Aviation activities gradually increased and Civil Aviation was gaining prominence. In order to encourage it, an air race from London to Melbourne was organised to contribute as well to the Centenary celebrations in the latter city. It was then, October 1934 that the Meteorological Office at Darwin was established, its first function was to provide a Meteorological Service for contestants in this race.

Despite progress in meteorology during the nineteen twenties and early thirties, when application of the science to man's. needs we steadily increasing, there was little change in staff numbers and for the year 1936/37 estimates were based on a total staff of 92 (£30,000 Salaries, and, expenses £14,447). The staff was distributed thus, Central Office, Melbourne 44, Sydney 13, Brisbane 11, Adelaide 8, Perth 8, Hobart 5 and Darwin 3.

The demands for a meteorological service for Civil Aviation had to be met, and negotiations with the Public Service Board for the recruitment and training of additional staff commenced in 1937.

In June of that year training commenced with a class of Meteorological Assistants destined to be employed as forecasters on Civil and service aerodromes. A few months later a class of University graduates received instruction for qualification as Meteorologists. Observers, a new classification in the Bureau, were trained in 1938. In order to accommodate training classes, rooms were secured in the nearby Horticulture Building.

Negotiations with the Public Service Board with respect to establishments, techniques and procedures associated with expanding staff and increasing requirements continued during 1938 when Mr. H. Barkley who was the Bureau's representative at the Canberra discussion died. He was replaced by Mr. H. N. Warren.

Bureau of Meteorology