Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) (1974 - )

Summary

In 1974 the Australian Department of Defence was reorganised. The Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) was created through the integration of the Australian Defence Scientific Service, the in-house research and development units of the Armed Services (except ARDU and ATEA) and the Science Branch of the Department of Defence. The Aeronautical Research Laboratories were also transferred to DSTO.

'The Defence Science and Technology Organisation is the research and development arm of the Australian Department of Defence. It exists to enhance Australian defence capabilities, to contribute to the development and implementation of Australian defence policies, and to provide assistance to the defence organisation and Australian industry, through the application of science and technology.' From "What is the DSTO?" calendar 1992.

For a full history of the reorganisations within DSTO see http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/page/356/.

Related entries

Published resources

Books

• Cain, Frank, Arming the Nation: a History of Defence Science and Technology in Australia (Canberra: Australian Defence Studies Centre, 1999), 152 (160) pp. Details
• Donovan, Peter F., Anticipating tomorrow's Defence Needs: a century of Australian Defence Science (Canberra: Defence Science and Technology Organisation, 2007), 216 pp. Details
• Mann, J. Y., Aeronautical Research Laboratory 1939-1989: 50 Years of Research and Development for Australia's Defence (Melbourne: Aeronautical Research Laboratory, 1989), 116 pp. Details
• Ross, A.T., Armed and Ready: the Industrial Development and Defence of Australia, 1900-1945 (Sydney: Turton & Armstrong, 1995), 452 pp. Details
• Smith, Dennis K., To Explore and Exploit the Unknown: a History of Defence Science at DSTO Maribyrnong 1922-2004 (Fishermans Bend: Defence Science and Technology Organisation, 2005), 210 pp. Details
• Sweeney, Tony, Malaria frontline: Australian Army research during World War II (Carlton, Victoria: Melbourne University Press, 2003), 354 pp. Details
• Wisdom, J. C., Forty Years of Army Design (Maribyrnong, Victoria: Engineering Development Establishment, 1979), 91 pp. Details
• Wisdom, John, A History of Defence Science in Australia (Melbourne: Defence Science and Technology Organisation, 1995), 267 pp. Details

Book Sections

• Farrands, J. L.; and Wisdom, J. C., 'Chapter 13: Defence Science and Technology' in Technology in Australia, 1788-1988: a condensed history of Australian technological innovation and adaptation during the first two hundred years, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, eds (Melbourne: Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, 1988), https://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/896.html. Details

Conference Papers

• Morton, Peter, 'Engaging with Leviathan: a Historian's Perspective on Using the Scientific Archives of the Department of Defence', in Recovering Science: Strategies and Models for the Past, Present and Future: Proceedings of a Conference Held at the University of Melbourne, October 1992 edited by Tim Sherratt, Lisa Jooste and Rosanne Clayton (Canberra: Australian Science Archives Project, 1995), pp. 51-56.. Details
• Noble, R., 'Sixty years of engineering in the RAAF', in The Royal Aeronautical Society, Australian Division, Melbourne Branch, Sir Lawrence Wackett Lecture (1980).. Details

Journal Articles

• Dowsett, Michael, 'The Contribution of the Royal Australian Navy to the Development of Underwater Medicine in Australia', Health and History, 6 (2) (2004), 92-96. Details
• Richards, R. J., 'Fit to Fight: from Butter to Bullets: Defence Food Science in Australia', Food Australia, 43 (9) (1991), 415-417. Details
• Sinnott, D. H., 'Defence Radar Development in Australia: 1939 to the Present', IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine, 20 (11) (2005), 27-31. Details

Reports

• Horsley, Ray; Howe, John; O'Reilly, Jan, Materials Research Laboratory: Structure and Information 1988 (Melbourne, Victoria: Defence Science and Technology Organisation, 1988), 149 pp. Details

