Published Resources Details
Resource Section
- Title
- The rise and fall of semiconductor manufacturing in Australia
- In
- Pearcey Foundation
- Description of Work
- Guest Article
- Imprint
- 22 September 2020
- Url
- https://www.pearcey.org.au/news/news-archive/2020/the-rise-and-fall-of-semiconductor-manufacturing-in-australia/
- Format
- HTML
- Contains
- Image
- Description
The author, Bernie O'Shannassy, holds a Masters Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Melbourne. Bernie worked for Fairchild Australia Pty. Ltd from 1965 to 1974 starting as an Applications Engineer and became Manufacturing Manager of its semiconductor factory in Croydon, Victoria, Australia. This article was prepared from memories of that time and the above sources.
- Abstract
Following the invention and development of the transistor in the late1940's in the USA, the CSIRO began research into semiconductors. The work was led by Dr. Louis Davies and was based on technology transferred from Bell Laboratories in the USA. At CSIRO they refined and purified germanium for single crystal production, made transistors and developed applications for them. This work commenced in 1953 at Rydalmere in NSW and continued until 1958, when the plant was transferred to AWA.
In the aftermath of WWII the radio manufacturing industry in Australia was accustomed to operating in an atmosphere of self-sufficiency and procuring its components from local manufacturers. Resistors, capacitors, transformers, loudspeakers, coils and vacuum tubes were manufactured by a number of Australian companies including, AWA, Philips, STC and Ducon.
Related entries
Corporate Bodies
- Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd (AWA) (1913 - 1988)
- CSIR/O Division of Radiophysics, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1940 - 1996)
- Philips Electrical Industries
- Standard Telephones and Cables Pty Ltd (1937 - 1970s)