The main building facility housing the telescopes of Australia's Siding Spring Observatory remained unscathed and intact despite a raging bushfire in New South Wales that have destroyed at least 12 homes in the Warrumbungle National Park area over the weekend.

Five buildings at the Siding Spring Observatory, including the visitors' lodge and a number of cottages and sheds, had been "severely affected or damaged," but the essential scientific facilities remain intact.

"What we understand at this point in time is that there has been some damage to some of the structures on the top of the mountain but it looks as though all of the main telescope facilities are okay," Andrew Hopkins, acting director of the Australian Astronomical Observatory, said.

"Of course we're incredibly grateful to the efforts of the Rural Fire Service. The significance of the site is absolutely huge. The Siding Spring Observatory site is the premiere astronomical observatory facility in Australia for optical and infrared observing."

The Australian National University, which owns the site, although relieved, said it would still have to assess the potential damage, if any, on the telescopes due to its' exposure to the extreme heat rendered by the bushfire. It said it will temporarily shut down the power at the site as connections are being assessed and checked.

Managed by Australian, Polish, British, Korean and U.S. researchers and administered by the Australian National University's research school of astronomy and astrophysics, Siding Spring houses 10 operating telescopes. It is Australia's premier optical and infrared observatory and one of the top facilities of its kind in the world.

About 170 blazes in across NSW, Australia's most populous state, are still currently burning, with 50 still out of control. The fires have destroyed at least 500,000 hectares.