Building the Commonwealth Solar Observatory

Building work began in 1924

While the buildings were taking shape, the early personnel of the observatory worked from Hostel No. 1, quickly renamed to Hotel Canberra. In fact, Dr. Duffield and his family were the first guests to stay at the hotel.

Joan Duffield, daughter of Dr. Duffield and his wife Doris, recalled in an interview years later that they arrived in the very early morning hours of December 11, 1924. Hungry and thirsy, they sought breakfast at 8:30am. Seeing no-one, they ventured to the kitchen to find 'a most disgruntled cook'. Setting their own table,

a little maid came along from the kitchen with about 4 or 5 plates, full of breakfast... She put a plate down at Dad's place, and she slapped him on the back and said, "There you are, dearie. If you get through all of that, you won't half have a blow out!" My father was nearly on the floor with laughter, he thought it was priceless. And we couldn't possibly eat all that - I'd never seen so much food. And that was our first experience in Canberra.

The Duffield's would live at the Hotel Canberra for more than two years as they waited for the observatory buildings, including houses, to take shape.

A memorandum sent to the Home and Territories Department in 1925 explains:

The temporary offices of the Commonwealth Solar Observatory consist of four rooms at the end of one of the pavilions of the No. 1 Hostel (later Hotel Canberra) at Canberra. One room is used as an office and laboratory, another serves as a laboratory and library, the third as a workshop, and the fourth can be converted into a dark room for photographic purposes. 

Commonwealth Solar Observatory report National Archives of Australia

The first residential buildings on the mountain were the bachelors quarters and a few individual cottages. 

Directors Residence

When the Director's Residence was finally completed, the Duffields decided to throw a housewarming party. Invitations were sent to all the families on the mountain, as well as people who lived in Canberra.

Joan Duffield recalled:

The Director's Residence was finished towards the end of 1928 so we were at last able to move in. My parents gave a huge house warming party to celebrate the occasion, a large number of people descending on our doorstep to join us in the merrymaking.