The world's first automatic totalisator was invented in Australia in 1913 by George Julius. (Late Sir George Julius)

This system was installed at Ellerslie and started operation that same year. George Julius went on to found the company Automatic Totalisators which became a world Monopoly in this field.

These early mechanical and electro mechanical systems are a significant Australian achievement. They represent the technology that inspired the birth of the electronic computer.

The Computer Conservation Society consider these old systems to be Large scale, multi-terminal, real time computer systems long before the electronic computer system was thought of.

Brian Conlon has done a well researched history of the totalisator in Australia.
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