Resources

• Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-637006. Details

Resource Sections

• 'Primary description of agency CA 5199; Electronics Research Laboratory, Defence Research Centre, Salisbury [South Australia], Registration of entity: 18 November 1986', in RecordSearch, National Archives of Australia, 2000, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CA%205199. Details
• 'Primary description of agency CA 3040; Defence Research Centre, Salisbury [South Australia], Registration of entity: 30 September 1987', in RecordSearch, National Archives of Australia, 2000, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CA%203040. Details
• 'Primary description of agency CA 5200; Weapons Research Laboratory, Defence Research Centre, Salisbury [South Australia], Registration of entity: 18 November 1986', in RecordSearch, National Archives of Australia, 2000, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CA%205200. Details
• 'Primary description of agency CA 5501; Advanced Engineering Laboratory, Defence Research Centre, Salisbury [South Australia], Registration of entity: 18 November 1986', in RecordSearch, National Archives of Australia, 2000, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CA%205501. Details
• 'Primary description of agency CA 6154; Defence Research Centre [Scottsdale, Tasmania], Registration of entity: 16 December 1987', in RecordSearch, National Archives of Australia, 2000, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CA%206154. Details
• 'Primary description of agency CA 2552; Defence Research/ (by 1956) Defence Standards Laboratories, Alexandria, New South Wales', in RecordSearch, National Archives of Australia, 2000, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CA%202552. Details
• 'Primary description of agency CA 46: Department of Defence [III], Central Office. Registration of entity: 23 September 1987', in RecordSearch, National Archives of Australia, 2000, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CA%2046. Details
• 'Primary description of agency CA 2798; Joint Tropical Trials Research Establishment/ (from 1988) Department of Defence [III], Materials Research Laboratory, Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Queensland. Registration of entity: 29 November 1978', in RecordSearch, National Archives of Australia, 2002, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CA%202798. Details
• 'Primary description of agency CA 2555; Defence Research and Industrial Laboratories (also known as Defence Research Laboratories, [Maribyrnong, Victoria]). Registration of entity: 30 September 1987', in RecordSearch, National Archives of Australia, 2002, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CA%202555. Details
• 'Primary description of agency CA 2556; Defence Standards Laboratories [Maribyrnong, Victoria]. Registration of entity: 30 September 1987', in RecordSearch, National Archives of Australia, 2002, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CA%202556. Details
• 'Primary description of agency CA 6756; Surveillance Research Laboratory, Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Salisbury [South Australia]. Registration of entity: 13 January 1988.', in RecordSearch, National Archives of Australia, 2002, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CA%206756. Details
• 'Primary description of agency CA 6758; Electronics Research Laboratory, Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Salisbury [South Australia]. Registration of entity: 15 January 1988.', in RecordSearch, National Archives of Australia, 2002, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CA%206758. Details
• 'Primary description of agency CA 4389; (from 1987) Maritime Systems Division/ (by Feb 1988) Defence Science and Technology Organisation/ (by Aug 1988) DSTO Sydney, Underwater Weapons and Countermeasure Systems Division/ (from 1992) DSTO Sydney, Marine Operations Division. Registration of entity: 24 December 1987', in RecordSearch, National Archives of Australia, 2002, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CA%204389. Details

Reviews

• Donovan, Peter F., Anticipating tomorrow's defence needs: a century of Aystralian defence science (2007)
  Rae, Ian, Historical Records of Australian Science, 19 (2), (2008), 226-8, https://doi.org/10.1071/HR08008. Details
• Cain, Frank, 'Arming the Nation: a History of Defence Science and Technology in Australia' (1999)
  Sherratt, Tim, Historical Records of Australian Science, 13 (4), (2001), 538-539. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR0011340521. Details
• Sweeney, Tony, Malaria Frontline: Australian Army Research during World War II (2003)
  Smith, F. B., Historical Records of Australian Science, 14 (4), (2003), 549-550. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR03010. Details

See also

• Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Technology in Australia 1788-1988, Online edn, Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, Melbourne, 3 May 2000, http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/index_d.html. Details