This perspective of the ANSTO HIFAR control room highlights the left-side wall, where an array of panels housed essential reactor control instruments. From monitoring coolant flow to overseeing neutron flux, each component played a critical role in the safe and precise operation of Australia’s first nuclear reactor.
Despite the introduction of digital technologies, many of the original systems remained in place, their core functionality unchanged throughout HIFAR’s operational lifetime. The room’s layout reflects a period when hands-on control and analog precision were at the heart of reactor management.
An ideal print for those drawn to the aesthetics of industrial control systems and mid-century engineering, this image offers a rare glimpse into the legacy of nuclear technology.