In 1949, the world was witnessing remarkable changes: vinyl LPs were introduced, the iconic Volkswagen Kombi van hit the streets, the first jet airliner flew, and Mao Zedong announced the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. However, beneath these milestones, a technological revolution was quietly taking shape — the onset of the computer age.

In rapid succession, scientists and engineers unveiled the first electronic computers with stored memory, massive machines that weighed tons and were filled with vacuum tubes and extensive wiring. By the end of the year, only four had been activated in the U.S. and U.K., paving the way for future innovations. In November 1949, Australia joined the ranks with the launch of its own machine, CSIRAC, which had been under development for two years.

What sets CSIRAC apart is the isolation of its creators; they were largely unaware of concurrent advancements happening globally, as scientific publications from the West often took months to reach Australia, and direct international communication was limited. Despite this, the local team designed and constructed the entire system — both hardware and software — using local resources. Remarkably, while many similar machines were dismantled for parts, CSIRAC survived until today, despite its contemporaries being discarded.

CSIRAC's journey began in Sydney in 1947 at the Radiophysics Laboratory of CSIR, which later evolved into Australia's national science agency, CSIRO. The lab was exploring electronic solutions for complex calculations, necessitated by wartime technology. Transitioning radar technology for civilian applications required advanced electronics, which hand calculations couldn't efficiently manage.

Recognizing the potential for a large-scale electronic calculator, researchers began the ambitious project. Engineer Maston Beard collaborated with Trevor Pearcey, a physicist, to design the "Automatic Computor." They meticulously crafted blueprints for every component. Construction kicked off in early 1948, led by Beard and Pearcey, resulting in a remarkable machine that, when tested in November 1949, successfully executed a long multiplication routine.

Despite its cumbersome structure of 2,000 vacuum tubes and extensive wiring, CSIRAC was revolutionary, operating over a thousand times faster than the best mechanical calculators of its day. Its creators named it CSIR Mark 1, later rebranded as CSIRAC (CSIR Automatic Computer), with a footprint of 40 square meters and a weight of 2.5 tonnes.

Peter Thorne, a young engineer on the project, recalls, “We knew we were at the start of something remarkable.” The machine was an impressive feat, generating sounds and warmth from its power usage, creating an atmosphere unlike any before. At that time, a 'computer' referred to a person performing calculations, often requiring teams of individuals, predominantly women, to process complex equations manually.

CSIRAC, however, changed the landscape, functioning as a 'supercomputer' of its era. By today's standards, CSIRAC's specifications seem diminutive: with just 2 kilobytes of RAM and 5,000 bytes of storage, its clock speed was a mere 1 kHz. For perspective, the first Apple Watch had 512 million bytes of RAM and operated at 520 MHz.

Despite its limitations, CSIRAC was pivotal in advancing various fields, including architecture and meteorology, though its computing power quickly became inadequate. Within just six years, CSIRAC was dismantled, as the emergence of transistors made its technology seem archaic. Engineers soon shifted focus to developing a more powerful transistor-based computer, SILLIAC.

In June 1956, CSIRAC was moved to the University of Melbourne, where it continued to serve various research and civilian projects for eight more years. It successfully completed over 700 computing tasks, addressing everyday challenges like government programs and structural analyses.

Finally, in November 1964, CSIRAC was decommissioned, overshadowed by the rapid advancement of transistor technology. For years, it lay in storage until rediscovered in 1998, subsequently restored and displayed at the Melbourne Museum as the oldest surviving first-generation electronic computer.

CSIRAC stands as a testament to a bygone era, reminding us of the humble beginnings of computing, when the notion of personal computers was far-fetched.

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