weatherstation

That looks like a tripod mounted theodolite on the balcony.

Yes, it does. I'll see if I can find a larger version of this image so we can get a bit more detail....DONE!

A larger version will also help to show the built up area on the background hill. I originally thought this was Kosciusko, but no way is that the case with those buildings in the background. Buildings also make it likely there is a local historical society somewhere that has a good idea where this is. @Wragge on twitter (Dr. Tim Sherratt) also knows a good deal about the history of meteorology in Australia. We may need to tap him for this one.

Thanks and for those following these comments @wragge on Twitter was a great help and believes this to be a surveying station rather than a weather station. We will contact the Observatory as advised and see what else we find out.

I think that is Sydney town in the right distance - no NSW country town would have so many spires and large houses. We are looking west-ish (see shadows) from some surveying spot near Bondi. Maybe something to do with the Bondi sewage outfall? The large size image certainly helps. I am amused that with all that surveying equipment etc, they could not get the camera level!

Charles Bayliss - acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemLarge.aspx?itemID=412665