Meridian PlaquePrint Page

The obelisk was originally erected in 1910 to commemorate the true position of Goulburn which was calculated during the Transit of Venus in 1874. The original plaque was moved in 1997 to allow the construction of a playground and the Meridian Plaque unveiled in 1997 gives the detailed history of the original event.

The fixing of the longitude and the latitude of Goulburn, an historical event, took place with the observation of Venus on December 8, 1874, with the ultimate placing being determined in February, 1875.  The true position was determined as a result of the transit observations, Goulburn's position was fixed as latitude 34 degrees 45 minutes 13 seconds south; longitude 9 hours 58 minutes 47.18 seconds east. This was a most significant event in the history of Goulburn and historically very little prominence has been given to it. The minutes of the Municipal Council at a meeting in November, 1874, reveal that the Government astronomer of the day had applied to the council for permission to observe the transit of Venus from Belmore Park. The government had promised to fix and erect an obelisk to mark the direction and location of the town. This was not done until 1910 when Mr Ashley was Mayor.

It is most significant to note that the astronomical position reveals that the city is not laid out due north and south but beautifully laid out streets run considerably to the NE and SW. The present plaque in Belmore Park erected by the City Council in 1910 may not be on the identical site where the original observations were made, there is a difference of several minutes and seconds indicated on it. The essential figures on the plaque are as follows: Latitude 34 degrees, 47 minutes, 25.54 seconds south, Longitude 9 hours, 58 minutes, 53.27 seconds east, which can be readily observed are at some variance with the original finding on the 1874 observers.

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