Home > Facilities & Collections

Explore CSIRO

About CSIRO

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is Australia's national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world.

CSIRO's core areas of impact

Contact Enquiries: Phone - 1300 363 400 | Email - Enquiries@csiro.au | Contact Us
Fingers picking up a vial with tweesers. Text says 'Facilities and Collections'

CSIRO is the custodian of several collections of animal and plant specimens that contribute to national and international biological knowledge.

CSIRO also operates a range specialised laboratories, scientific and testing equipment, and other research facilities. Find out more about these facilities and collections below.

  • A picutre of some of the trees included in the Atherton Arboretum.

    The arboretum of over 1 300 trees, shrubs and vines from northern Australia, and a reference herbarium in Atherton is used for research and public education.

  • Four antennas of the Australia Telescope Compact Array, Narrabri, New South Wales, Australia.

    The Australia Telescope National Facility sits within CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science (CASS), and operates and develops the Australia Telescope as a national research facility.

  • CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL).

    CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) is a national centre for excellence in disease diagnosis, research and policy advice in animal health.

  • Australian National Fish Collection manager, Alastair Graham.

    The Australian National Fish Collection is a comprehensive biodiversity reference and research facility housing 135 000 finfish specimens representing more than 3 000 species.

  • Herbarium specimen mounted on paper

    The Australian National Herbarium is the national collection of plant specimens that provides a warehouse of information about Australia's native flora.

  • Collection Hall at CSIRO's National Biology Collections

    The Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC) is the pre-eminent collection of our insects including mites, spiders, worms and centipedes, and is an invaluable resource maintained by CSIRO.

  • The Australian National Wildlife Collection museum building, Canberra

    The Australian National Wildlife Collection (ANWC) is the official Commonwealth collection of Australian land vertebrates with specimens and genetic samples covering amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals..

  • A picture of seeds.

    The Australian Tree Seed Centre is a national facility for source-identified seed of Australia’s trees and shrubs. It is managed by CSIRO as a collection and research centre. Seed is also available for purchase.

  • Front view of the Black Mountain quarantine facility and attached glasshouses.

    CSIRO Entomology’s quarantine facility provides a secure working environment for research on exotic plants, pathogens, invertebrates and other animals.

  • Two white radio antenna dishes point skyward.

    The Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex is one of three Deep Space Network stations around the world providing continuous, two-way radio contact with spacecraft exploring our solar system and beyond. CSIRO manages the facility on behalf of the Australian Government.