25th Feb 2025 8:58AMIn the background of that photo, there is a chimney which is likely to be a sewer vent. There is or was a sewer vent chimney more or less behind the Madson Building and fairly close to what was called the School of Tropical Medicine.

25th Feb 2025 8:55AMAccording to a CSIRO blog, the first scientists moved in March 1940 and by the end of the war had 60 scientists. I believe the research group was at the National Standards Lab but the group producing radar for the RAN based on the research was in the PMG (Post Master General) group in Melbourne. I also read some time ago the research group was overjoyed in detecting a car moving along the road behind the lab; several weeks later they mounted their device on a plane at Richmond air force base and it showed real promise. Some years ago, I was reading about radar for the RAN and its installation on HMAS Arunta (about 1942/3) which helped it and a couple of RAN and RN ships in the Battle of Layte Gulf but the US had the big ships with large guns with poorer quality radar. However, the US Navy with their firepower were able to inflict considerable damage.