Records relating to the final resting place on Mt Stromlo of pioneer astronomer Walter Duffield have been chosen by ArchivesACT as its popular Find of the Month for June.
The Archives said that while Mt Stromlo was a popular destination for visitors, few had seen the landmark, which was a little off the beaten track.
It said the lonely grave was in honour of Walter Duffield, who was instrumental in putting Canberra on the astronomical map.
“Mr Duffield was not a Canberra native, but he became an important member of the community,” ArchivesACT said.
It said Mr Duffield was born in South Australia in 1879, and showed great talent for engineering and physics, spending much of his early career in England.
“It was while working and attending conferences overseas that Duffield began to ponder the lack of a solar observatory in Australia, and subsequently began to lobby for the development of such a facility in eastern Australia,” ArchivesACT said.
It said he pursued the project throughout the early 1900s and was eventually appointed as the inaugural Director of the Commonwealth Solar Observatory (Mount Stromlo Observatory), a position he held from 1924 until 1929.
“Walter and Doris Duffield played in the Stromberra Quintet, credited with performing Canberra’s first philharmonic concert, and became involved in the local community through Rotary,” ArchivesACT said.
“Doris was also the first President of the Canberra Mothercraft Society.”
It said in the winter of 1929, Canberra experienced an influenza epidemic and in July, Walter Duffield contracted the illness sweeping the city; it soon developed into pneumonia and he died on 1 August, aged 49.
“On a rainy August day, Duffield was laid to rest on the mountain,” ArchivesACT said.
“Such was the respect for Duffield in the community that despite the steep, narrow road up to Stromlo and the need to walk half a mile along a wet, rocky and precipitous track to his grave site, his funeral was very well attended by the Canberra community.”
It said the simple wooden cross that marked his grave was enamelled with the Royal Flying Corps coat of arms and motto ‘per ardua ad astra’ [through adversity to the stars] — doubly suitable as he had served in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I.
ArchivesACT would like to hear from anyone who has visited the gravesite; they can tweet the Archives at @ArchivesACT.
Those interested in further research on this topic can contact ArchivesACT through its Request a Record service.
