The ASNSW provides members and the general public access to Astronomical observing facilities, educational lectures, and assistance in selecting, using and even building telescopes and related instruments".

The majority of work was done by club volunteers, and on the 18th of September 1959, the new facility was officially opened by the astronomer, Bart Bok, the then Director of Mount Stromlo Observatory.

Second, the Society lost its president when Gordon Patston moved to England to take up a Churchill Fellowship to study aerospace engineering.

The combination of events caused financial hardship for the club, and the lack of a permanent venue initially made it difficult to attract and retain members.

[3] In 1973 the society acquired a long-term lease from the government for the Crago Observatory site on Bowen Mountain, but in spite of being used regularly, the official inauguration was not held until 20 years later, in 1993.

[9] Starting in 1993, the "South Pacific Star Party" (SPSP) is held each year at the Society's dark-sky observing site "Wiruna", attracting between 200 and 400 Australian and international amateur astronomers.