20. Meteorology

In conjunction with astronomical observations, meteorological observations commenced in Western Australia with the founding of the Swan River Colony in 1829. Official recordings of the Colony’s rainfall, however, did not start until 1875 when the Surveyor-General of the time, Sir Malcolm Fraser, began taking readings in what was then known as the Perth Botanical Gardens and is now the Supreme Court Gardens.

After 1 June 1906, the Commonwealth assumed responsibility, through the Postmaster-General’s Department, for meteorological observations, and in 1907 the position of Commonwealth Meteorologist was established, with Henry Ambrose Hunt as the first appointee.

The Agencies

In 1908, the six State meteorological departments were absorbed into the Commonwealth Branch (Bureau) of Meteorology. A divisional officer was responsible for Western Australian operations. This meteorologist was charged with taking and recording meteorological observations, forecasting weather, issuing storm warnings and distributing meteorological information.

After 1955 the Bureau of Meteorology became the sole authority for the provision of meteorological services throughout Australia and its Territories. The bureau’s functions were broadened to include issuing warnings of gales, storms, tropical cyclones, floods and bushfire conditions. It also provided meteorological advice and undertook research, and was responsible for providing special services to the Defence forces and to the shipping, aviation, primary and commerce industries.

In common with other Commonwealth agencies, the Bureau of Meteorology was dependent on the assistance of State Government employees and other people to perform its functions. The collection of weather-related data around WA was actually carried out by postal employees, lighthouse keepers, Customs and Immigration officers, and even members of the public (such as publicans and farmers) well into the twentieth century.

1852–1908	Government Astronomer of Western Australia (CA 7414)
1908–50	Meteorology Branch (Bureau), Divisional Office (CA 3992)
1955–	Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology, Regional Office (by 1973, known as Bureau of Meteorology, WA (CA 2355)

The Records

The Bureau of Meteorology and its predecessors generated thousands of metres of records that continue to be of value to researchers. Although official meteorological observations did not begin until 1875, the Perth Office of the National Archives holds records describing meteorological conditions in the Swan River Colony between 1830 and 1875.

The series K127 contains synoptic charts of great importance. The series starts in 1896 and although the charts were initially drawn in South Australia, they describe the daily weather pattern for Western Australia.

The list of series below, although far from complete, gives an indication of the vast size of record holdings for this subject. Moreover, the assistance given to the Bureau of Meteorology means that records dealing with meteorology exist in series created by other agencies.

The agencies responsible for the meteorology function divided WA into specific areas and many records – especially rainfall (and other) observation charts – are held in district number order.

Geophysics

The Agencies

The Carnegie Institution of Washington, United States of America, ran the Watheroo Observatory from around 1933 until after World War II when the Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics took control of its operations. Developed to observe the magnetic and seismological activity of the earth, the observatory was generally staffed by five geophysicists and various clerical staff.

In 1959 the observatory was relocated to two new installations, Gnangara and Mundaring. Gnangara became the magnetic recording station while Mundaring became the main office and the seismological and ionospheric recording station.

1933–59	Watheroo Magnetic Observatory, WA (CA 3679)
1959–	Mundaring Geophysical Observatory, WA (CA 3539)

The Records

In 1968 the town of Meckering, WA was close to the epicentre of an earthquake of 6.9 magnitude on the Richter scale. Sixteen people were injured and most of the town’s buildings were destroyed. The measurement of this and other earthquakes can be found in seismic records from the Mundaring Geophysical Observatory.