The Australian Atomic Energy Commission's Research Establishment at Lucas Heights was the major centre for atomic energy research and information in Australia.
 
Construction of the Establishment began in 1955 and was completed in 1958 (although several other buildings have been added in subsequent years), and the Establishment was officially opened by the then Prime Minister R G Menzies, on 18 April 1958 (Australia Atomic Energy Commission, sixth Annual Report 1958 p 21).
 
Since construction began in 1955, capital investment to 1981 exceeded $35 million.  A staff of more than 1,100 was largely engaged in a research program in nuclear science and technology.  The main research effort was concentrated in the areas of nuclear power, utilisation of Australia's extensive uranium resources, safety, public health and environment studies of nuclear installations, and application of radio isotopes and radiation.
 
In studies at Lucas Heights in nuclear power systems, the research effort was concentrated on obtaining a better understanding of the performance of reactor systems with emphasis on matters which bear on safety, public health and the environment.  This reactor research involved studies into reactor physics, heat transfer and fluid flow, chemical aspects, materials behaviour, and instrumentation and control.
 
The Commission developed many new radio-isotopes applications and, in close cooperation with medical specialists, also carried out development work in the field of radio active pharmaceuticals.  The ten megawatt research reactor HIFAR (Hi-Flux Australian Reactor) was used to produce a range of radio-isotopes which were processed at Lucas Heights and despatched throughout Australia and to some overseas countries.  Products include cobalt 60 for cancer therapy and a range of short lived radio-pharmaceuticals.  Industrial applications of radio-isotopes, studied by the Commission, relate to on-stream analytical control in mineral processing, measurements of gas flow, hydrology, sterilization, and control of insect pests.
 
In addition, the Commission's research and development activities also aimed to:
 
a. provide the community with the widest beneficial use of radio   
   isotopes and radiation;
 
b. contribute to the world pool of scientific knowledge and to   
   promote exchanges of information;
 
c. contribute to training and education in the broad fields of   
   nuclear science, working closely with universities under the   
   auspices of the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and   
   Engineering,
 
d. provide data relevant to national resources, eg. age of
   underground waters and characteristics of uranium minerals;  

e. develop new techniques of potential commercial value to Australian
   industry;
 
f. provide specialised services which are not otherwise available in
   Australia;
 
g. make specialist advice available to outside bodies on topics in   
   which the Commission has established particular competence;  

h. introduce Australia to techniques developed overseas in the
   nuclear field.
   (Australian Atomic Energy Commission, Lucas Heights, 1974 p 5)  

The agency was renamed the Australian Atomic Energy Commission Research Laboratories, Lucas Heights (CA 4197) in September 1981.

 
Sources
 
Ministerial Statement of 30 April 1981 quoted in Commonwealth Record (27 April to 3 May 1981, pp 456-457)
Historical agency address
New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights NSW
Legislation administered
Creation: Commonwealth of Australia Acts, No. 31 of 1953, Atomic Energy Act 1953