11. Charles Todd assumes the duty of Postmaster-General Assumes post of PMG just before he takes on the added management of the Overland Telegraph Line construction. (ed. does this make him the busiest senior civil servant of the 19th C?)
15. Todd’s optimistic report on progress of central portion of OT Line Latitude and longitude details of the track from Mount Margaret to the Peate (Peake) and forward to the Finke and Hugh rivers 13. Details of proposed track of the first part of southern section of the Line From Port Augusta to Mount Margaret, which was contracted to Bagot. Transport details are also included 12. Todd starts tour of the construction of the southern portion of the OT Line Details of who will manage Todd’s Telegraph and Postal duties while absent from Adelaide 14. Todd’s first report on progress in the central section of the OT Line Ross and Harvey are optimistic, and the countryside has good wood for poles though transport of a large amount of supplies is slow-going
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5. Description of Life in Port Darwin waiting for OT work to re-commence Lengthy coverage of social and other activities from July 22 to September 15 1871 6. A litany of problems slowing the construction of the North section Problems with transport, supplies, food and stock, all made worse by bickering among project members leading to great delay in completion 7. Early snapshot of plans, organisation for the construction of the OT Describes the departure of the steamship Omeo going north, details arrival of Central party and letting of contract for South section. Many details on staff, plans, equipment, provisions and early activities
9. Details negotiations with the British-Australian Telegraph Company South Australia secures BATco’s commitment to connect solely with SA’s proposal for the Overland Telegraph Line. Included is the full text of the company’s letter dated June 16.
8. Telegraphed weather reports from the first day of operation of the OT Reports from all the repeater stations. (ed. Todd wastes no time in building his meteorological network) 10. As Chair of the Philosophical Society Todd outlines his first plan for the OT Mentions projected costs and revenue, construction speed, completion date, rivalry with Queensland, cooperation of First Nation peoples and use of timber and metal poles, etc
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1. Announcement of the 1st detailed map of the OT line Identifies three construction sections and length in miles. Download of the map available from State Library of South Australia 2. Charles Todd's official report from the Roper River Covers the issues of navigation on the Roper and identifies the climactic, terrain and supply challenges faced by the workers. Compliments Patterson’s dedication in overcoming them 3. A report relating conditions on the Roper River Written by a person independent of the OT, it engagingly relates the trip from Newcastle to the Roper River, describes the river and land around it and the OT north-end construction issues at the time 4. Captain Hart insists Mr. Patterson's expedition to go to Port Darwin Speculates it cost the project valuable time South Australian Register, Saturday 10 September 1870, page 5
Overseas Press 1. Portland Democrat, Indiana, 31 Oct 1872 Reports that the Overland Telegraph Line has been completed. Outlines how a message travels by a combination of land and sea cables to reach Port Darwin. Also mentions the cost of such a message.
2. Kirksville-North-Missouri-Register14 Nov 1872, page 4 Reports the completion of the Overland Telegraph Line saying that it is an example of scientific endeavour that’s unique in telegraph construction and increases the solidarity of nations.
3. The Morning Advertiser Saturday 10th August 1872, page 6 As the British and Australian Telegraph Comapny was completin g the undersea cable to Java, it was being teken to court in London for not filing a list of shareholders on time in accordance with the law.
16. 1951 article gives Todd 4 different job titles A PMG copy of a Centralian Advocate article about Todd bills him as a Surveyor, Postmaster-General, Superintedent of Telegraphs and Government Astronomer. Even then they missed at least 3 other possible titles.
17. Description of the last activities on the Northern section Dick Knuckey’s telegram of June 20, 1872 outlining who’s doing what and the potential schedule for the completion of each job. He’s relieved to find out that Mr.Lewis had agreed with the Government to run the express service by horse to connect across the last unwired gap.
18. Twelve years before the OTL,four other schemes were outlined The concept of a telegraph link to England was well advanced even before a working trans-Atlantic cable was operational. Four schemes are costed based on different routes, three of which would connect to the NT while the fourth to WA.
19. Overland Telegraph Banquet Adelaide Proceedings Various praise (inc’l for dept officer Burrell), controversies raised about Northern and Southern sections, Todd praises the Telegraph Department’s efficiency, recognition of 3 major contributors to success – Sturt, Goyder, Todd.
