Western Australian colonial telecommunications
WA's telecommunications started with the Perth - Fremantle telegraph in 1869 and by Federation in 1901 there was a telegraph network that spanned the length of the colony and connected to the eastern states and internationally, as well as a dozen telephone exchanges with nearly 2500 subscribers.
Contents
This page is followed by
Early days of the PMG in WA
and 1914: The first automatic (dial) telephone exchange in Western Australia
Early days of the PMG in WA
and 1914: The first automatic (dial) telephone exchange in Western Australia
Post and Telegraphs
In 1829 the Fremantle Harbour-master, Daniel Scott was appointed the first post-master for the colony. A General Post Office was proclaimed in St Georges Terrace Perth in 1835, and in 1841 a Postmaster General was appointed. The colonial Posts and Telegraph Department was formed in 1870. It took over control of Perth's telegraph services in 1871 and telephone services in 1890.
Perth - Fremantle telegraph 1869
The first electrical telegraph line in WA was installed between Perth and Fremantle by the privately owned West Australian Telegraph Co. with assistance from the Colonial administration in the form of free convict labour to install poles. The proprietors were Messrs Edmund Stirling and Alexander Cumming and the "electrician" was Mr James C. Fleming (1834-1885). Fleming was a former convict with telegraph experience from Britain and employed by Stirling on his newspaper The Inquirer and Commercial News at the time. The line opened on 21 June 1869. Others followed soon after.
Given his unfortunate start in the colony, the above-mentioned Mr Fleming ultimately did quite well. He was instrumental in developing a substantial telegraph network around the colony, including the east-west system to Adelaide, and was well regarded in the community. Fleming achieved the position of Superintendent-Telegraphs prior to his death in 1885. An image of Mr Fleming appears further on.
The Fremantle office was located in a cottage/shed at the rear of Kett's Woodyard corner of Packenham and High Sts Fremantle at roughly the site of present day no. 54 High St. I am not wholly convinced about the claimed history of the Perth end but contemporary reports talk about the first pole being erected at the foot of the Perth Jetty (William St jetty). This was long before the reclamation of the river foreshore and the foot of the jetty was near where the Esplanade is now (adjacent to the new Elizabeth Quay development).
There is some conjecture about this location of the first pole. Apparently, in the first quarter of the 20th C. there was a pole in Barrack St labelled as the first. This doesn't make much sense so maybe it was just a convenient place to commemorate the event. This writer's opinion is that the William St jetty was where the poles were off-loaded after being barged down from Mason's Landing (Cannington). It is most likely the first pole would have been installed nearby and then poles progressively installed towards central Perth and Fremantle. A comprehensive article about Mason's Landing can be viewed at:
http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/PrintSingleRecord/d4053031-5ae3-4564-995e-c27aae7802c4
It is stated in various sources that the first telegram was sent from the newly constructed Town Hall in Hay St, although in 1869 that building was still being completes and not opened until a year later, June 1870. To be fair, most of the major work had been completed by 1869 so it is assumed a temporary office was set up there.
In 1829 the Fremantle Harbour-master, Daniel Scott was appointed the first post-master for the colony. A General Post Office was proclaimed in St Georges Terrace Perth in 1835, and in 1841 a Postmaster General was appointed. The colonial Posts and Telegraph Department was formed in 1870. It took over control of Perth's telegraph services in 1871 and telephone services in 1890.
Perth - Fremantle telegraph 1869
The first electrical telegraph line in WA was installed between Perth and Fremantle by the privately owned West Australian Telegraph Co. with assistance from the Colonial administration in the form of free convict labour to install poles. The proprietors were Messrs Edmund Stirling and Alexander Cumming and the "electrician" was Mr James C. Fleming (1834-1885). Fleming was a former convict with telegraph experience from Britain and employed by Stirling on his newspaper The Inquirer and Commercial News at the time. The line opened on 21 June 1869. Others followed soon after.
Given his unfortunate start in the colony, the above-mentioned Mr Fleming ultimately did quite well. He was instrumental in developing a substantial telegraph network around the colony, including the east-west system to Adelaide, and was well regarded in the community. Fleming achieved the position of Superintendent-Telegraphs prior to his death in 1885. An image of Mr Fleming appears further on.
