BAMOS Sep 2020
17
The staff of the NSW Bureau of Meteorology soon after moving into their new accommodation . The Divisional Meteorologist , David Mares , is centre front row , and his deputy , Edward Timcke , is to his left . Timcke would later become the Director of the Bureau . Source : Bureau of Meteorology
The erection of this purpose‐built structure began soon after , just to the west of the Messengers Cottage . It consisted of three stories with the ground floor containing the office of the Divisional Meteorologist , together with the operational forecasting area . The second floor was archives and administration and the top floor was the flat ( residence ) for the Divisional Meteorologist and his family . A formal description of the structure is contained in the New South Wales State Heritage Inventory 2 :
"… a three storied face‐brick building with hipped tiled roof and restrained Georgian revival detailing including multi‐paned double‐hung sash windows , panelled front door with decorated fanlight , tied piers , cantilevered balcony with decorative iron balustrade and a Doric columned entablature over the main entrance ."
An important feature of the design was a large flat roof that enabled weather balloons to be launched on site . 3
The building opened in 1922 4 , and was the centre of the Bureau of Meteorology in NSW for more than 40 years . It became well known to the public and local media as " The Hill ".
Tragically Stewart Wilson had died at only 44 years of age in 1917 and never saw the new Bureau office . 5 His deputy , David Mares was promoted and became the first Divisional Meteorologist to occupy the newly constructed building and he brought his family into the flat above the operational areas in 1922 . They were to remain there until 1945 when Mares eventually retired from the Public Service . His 28‐year period of tenure ( 1917 to 1945 ) is the longest for any Bureau Head in NSW .
Life at the top : David Mares on the roof of the building with his bulldog “ Bruiser ”, 17th February 1932 . Source : Fairfax archives