History of the Bureau of Meteorology Building on Observatory Hill by Richard Whitaker, 3 June, 6:30pm

Fort Street Public School, on Observatory Hill, has recently been extended and renovated to include the historic 1922 Bureau of Meteorology Building and the Messengers Cottage that once housed the Sydney Observatory Messenger. There is significant history and heritage related to these buildings and Richard Whitaker will take us on a journey revealing the past. In this illustrated zoom presentation we will have the opportunity to understand more about the history, and the development of meteorology after Federation in NSW and Australia.

Bio

Richard "Dick" Whitaker is a well-known Australian meteorologist and author who had a thirty-year career as a meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology. He was awarded an Australia Day Achievement Award for his work in 1982. In 1992, Whitaker became the New South Wales manager for the Special Services Unit, the commercial arm of the Bureau during the 1990s and this work involved enhanced communication of  meteorology  to the public via mass media.

After leaving the Bureau in 2002 he became the chief meteorologist for the Weather Channel. He has authored several publications, one of his most recent is Weather, Waves & Water, The New South Wales Central Coast. Sydney, Australia: Weathersmart Publishing, 2021.

About this event

This presentation will be on-line using the Zoom platform. Prior to the key-note speaker there are short members presentations and announcements. The keynote usually starts at around 6:40pm. This is a members event so if you are not a member and would like to join please advise our secretary via email: sydneycityskywatchers@gmail.com]sydneycityskywatchers@gmail.com.

We welcome guests and potential new members to 2 presentations, after which you will be asked to join. Membership is from 1 July each year.

Protocol for on-line events

Your Zoom profile must show your name when you are admitted by the host. Please mute during the presentations. Questions are usually asked after the presentation. All participants are required to show respect and courtesy.