Australia's first digital computer and the oldest existing example of its type,
the valve-powered behemoth CSIRAC, now has
a
permanent home at the Melbourne Museum. Built in 1949, CSIRAC consumed
30 kilowatts, and was less powerful than a modern pocket calculator, though
achieved some impressive things for its day. Apparently -- or so I heard from
a retired academic -- it was shut down in 1964 after the Foreign Office in
London had a word to the local powers that be, sternly informing them that
Australia has no business doing research not related to primary industry
(i.e. mining or farming).