Western Australian Government Astronomer is a position created by the Government of Western Australia in 1896. The first Western Australian Government Astronomer was William Ernest Cooke, who was appointed in 1896. The Perth Observatory became the base for the Western Australia Government Astronomer on completion of the new building in October 1897. On arrival in Perth, his first task was to determine the exact latitude and longitude of the colony. He was also able to determine the time of day with greater accuracy. Before his arrival clocks could vary by up to half an hour.