P001030 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human Gavan McCarthy [P004098] and Helen Cohn updated 2026-03-02 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P001030b.htm person Cooke William Ernest AACR2 25 July 1863 7 November 1947 Place of Birth Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Place of Death Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Astronomer Meteorologist William Cooke became the first government astronomer of Western Australia in 1896 and until 1908 was also government meteorologist. During his tenure the Observatory gained an international reputation for its astronomical work. He was the first to plot the route of a tropical cyclone across the State and issue warnings. In 1912 Cooke became both government astronomer of New South Wales and Professor of Astronomy, University of Sydney until the 1930s. Cooke was responsible for the publication of star catalogues in both Western Australia and New South Wales. He also pioneered the use of wireless time signals over long paths 1878 Career position - Civil Service Cadetship attached to the Adelaide Observatory 1882 Career position - Senior Assistant, Adelaide Observatory 1883 1883 Education - Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Adelaide 1889 1889 Education - Master of Arts (MA), University of Adelaide 1896 1908 Career position - Government Meteorologist, Western Australia 1896 1912 Career position - Government Astronomer, Western Australia 1909 1912 Career position - Member of Council, Natural History and Science Society of Western Australia 1912 1926 Career position - Government Astronomer, New South Wales 1912 1936? Career position - Professor of Astronomy, University of Sydney 1913 1947 Award - Honorary Member, Royal Society of Western Australia 1919 Career position - Foundation Councillor (Astronomy), Australian National Research Council 1926 1926 Life event - Retired Nossiter, Clive (1877 - 1935) Natural History and Science Society of Western Australia (1909 - 1913)

Member of Council 1909 - 1912

 The University of Sydney (1850 - )

Professor of Astronomy 1912 - ?1936

 Sydney Observatory, Colony and State of New South Wales (1858 - )

Government Astronomer 1912 - 1926

 Australian National Research Council (ANRC) (1919 - 1955)

Foundation Member (Astronomy) 1919 -

 Perth Observatory, Colony of Western Australia (1896 - )

Government Astronomer 1896 - 1912; Government Meteorologist 1896 - 1908

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Cooke, W Ernest (1863-1863)

Trove

 'Cooke, William Ernest', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Cooke, William Ernest Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Book Section: Cooke, William Ernest (1863-1947), astronomer Hutchison, D. E. Cooke, William Ernest (1863-1947), astronomer Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1981 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 8: 1891 - 1939 Cl-Gib Bede Nairn and Geoffrey Serle 102-103 Resource Section: Cooke, William Ernest Cooke, William Ernest Australian Science Archives Project 1995 Physics in Australia to 1945 R.W. Home, with the assistance of Paula J. Needham Journal Article: William Ernest Cooke: First Government Astronomer [in Western Australia] Hutchison, David William Ernest Cooke: First Government Astronomer [in Western Australia] 1980 Early Days 8 4 93-114 Journal Article: William Ernest Cooke, Astronomer 1863-1947 Hutchison, David E. William Ernest Cooke, Astronomer 1863-1947 1981 Historical Records of Australian Science 5 2 58-77 Journal Article: Four Nineteenth Century Graduates Edgeloe, V. A. Four Nineteenth Century Graduates 1986 Journal of the Historical Society of South Australia 14 137-148 Thesis: Measuring the stars and observing the less visible: Australia's participation in the Astrographic Catalogue and Carte du Ciel Stevenson, T. Measuring the stars and observing the less visible: Australia's participation in the Astrographic Catalogue and Carte du Ciel University of Sydney 2015 Journal Article: Sydney Observatory 1858-1983 Wood, H. Sydney Observatory 1858-1983 1983 Proceedings of the Astronomical Society of Australia 5 2 273-281 Journal Article: Power, politics and personalities in Australian astronomy: William Ernest Cooke and the triangulation of the Pacific by wireless signals Tasker, Ian Power, politics and personalities in Australian astronomy: William Ernest Cooke and the triangulation of the Pacific by wireless signals 2019 Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage 22 1 113-21 Book: Windows to the southern skies Utting, Muriel Windows to the southern skies [Perth, W.A.] Murdoch University and Perth Observatory 1991 Edited Book: Eclipse chasers Lomb, Nick; and Stevenson, Toner Eclipse chasers Clayton South, Vic CSIRO Publishing 2023 Resource: Federation and Meteorology Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre Federation and Meteorology 2001 William Ernest Cooke - Records Private hands (Cooke, M.G.) William Ernest Cooke - Records 1863 - 1947 Family papers c1863-1947. William Ernest Cooke - Records Perth Observatory William Ernest Cooke - Records 1896 - 1912 A series of 10 letter books (some missing) covering surveying, education, meteorology and astronomy; account books; administration reports and Star Catalogues 1896-1912 [in Library]. Some of Cooke's inventions are also held by the Observatory. 13 volumes approx. Objects