ASWA Tammin Dark Sky Observing Site

Welcome to Dark Skies.
The Astronomical Society of Western Australia (Inc.) manages a dark sky observing site in the Western Australian Wheatbelt town of Tammin, about two hours drive from Perth. This site is set up for use by ASWA members and invited guests.

What is at the ASWA Tammin Dark Sky site?
Currently the site largely consists of an open field for setting up observing and camping equipment. On-site facilities include toilets and mains water.

What the site boasts is stunning horizons, good darkness, excellent proximity to facilities in Tammin and ease of access from Perth (easy two hour drive out Great Eastern Highway).

Using the ASWA Tammin Dark Sky Site.
ASWA members may use the site provided they have had a site induction. Guests (non-members) must be accompanied onsite at all times by an ASWA member who is responsible for their actions. In order to access the site, lock-codes are required for the entry gate, toilets and shed.

In the future we hope to have facilities suitable for tourists and international guests to use at this wonderful dark sky location.

Accommodation.
On-site accommodation is currently limited to BYO tent/caravan camping. We hope to eventually have substantial accommodation on-site.

The Tammin Hotel/Motel has comfortable air-conditioned rooms available.

Tammin Guest House - Consists of 20 bedrooms, shared bathrooms, a common room and full commercial kitchen facilities. Rooms include two beds.
Rate as at Dec 09 $38.50/room/night (enquire to confirm price at time of booking). Phone 9635 1500 for enquires and booking.

Where is the ASWA Tammin Dark Sky site?
The site is on Lowles Rd about 7km north of the Tammin. Access is via locked gates off Lowles Rd, about 200m from the Tammin-Wyalkatchem Rd.

Getting there is easy by car travelling east from Mundaring on the Great Eastern Highway until you reach Tammin. The first left in Tammin is the Tammin-Wyalkatchem Rd, follow this until Lowles Rd.

Passenger trains stop at Tammin several times per week, and buses travel through Tammin on a regular basis. These are alternative ways to get there if you do not have your own car. You would need to organise transport from the town of Tammin to the ASWA site (roughly 7km).

Cost.
Use of the site is free for ASWA members. ASWA membership starts at only AU$48 for country members

What else is there in the town of Tammin?
Tammin Roadhouse - Has a wide range of meals including breakfast, lunch and dinner. Open 24 hours 7 days this is a very convenient place to eat and stock up on supplies. Toilets, showers, washing machines and wireless internet are also available. The roadhouse has some areas of couches with coffee tables which are comfortable for whiling away some time.

Tammin Hotel & Motel - The local pub, bottle shop and motel. The motel rooms are comfortable and clean, with air-conditioning. Meals are available at the hotel.

Tammin Hydrology Park - See Shire of Tammin Information

Tammin Golf Course - open during the winter and spring, only a short distance from the observing site.

For more information about the town of Tammin see the Shire of Tammin website .

How can you help?
ASWA is a volunteer organisation and as such has limited resources to dedicate to a site such as the Tammin Dark Sky site.

There are many ways to help with the ASWA site:

• If you are an ASWA Member: Use the Site! The more ASWA members we have using the site the better.
• Spread the word about the site. The more people who know about the site the more that may use it and the more that may help us develop it.
• Listen out for busy bee notices on the ASWA news group. Examples of activities include whipper snippering & slashing grass several times a year, re-filling water storage on-site, spraying for weeds, manual weeding and other odd-jobs as they come up.
• Offer suggestions, input and constructive criticism on the use of the site to the ASWA Council.
• Offer hands on help, offer to do something for the site.

This page was last updated on 30 April, 2010