A per-night facility fee payable by astronomy visitors to the Warwick & District Archers.
BAS Members: BAS members pay just $10/night.
Non-BAS Members: Non-BAS members pay $10/night plus a single additional $10 charge (Non-member stays 1 night and pays $20; Stays 2 nights and pays $30; etc.)
(Please note: We charge a little more than the base $10 charge (for example, $10.26 etc) to cover commission and fees levied by Square and credit card companies.)
At the end of each month, BAS transfers collected fees to the Warwick & District Archers. Your fee payment helps the Archers cover some of their costs for site leasing, mowing, electricity, gas, building construction, maintenance and insurance, rubbish removal, vegetation management, tractor and mower costs, and much more. Payments of more than just the base applicable fee are welcomed.
At the October 26th 2024 Annual General Meeting, the following BAS members were elected to the BAS Management Committee for 2024/25
Peter Allison – President Paul Baker Nathan Eikenbary Peter Metcher – Hire Equipment Co-ordinator Dean Stewart – Secretary Subbarao Sivakumar – Treasurer Ken Wishaw – Maleny Observatory Co-ordinator) Mike Zupanc – Education Co-ordinator
BAS conducts regular telescope evenings for its Sunshine Coast members on the lawns of the Maleny Golf Club clubhouse.
The club’s street address is: 15 Porters Lane, North Maleny QLD, 4552
Most people initially head for Landsborough and then head up the Landsborough Maleny Road to Maleny itself. Once in Maleny, drive straight through the first roundabout and then take the first right, Teak Street, to head towards North Maleny and the golf club.
For a What3Words location map, click here. Or insert the following three words into the app: responsible.bananas.croaking
The main telescope setup area is just above the clubhouse. The clubhouse is open for use by members during our telescope events.
There is some limited storage capacity adjacent to the clubhouse for astronomy equipment storage. There is a toilet to the north of the main carpark.
BAS conducts telescope evenings for members, mainly on the Saturday closest to the New Moon phase. Public nights are also conducted on selected Saturdays prior to member events. Dates for all events are available on the BAS website calendars:
Public telescope nights commence, around sunset, with a short PowerPoint presentation on aspects of astronomy and the main objects visible on the night. BAS members welcome the public looking through their telescopes as planets, stars, star clusters, nebulae or asteroids. Some members will also demonstrate aspects of astrophotography.
BAS Member nights are reserved purely for the benefit of members. Beginner members are encouraged to attend both public and members events. There is no need to own or bring a telescope. Attending these evenings and talking with other BAS members will help beginners climb the astronomy learning curve.
Ken Wishaw co-ordinates the Maleny events and makes the Go/No Go weather condition decision. He maintains an email list of BAS members interested in attending Maleny events. Members are encouraged to contact Ken and add their email address. Status update emails are issued in the days prior to calendar-listed events.
Please note, BAS does not have permission for members to camp overnight on the Maleny Golf Club site or in any of its facilities. The nearest camping option is the Maleny Show Ground, about 2km from the golf club.
The Maleny facilities are excellent. BAS members are encouraged to utilise these facilities and the events we conduct there.
Calvert Dark-Sky Telescope Site – Bourkes Road West, Calvert
BAS has been very kindly invited to utilize the privately owned facilities of the Calvert Radio Aeromodelling Field, also known as Gratton Field, located on Bourkes Road, West, just south of the hamlet of Calvert. The site is about a 1 hour, 70km, drive from the Brisbane CBD via Walloon and Rosewood.
The location is recognised by two names searchable within Google Maps:
Calvert Aero Modelling Society
Gratton Field
If driving from Brisbane, head for Rosewood. Then take the Rosewood Laidley Rd west for 7.6km. Just after the first right-hand curve in the road look for two small bus stop shelters. Immediately after turn left into Calvert Station Road, cross the rail line and creek and immediately turn left into Bourke Rd, West. Proceed 260m to a gate entrance on the right with two white flag poles. Drive down the lane at no more than 30kph and you have arrived. And, don’t forget to bring your $10 to compensate the facilities owner. This will be collected by one of the attendees and left in the clubhouse for the site owner. This helps offset the costs for site mowing, maintenance, facilities, and power etc.
Google Maps link to Calvert location: HERE Search Google maps with either of these terms: “Calvert Aero Modelling Society” or “Gratton Field”
What3Words link to Calvert location: HEREor here: https://w3w.co/logos.recycle.helpful
Calvert entrance gate with two white flag poles.
The gate at the far end of the entrance lane, opening into the car parking area, is usually shut to keep cows out. Please leave the gate as you found it- usually shut.
Please do not drive vehicles beyond the car parking area and into the model aircraft flight area (where the windmill is). Tyre ruts can damage delicate landing gear and expensive aircarft.
The facilities comprise plenty of grassed open space. Telescopes may be set up on the grassed carpark or on the flying field. No vehicles to be driven onto the flying field. The sunshade structures have 240V power outlets, available to BAS astronomers.
The main clubhouse building has a kitchen, microwave oven, and refrigerators we may use. Nearby is a toilet block.
Camping is permitted. Either camp or park your vehicle in the main car parking area, or you can take your sleeping bag (and a camp bed/stretcher would be a good idea) into the main dining room area. Please leave the site as clean and tidy as you found it, or better.
BAS members may utilize the site 365 days provided the owner is alerted prior to visiting. Contact the BAS President to arrange permission to visit. A $10 fee is payable per visitor.
The Calvert site has excellent facilities:
Kitchen with microwave ovens, BBQ facilities, refrigerators.
240v power and running water
Dining hall with tables and chairs
Toilets and shower facilities
240v power is also available along the flying field awnings
Extensive flat mown grassed areas.
Plenty of room for camping.
Some of the main facilities at the Calvert Aeromodelling Field.Kitchen and dining hall area.
