Australian Atomic Energy Commission

The Australian Atomic Energy Commission (AAEC) was a statutory body of the Australian government.

It was established in 1952, replacing the Atomic Energy Policy Committee. In 1981 parts of the Commission were split off to become part of CSIRO, the remainder continuing until 1987, when it was replaced by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). The Commission head office was in Coogee, and its main facilities were at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Lucas Heights, established in 1958.

Highlights of the Commission's history included:

• Major roles in the establishment of the IAEA and the system of international safeguards.
• The construction of the HIFAR and MOATA research reactors at Lucas Heights.
• The selection of the preferred tenderer for the construction of the proposed nuclear power reactor at Jervis Bay.
• The Ranger Uranium Mine joint venture.

Other significant facilities constructed by the Commission at Lucas Heights included a 3MeV vandegraaff particle accelerator, installed in 1964 to provide proton beams, a smaller 1.3MeV vandegraaff electron accelerator, and radioisotope production and remote handling facilities associated with HIFAR reactor.

Significant research work included:

• Radiochemistry .
• Neutron diffraction.
• Sodium coolant systems.
• Use of beryllium as a neutron moderator.
• Movement of spheres in a closed-packed lattice.
• Gas centrifuge development.
• Health physics.
• Environmental science.
• Development of synroc.