OTC Dish

The OTC dish is one of the landmarks of Carnarvon, it is 29.5 metres in diameter and was the first antenna in Australia to transmit and receive world-wide television via satellite. The Overseas Telecommunications Base is situated on Brown’s Range and ceased to operate on 31^st March 1987. It was one of just eight in the world and was an integral part of the communications network for the Apollo Moon Programme and also for tracking Halley’s Comet.

During the “Gemini” and “Apollo” space missions it was the station that transmitted the first live TV from Australia to the outside world on November 25^th 1966 and transmitted the first live TV into Western Australia on July 21^st 1969. The second event was Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon.

A drive around the base offers great views of the town of Carnarvon and the plantations.

For enquiries and other information contact the Carnarvon Visitors Centre on (08) 9941 1146.