More to come….
4. Todd’s Final Report to Government Report covers the construction of the Line, section by section, the building of the stations, the need for repolling, leftover stock at the Roper River, and financial revenues from messages sent form October 21 to December 31, 1872 suggesting annual revenue may be £12,000 a year. Appended are extracts from Patterson's report, dated Adelaide, 30th November, 1872
The planning for the OTL construction included specific Instructions for the team’s relationships with First Nations People. This paper explores the background to these instructions and through examination of diaries and letters of workers on the line, compliance with the Instructions and relations with the peoples through whose lands the OTL was constructed. Finally, the paper examines the impact of the line on First Nations People. Author: Susie Herzberg 10 May 2022

Index

Click an image to download the PDF
1. Telegraphic Enterprise in Australasia. 2. Darwent & Dalwood Instructions FEATURED Duplicating the Telegraph Connection to Europe Six years after the completion of the Overland Telegraph Line, an inter-colonial conference was held to canvas the options for creating a second link with the global telegraph network that would ensure a fail-safe connection. The conference concentrated on two issues. The first was to lay a cable from Singapore to Darwin that avoids Java. The second was getting a guaranteed secure connection from Singapore through Penang to Madras and Rangoon. The costs were to be borne by each Colony based on its population. Queensland suggested a line that would bypass the OTL and Darwin but it was voted down. However, the colonies did leave open the option of backup of the OTL with a branch line from Darwin to the QLD telegraphic network.
MS-Word
3. Exploring the MacDonell Ranges Lecture given by Major General G. W. Symes to the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (S.A. Branch), 17 August , 1960. It covers the exploration of the MacDonnell Ranges in the period 1870-72, including the discovery and naming of the Simpson Gap and Alice Springs.
PDF
PDF
Instructions to the officers in charge of the Overland Telegraph party sent out by Messrs. Darwent and Dalwood on 19th August, 1970, containing 8 pages of 33 instructions on handling materials and food, supervising workers, contacts with Aboriginals and dealing with government agents.
Paper delivered by Sir Charles Todd to the Royal Colonial Institute on Tuesday, February 9, 1886 during his only trip to Europe. This thirteen page report outlines the development of telegraphy in most jurisdictions on the continent up to the mid-80’s, giving details of distances covered and message volumes. It includes detail of the construction of the Overland Telegraph and the Western Australia link. Closes with robust discussion of the OTL between UK-resident Agents General of the Colonies.
MS-Word
PDF
5. Overland Telegraph in the North part 1
Thorough reference to expeditioner diaries has enabled an accurate and more complete picture of the difficulties facing the second Northern OTL expedition to be presented, and has exposed some flaws in existing accounts. Author: Andrew Crouch 10 May 2022
PDF
6. O.T. Construction - Relationship with First Nations Peoples
PDF
7. The Centenary of the Adelaide-Darwin Overland Telegraph Line
The proceedings of the 100 anniversary symposium, sponsored by the Institution of Engineers and The Australian Post Office in 1972. Four papers: Australia & World Communications – 1830-70 The Construction of the Overland Telegraph Line The Overland Telegraph Line Technology The Development of the Australian Telecom- munications Manufacturing Industry since 1870
A detailed exposition of the Port Augusta to Eucla section of the east west telegraph which was the final connection of the inter-colonial network. Contains forensic detail of the track of the line along with relevant contemprary news items. The author has physically traced the line and includes unseen images of local documents, stations, line remnants and the landscape. Author: Gavin Beinke 1 August 2022
8. The Last Link - the East West Telegraph(includes the link to Kangaroo Island) Monographs
Overland Telegraph 150th Anniversary 1872-2022

Index

Click an image to download the PDF
1. Telegraphic Enterprise in Australasia Paper delivered by Sir Charles Todd to the Royal Colonial Institute on Tuesday, February 9, 1886 during his only trip to Europe. Outlines the development of telegraphy on the continent up to the mid-80’s Includes detail of the construction of the Overland Telegraph and the Western Australia link. Robust discussion of the OTL between UK-resident Agents General of the Colonies. FEATURED Duplicating the Telegraph Connection to Europe Six years after the completion of the Overland Telegraph Line, an inter-colonial conference was held to canvas the options for creating a second link with the global telegraph network that would ensure a fail-safe connection. The conference concentrated on two issues. The first was to lay a cable from Singapore to Darwin that avoids Java. The second was getting a guaranteed secure connection from Singapore through Penang to Madras and Rangoon. The costs were to be borne by each Colony based on its population. Queensland suggested a line that would bypass the OTL and Darwin but it was voted down. However, the colonies did leave open the option of backup of the OTL with a branch line from Darwin to the QLD telegraphic network.
MS-Word
3. Exploring the MacDonell Ranges Lecture given by Maajor General G. W. Symes to the Royal Geographical Society of Australiasia, August 1960. Covers the exploration of the MacDonnell Ranges in the period 1870-72, including the discovery and naming of the Simpson Gap and Alice Springs.
PDF
PDF
2. Darwent & Dalwood Instructions
Instructions to the officers in charge of the Overland Telegraph party sent out by Messrs. Darwent and Dalwood on (Aug, 1970), containing 33 instructions on handling materials/food, supervising workers, contacts with Aboriginals and dealing with government agents.
MS-Word
4. Todd’s Report to Government Report covers the construction of the Line, section by section, the building of the stations, the need for repolling, leftover stock at the Roper River, and financial revenues from messages sent from Oct 21 to Dec 31, 1872 suggesting annual revenue may be £12,000 a year. Appended are extracts from Patterson's report, dated 30th November, 1872.
PDF
5. O. T. in the North part 1
Thorough reference to expeditioner diaries has enabled an accurate and more complete picture of the difficulties facing the second Northern OTL expedition to be presented, and has exposed some flaws in existing accounts. Author: Andrew Crouch 10 May 2022.
More to come….
PDF
6. O.T. Construction - Relationship with First Nations Peoples
The planning for the OTL construction included specific Instructions for the team’s relationships with First Nations People. This paper explores the background to these instructions and through examination of diaries and letters of workers on the line, compliance with the Instructions and relations with the peoples through whose lands the OTL was constructed. Finally, the paper examines the impact of the line on First Nations People. Author: Susie Herzberg 10 May 2022.
7. The Centenary of the Adelaide-Darwin Overland Telegraph Line
Proceedings - 100 anniversary symposium sponsored by the Institution of Engineers & the Australian Post Office. Four papers: Australia & World Communications – 1830-70 The Construction of the Overland Telegraph The Overland Telegraph Line Technology Telecommunications Manufacturing Industry Development since 1870
PDF
A detailed exposition of the Port Augusta to Eucla section of the east west telegraph which was the final connection of the inter-colonial network. Contains forensic detail of the track of the line along with relevant contemprary news items. The author has physically traced the line and includes unseen images of local documents, stations, line remnants and the landscape. Author: Gavin Beinke 1 August 2022
8. The Last Link - the East West Telegraph (includes Kangaroo Island)
PDF
Monographs
Overland Telegraph 150th Anniversary 1872-2022