ANSTO offers rare chance to step inside HIFAR reactor | St George & Sutherland Shire Leader

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ANSTO offers visitors a rare opportunity to enter their old HIFAR reactor. ANSTO in Lucas Heights will conduct three tours through the decommissioned HIFAR reactor this month. The first will be on April 15th. Visitors have the opportunity to walk around the HIFAR nuclear reactor, which was commissioned in 1958 and used for research and research purposes. The production of radioisotopes lasted nearly 50 years before decommissioning in 2007. Visitors will also see and experience the OPAL research reactor that replaced HIFAR in 2007. Shaun Jenkinson, ANSTO’s new managing director, said the tours are a great opportunity to delve into Australia’s nuclear past. “For three days in April, visitors can walk through Australia’s first nuclear reactor, opened by Prime Minister Menzies in 1958,” he said. “For more than 50 years, HIFAR has been used for the world’s first neutron research. And production of radioisotopes and nuclear medicine.” Visitors must be at least 14 years old and fit enough to climb steep metal steps to the upper level of the reactor. The tours take place on the following dates and times: Details: For more information or to make a booking, click here.

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WHAT’S GOING ON

April 10, 2021 – 6.30 a.m.

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Travel back in time: the HIFAR reactor at ANSTO. Images: Max Dupain

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ANSTO offers visitors a rare opportunity to enter their old HIFAR reactor.

ANSTO in Lucas Heights will conduct three tours through the decommissioned HIFAR reactor this month. The first will be on April 15th.

Visitors have the opportunity to walk around the HIFAR nuclear reactor, which began operating in 1958 and was used for research and radioisotope production for nearly 50 years before decommissioning in 2007.

Visitors will also see and experience the OPAL research reactor that replaced HIFAR in 2007.

ANSTO’s new General Manager Shaun Jenkinson said the tours are a great opportunity to delve into Australia’s nuclear past.

“For three days in April, visitors can walk through Australia’s first nuclear reactor, opened by Prime Minister Menzies in 1958,” he said

“For more than 50 years, HIFAR has been used for the world’s first neutron research as well as for the production of radioisotopes and nuclear medicine.”

Visitors must be at least 14 years old and fit enough to climb steep metal steps to the upper level of the reactor.

The tours take place on the following dates and times:

• Thursday, April 15, 1.30 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.
• Thursday, April 22nd, 10 a.m.-12.30 p.m.
• Thursday, April 29, 10 a.m.-12.30 p.m.

Details: For more information or to make a booking, click here.