A short paper on the meteorology of Mew South Hales followed in 1904, showing Hunt's designation as Acting Meteorologist (i.e. Acting Head of the Observatory Meteorological Department).

In a world-wide competition for the design and production of an anemometer to provide a continuous record of wind speed and direction, Hunt won a prize with his 'Pressure Plate Anemometer', an instrument which functioned above the Melbourne Meteorological Office for many years.

Following his appointment as Commonwealth Director of Meteorology as from 1 January 1907 Hunt left Australia in July 1907 on a tour of inspection which lasted for eight months. During that time he visited and inspected all the main overseas Weather Bureaus then existing. On his return to Melbourne, he submitted a comprehensive report to the Minister for Home Affairs, with recommendations applicable to the new Australian Weather Service.

Among his recommendations, Hunt very strongly advised that the Central Office of the organisation should be sited in Sydney, and he offered cogent arguments to support his recommendation. But the Department of Home Affairs decided that, for administrative purposes, it should be established close to the seat of the Commonwealth Government, which was then in Melbourne. For some years from 1908 the Meteorological branch was administered, even in the smallest detail, by the Department of Home Affairs; the activities of the Bureau being confined to the technical aspects of its functions.

Bureau of Meteorology