Pittwater Life November 2018 Issue

including a section of the ‘Totalisator’, invented
in 1913 by Australian computing pioneer, Sir
George Julius, to record bets and calculate the
changing odds and dividends at the racecourse.
This section of the shed is a journey through
the history of the computer. Bob points out
a small part of SILLIAC, the University of
Sydney’s first computer. “Early computers were
monstrous – the size of this building,” he says.
He shows me a 1965 computer, the programs
for which were punched onto tape. “And this pianola,”
he says, sitting on the stool in front of it,
“also works on punch tapes.” A lively tune fills
the cavernous space, as Bob pumps the wooden
pedals and the paper slowly rolls around.
Several computers are on display, including
the PDP-8, thought by many to be Australia’s
oldest working computer. Also, the world’s first
‘luggable’ computer (weighing 17kg) and the
first laptop – an archaic-looking Dulmont Magnum
– designed and built in Australia.
Bob and Jill have two children, but neither
have followed in his footsteps career-wise. Son
Scott and daughter Toni are both health care
professionals. So, in 2010, Bob sold the operating
part of Precision Dynamics and the following
year the Discovery Shed was established. (It
ran for several years as a shed for blokes interested
in fixing old technology and machinery.)
Bob also worked for a year as a volunteer for
Scientists and Mathematicians in Schools (SMiS),
a CSIRO initiative, visiting primary schools.
On the upper floor, alongside an Edison
cylinder phonograph and an early sewing
machine, is Bob’s collection of more than 20
early typewriters, including one dating from
1881, plus a hand-held one used by a Reuters
World War I correspondent on horseback, and a
Wagner-Underwood (circa 1897), which featured
in the film, ‘Moulin Rouge’.
“My wife calls me a hoarder, but I think
there’s a distinction between hoarding and
collecting. I have collected them,” he explains,
“because they all have different mechanisms,
so all these designs are a timeline.”
Now foremost in Bob’s mind is what happens
to his collection next. He wants to pass
it on, and the Discovery Shed has been visited
by prominent people from both Australia and
overseas, who are interested in different pieces.
Having lived on the Northern Beaches for more
than 50 years, he would like the collection to
be in a local museum, so it can be seen in its
entirety for many generations to come. But it
doesn’t have a new home yet.
“It’s an eclectic collection,” Bob admits, “but
it’s important because it has the potential to
arouse curiosity, and when this happens there
is no ending.”
* For more info or to visit the Discovery
Shed call 9997 2222 or email bob.moranj@
gmail.com
Life Stories
SCIENCE IN ACTION: Bob Moran hopes the eclectic
collection of items in his ‘Discovery Shed’ will continue
to arouse curiousity in future generations.
The Local Voice Since 1991
NOVEMBER 2018 33