The Academy’s heritage-listed building, the Shine Dome, is the home of the Fenner Archives where the Academy continues to preserve and safeguard the history of Australian science through digitisation and public access. Sometimes, however, we need to solve a puzzle before stories can be shared. One such intriguing case is a century-old photograph titled, ‘The Physical Society of London – Golden Jubilee Banquet 22 March 1924’ which hangs in the Fenner Room of the Shine Dome. Its connection to Australia’s scientific story was a mystery to us until recently.
A sentence found in a draft Dome tour guide from 2007 provided a clue. The photograph was included with the sentence, ‘Present in the photograph is Dr Walter Geoffrey Duffield and Mrs Duffield’. Further fossicking through records established that the photograph was actually part of the Academy’s MS095 Duffield collection in the archives and had been noted as missing sometime in the past 15 years.
Dr Walter G. Duffield was the first director of the Commonwealth Solar Observatory at Mount Stromlo in the ACT, and the Academy holds five boxes of archival material about him and his family. An Australian, he had spent years advocating and fundraising for the observatory while he worked in England. Apparently, Duffield was officially appointed as director at the Golden Jubilee dinner in 1924.
Now that the photograph is contextualised and understood – a question still remains: can you see him? Or perhaps spot his wife Doris? It remains to be confirmed whether they are actually visible in the crowd. As you search, keep an eye out for the Duke of York (King George VI) who is also in the photo.
Join the Academy in our own version of ‘where’s Wally’ in trying to spot this important Australian scientist. Please let us know if you find him, or recognise anyone else in the crowd.
You can learn more about the Duffield’s story from key material held in the Fenner Archives. Both Mrs Duffield’s diary and Walter’s scrapbook have been digitised and are available through Trove, or you can read through Duffield’s 1908 digitised letters.
If you would like to support the preservation of Australia’s scientific legacy and help us to bring more of our collections and conversations online for everyone, please donate or contact us at philanthropy@science.org.au to find out more.
© 2025 Australian Academy of Science
