In 1975, the idea for Australia’s first hands-on, interactive science centre came from The Australian National University (ANU) physics lecturer, Professor Mike Gore. Questacon, created from the words Quest (to search, to discover) and Con (to study, to examine) was opened in 1980 by the ANU. In those early days, Questacon was located at the former Ainslie Primary School in Canberra. Staffed by volunteers, the popularity of the 15 science exhibits grew quickly among school groups and the general public.
In 1984, the Australian Government commenced negotiations for the establishment of a national science centre as a bicentennial project. Construction of Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre began on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra in 1986. The project was a joint partnership between Australia and Japan. The government and business community of Japan donated half the construction cost (one billion Yen) as a major bicentennial gift to Australia.
In November 1988, Questacon was officially opened as part of the Department of Arts, Sports, the Environment, Tourism and Territories (DASETT). Professor Mike Gore’s idea had become reality and he was appointed as Questacon’s founding director.
An important part of Questacon’s role as Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre is to provide science experiences for all Australians. Travelling outreach programmes were developed to bring Questacon’s unique brand of fascinating science to those who live far from the Centre in Canberra. Questacon’s Outreach Programmes focus on families and students in rural and remote communities.
Today these Outreach Programmes include the Shell Questacon Science Circus, Smart Moves, Indigenous Outreach Programmes, Tenix Maths Squad and Science Squad.
After more than a decade as the director of Questacon, Professor Michael Gore retired, and in 1999, Dr Annie Ghisalberti was appointed.
In 2003 Questacon was transferred from the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (DCITA) to the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST), and Professor Graham Durant became Questacon’s third and current director.
Since opening in 1988 Questacon has made science fun and relevant for over 6 million visitors to the Centre. With 60% of our programmes occurring outside of Canberra, close to 17 million more have experienced Questacon through its touring exhibits and programmes, taking the excitement of interactive science to Australia and the world.