About Geraldton Meteorological Office

Reliable rainfall records for Geraldton were first taken in 1877, and temperature records commenced in 1880. These were taken at sites maintained by the then Department of Posts and Telegraphs, and later the Post Master General’s Department. Full synoptic weather observations by postal staff commenced from a site in Marine Terrace in March 1921.

The need to train pilots and navigators for RAAF service during the Second World War saw the establishment of an official weather station to service RAAF No 4 Senior Flying School on the airfield to the east of Geraldton. The initial staff were Flying Officer A.J.Shields and Warrant Officer C.I.Bates, who began installing equipment and taking observations on 18 August 1941.

The weather office has been relocated three times since 1941 as Geraldton Aerodrome evolved to accommodate the increasing demands of an expanding aviation service. The present office was built in the early 1960’s