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Federation and MeteorologyBureau of Meteorology
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Table of Contents

Weather News

Introduction

History
Fifty Years of Weather History
Weather Officers—25 Years Ago
The Perth RO Since 1929
Remember the Pioneers
Akeroyd the Great
Out with the Old—In with the New [Bill Gibbs / John Zillman]
Dr Bill Gibbs
Dr John Zillman
Meteorological History in the Territory
Edwin Thomas Quayle—Bureau Research Pioneer
Ninety Years Ago: Birth of the Bureau

Personal Notes

Retirements

Obituaries

Observers and Volunteers

Media

Computers


Index
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Ninety Years Ago: Birth of the Bureau

No. 318 April 1998

To mark the Bureaus 90th birthday, retired officer Don Linforth offers some highlights from his continuing research into Bureau history. For weather trivia buffs, there's a surprise date for our first computer.

When the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology began operations on New Year's Day 1908, under the direction of the Commonwealth Meteorologist, Mr H. A. Hunt, it had a permanent staff of 30 Australia-wide with two positions vacant.

Staff Origins

Many came from the State public services, enticed by salary rises. Meteorologists mostly came from the State astronomical observatories, where the professionals were graded as 'first assistant', 'second assistant', etc. This nomenclature was carried over to the Bureau. It was a young staff, mostly 20s–30s. The Bureau was in the Department of Home Affairs, whose Secretary had a salary of 900 pounds, about $180 000 in today's money. Mr Hunt's salary was 650 pounds ($130 000). The Commonwealth public service had 12 450 staff with 10 900 in the Postmaster-General's Department.

Of course, in 1908 there was no aviation, no broadcasting to ships, no upper air network. Observations were reported around Australia at 9am, with limited numbers at 3 pm.

The Central Office in Melbourne acted as a super Regional Forecasting Centre. On the basis of the 9am synoptic chart, Melbourne meteorologists prepared 24 hour forecasts for all States (but not individual cities). Forecasts were telegraphed to the State offices, where staff could alter them in the light of later information.


People in Bright Sparcs - Hunt, Henry Ambrose ; Linforth, Don

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© Online Edition Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre and Bureau of Meteorology 2001
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