadmaps on hydrogen, space, energy storage, food systems and carbon dioxide removal.

2013

Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre opens in Perth

The Pawsey Supercomputing Centre was established as a joint venture between CSIRO and Western Australian universities and named after CSIRO astronomer Joseph Pawsey. Marking a new era in data-intensive science, it is purpose-built to enable large-scale research, including the processing of massive datasets from Australia’s SKA precursor radio telescopes, and to support advances across energy, resources, bioinformatics and health sciences.

2014

RV Investigator arrives

The $120 million, 94‑metre research vessel Investigator is Australia’s dedicated ocean research vessel. Operated by the CSIRO Marine National Facility, it supports marine, climate and Antarctic research, delivering up to 300 research days each year.

2015

Driving innovation through ON and Kick‑Start

CSIRO's ON program launched in 2015 to accelerate innovation and commercialise research, supported by Australian Government funding under the National Innovation and Science Agenda. This was followed by the Kick-Start program in 2017, that provides Australian startups and SMEs with funding and access to CSIRO research capabilities, strengthening pathways from ideas to impact.

2016

PhotonAssay™ transforms gold analysis

CSIRO developed and commercialised PhotonAssay™, a high energy X-ray technology that rapidly and accurately measures gold in ore without chemicals or sample destruction. Spun out as Chrysos Corporation in 2016, the technology replaced centuries-old fire assay methods, delivering faster results, improved safety and reduced environmental impact for the global mining industry. PhotonAssay’s impact was recognised with the Prime Minister’s 2022 Prize for Innovation.

Now

2026

Australia's national science agency

From iconic inventions to quiet contributions and emerging discoveries, we have delivered a century of enduring impact for Australia - and we're ready to tackle what comes next.