20. Officers’ Celebratory Dinner Praise for the efficiencies in construction, recognition for staff in Adelaide telegraph office, and for the work of the Southern Section builders
FEATURED Early Plans and Activity (news article 7) This article is an early snapshot of the plans and organisation for the construction of Overland Telegraph. Suggesting a completion date of late 1871, it describes the departure of the steamship Omeo going north, the arrival of the Central party and the basics of the contract for the South section. There are many details on the plans, equipment, provisions and early activities. It also lists many names of the workers giving their designation as teamsters, labourers, wiremen, inspectors, bullock drivers, cadets, etc. Contributors: Gavin Beinke, Mac Benoy News Articles
Overland Telegraph 150th Anniversary 1872-2022
News Articles FEATURED Early Plans and Activity (news article 7) This article is an early snapshot of the plans and organisation for the construction of Overland Telegraph. Suggesting a completion date of late 1871, it describes the departure of the steamship Omeo going north, the arrival of the Central party and the basics of the contract for the South section. There are many details on the plans, equipment, provisions and early activities. It also lists many names of the workers giving their designation as teamsters, labourers, wiremen, inspectors, bullock drivers, cadets, etc.
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1. Announcement of the first detailed map of the OT line Identifies 3 construction sections and length in miles. 2. Todd's official report from the Roper River Covers issues of navigation on the Roper and identifies the climactic, terrain and supply challenges faced by the workers. 3. Conditions on the Roper River Describes the river and land around it and the OT north-end construction issues at the time 4. Captain Hart insists Patterson's expedition to go to Port Darwin Speculates it cost the project valuable time 5. Description of Life in Port Darwin waiting for OT work to re-commence Lengthy coverage of social and other activities from July 22 to September 15 1871 6. A litany of problems slowing the construction of the North section Problems with transport, supplies, food and stock, all made worse by bickering among project members Advertisements
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7. Early snapshot of plans, organisation for the construction of the OT Many details on staff, plans, equipment, provisions and early activities South Australian Register, Saturday 10 September 1870, page 5
9. Negotiations with British-Australian Telegraph Co. South Australia secures BATco’s commitment to connect solely with SA’s proposal for the OT Line. Included is the full text of the company’s letter dated June 16. 11. Todd appointed Postmaster-General Same time as he takes on the management of the OT(ed. does this make him the busiest senior civil servant of the 19th C?)
8. Weather reports on 1st day of operation of the OT Reports from all the stations. Todd wastes no time in building his meteorological network 10. Todd outlines his first plan for the OT Projected costs/revenue, speed of construction, completion date, rivalry with Qld., cooperation of First Nation peoples, etc
12. Todd starts tour of the southern portion of OT Details of who will manage Todd’s Telegraph and Postal duties while absent from Adelaide
13. Proposed track of the first part of southern section From Port Augusta to Mount Margaret, which was contracted to Bagot. Transport details are also included 14. Todd’s reports on progress in the central section Ross and Harvey are optimistic, and the countryside has good wood for poles though transport of a large amount of supplies is slow-going
15. Todd’s optimistic report on progress of central section Latitude and longitude details of the track from Mount Margaret to the Peate (Peake) and onrward to the Finke and Hugh rivers
Overseas Press
1. Portland Democrat, Indiana Overland Telegraph Line has been completed. Outlines how a message travels by a combination of land and sea cables to reach Port Darwin. Also mentions the cost of a messages 2. Kirksville-North-Missouri-Register Completion of Overland Telegraph Lauding it as example of scientific endeavour that’s unique in telegraph construction and increases the solidarity of nations. 17. Last activities on Northern section Dick Knuckey’s telegram of June 20, 1872 outlining who’s doing what and the potential schedule for the completion of each job. He’s relieved to find out that Mr.Lewis had agreed with the Government to run the express service by horse to connect across the last unwired gap.
16. 1951 article gives Todd 4 different job titles Article about Todd bills him as a Surveyor, Postmaster-General, Superintedent of Telegraphs and Government Astronomer. Even then they missed at least 3 other possible titles.
3. The Morning Advertiser Sat. 10th August 1872, pg 6 As the British and Australian Telegraph Company was completing the undersea cable to Java, it was being teken to court in London for not filing a list of shareholders on time in accordance with the law.
Overland Telegraph 150th Anniversary 1872-2022 18. 12 yrs before the OTL, 4 other schemes outlined The concept of a telegraph link to England was well advanced even before a working trans-Atlantic cable was operational. 4 schemes are costed with connections to the N.T. and W.A.