have spoken of visits to the observatory in their childhood which inspired them to pursue careers in science and engineering. Beames also had a long term association with Jesuit scientists from the Riverview Observatory at Hunters Hill and later the Castel Gandolfo (Vatican Observatory) as well as astronomers at MT Stromlo Observatory and scientists at the CSIRO Physics Lab and many amateur astronomers. Beames' personal goal over many years was to turn the site into an astronomical education centre, and this is now a prominent goal of the site's trustees. The site is in regular use by amateur and semi-professional astronomers, with a regular beginners group, and regular observing night by the Western Sydney Amateur Astronomy Group (WSAAG). Courses sponsored by the Nepean Community College have been proposed and are being negotiated. The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales. The Linden Observatory is of State significance for its research potential associated with the fabric and its collection of moveable heritage including working design drawings, engineering equipment, telescopes, World War II munitions optics, documentary archive. Significant research opportunities are to be found in the archive in a number of areas such as: History of telescope making in Australia History of the construction of the Linden telescope Manufacture of optical instruments in Australia Optical munitions manufacture in WWII in Australia Armament manufacture in WWII History of amateur astronomy in Australia Research into the production of 6" , 12" and 24" mirrors on home-made grinding machinery in the 1930s. The site continues its significant educational function as a place for the practice and teaching of amateur astronomy and telescope making. The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales. The Linden Observatory is of State significance as a rare example of a privately held historic observatory in Australia.Others include Tebbut's observatory in Windsor NSW, Linden, and the Ballarat Observatory in Victoria. Tebbut's observatory is older than Linden, but only housed much smaller instruments purchased by Tebbut. The Ballarat Observatory, which is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, has a large amateur made historic instrument (the Oddie telescope) and is in this respect comparable to Linden. Linden's collection of associated workshops and material with its extremely high degree of association with the master engineer and instrument maker Ken Beames,