Australia Day, 26 January, is a significant day in Australian history. Most importantly, in 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip took formal possession of New South Wales and became its first Governor and this day is celebrated each year across Australia.
ANSTO’s Chief Executive, Professor Helen Garnett, said a lesser-known fact, but very much a scientific milestone in Australian history, occurred 45 years ago on this date.
"At 11.15 pm on 26 January 1958 at the Lucas Heights Hi Flux Australian Reactor (HIFAR) — the process of criticality, a self-sustaining chain reaction which splits atoms, was achieved," Professor Garnett said.
"This was the first nuclear chain reaction conducted in the Southern Hemisphere.
"After many years of planning, Australia now had a working research reactor where atomic energy could be developed for peaceful purposes," Professor Garnett said.
"It was a gigantic step that would ultimately make Australia a world leader in the application, research and development of nuclear based science and other technologies."
By December, 1957 work had been completed on HIFAR to a stage that permitted process testing and the approach to criticality to be carried out.
The preparations for this big event began on 24-25 January when the reactor was loaded with heavy water and a neutron source, present to initiate fission in the fuel.
From 7pm on 25 January, after tests, measurements and calculations by the start-up teams, the fuel elements were loaded one by one.
The initial criticality, as predicted theoretically, was achieved under the watchful eye of the chief scientist Dr Charles Watson-Munro, with 11 of the maximum of 25 fuel elements in the core.
Many months of testing and calibration followed. The reactor was not taken up to its full power level of 10 megawatts until 20 October 1960.
Professor Garnett said that since that first instance of criticality 45 years ago, neither the application of nuclear science and technology nor ANSTO has remained static.
"While the initial work undertaken related almost exclusively to nuclear power, uranium and the nuclear power cycle, immediate steps were taken to diversify activities and widen the sphere of the projects," Professor Garnet said.
"This includes the applications of nuclear expertise to the problems of an environmental and industrial nature and health.
"This progressive development of continues today. ANSTO has achieved international recognition for its innovative applications of nuclear science and technology in these fields," she said.
"Its recent work in expanded fields includes dating seized drugs and studying the transport of cohesive sediments and contaminants within Homebush Bay.
"ANSTO is also to become a participant in the Sustainable Resource Processing Cooperative Research Centre, working with other research organisations, non-government agencies, universities and major mining companies to ensure sustainability and the preservation of our environment," Professor Garnett said.
"Today ANSTO works in the development and application of new knowledge and expertise, important to sustainability, human health, national security and the economic development of Australia.
"The Replacement Research Reactor (RRR), currently under construction, will have enormous potential for unlocking knowledge associated with biotechnology, engineering, materials, nanoscience and environmental science.
It will also allow Australia to keep up with medical research and provide new reactor-produced treatments."