The Fremantle office was located in a cottage/shed at the rear of Kett's Woodyard corner of Packenham and High Sts Fremantle at roughly the site of present day no. 54 High St. I am not wholly convinced about the claimed history of the Perth end but contemporary reports talk about the first pole being erected at the foot of the Perth Jetty (William St jetty). This was long before the reclamation of the river foreshore and the foot of the jetty was near where the Esplanade is now (adjacent to the new Elizabeth Quay development).
There is some conjecture about this location of the first pole. Apparently, in the first quarter of the 20th C. there was a pole in Barrack St labelled as the first. This doesn't make much sense so maybe it was just a convenient place to commemorate the event. This writer's opinion is that the William St jetty was where the poles were off-loaded after being barged down from Mason's Landing (Cannington). It is most likely the first pole would have been installed nearby and then poles progressively installed towards central Perth and Fremantle. A comprehensive article about Mason's Landing can be viewed at:
http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/PrintSingleRecord/d4053031-5ae3-4564-995e-c27aae7802c4
It is stated in various sources that the first telegram was sent from the newly constructed Town Hall in Hay St, although in 1869 that building was still being completes and not opened until a year later, June 1870. To be fair, most of the major work had been completed by 1869 so it is assumed a temporary office was set up there.
Within a year the office shifted to the Public Offices at the site of the current Perth City Council offices (south side of St Georges Tce, near Barrack St). In 1870 these buildings became the official location of Perth's first Post and Telegraph Office and remained there until transferring across the road in 1890 to what is now known as the Treasury Buildings (which also became the site of Perth's updated telephone exchange in 1892).
General Post Office, the Posts and Telegraphs Office, St Georges Terrace, Perth, 1870-1890.
The sign on the building reads: Post & Telegraph Office. Built as the Public Offices, then used by the Legislative Council until 1870. The Post Office occupied the building 1870-1890. After 1890 the building reverted to its original function and then became the Dept. of Agriculture until it was demolished in 1961. Designed by Henry Wiley Reveley, 1836-38, on the present site of Council House. (A city and its setting by G. Seddon, p.214). In 1890 the Post Office moved across the road into the Old Barracks which were then rebuilt and later became part of what is now known as the Treasury Buildings. In 1923 the Post Office moved to Forrest Place.
Source: http://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b2459520_1
From the Morsecodians site (http://members.iinet.net.au/~oseagram/wahist.html) "The Western Australian Post and Telegraph Department, which had been operating the lines since 1871 despite not owning them, became sole owners and operators of the colony's telegraph system on 1st January 1873. Stations then in service were Perth, Fremantle, Guildford, Toodyay, Northam, York, Pinjarra, Bunbury and Albany. "
Thanks to the Morsecodians of WA. Information on WA telegraphy has been preserved here:
https://web.archive.org/web/20230328002835/http://members.iinet.net.au:80/~oseagram/wahist.html .
Another very good WA telegraph history resource is:
https://telegramsaustralia.com/Forms/Colonial/West%20Australia/The%20lines/WA%20First%20line.html
The following is an image of a commemoration of the first telegram sent in WA on 21 June 1869:
Thanks to the Morsecodians of WA. Information on WA telegraphy has been preserved here:
https://web.archive.org/web/20230328002835/http://members.iinet.net.au:80/~oseagram/wahist.html .
Another very good WA telegraph history resource is:
https://telegramsaustralia.com/Forms/Colonial/West%20Australia/The%20lines/WA%20First%20line.html
The following is an image of a commemoration of the first telegram sent in WA on 21 June 1869:
A bit more info about the first WA telegram
https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5ae6451521ea671820c15e2f
https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5ae6451521ea671820c15e2f
East - West telegraph
On the 8th December 1877 the telegraph line between Perth WA and Adelaide SA was completed. For the first time, WA was in direct contact with the eastern Australian colonies and also the rest of the world via the (1872) overland link Adelaide - Darwin and on to Java via submarine cable. As I understand it, the Western Australian portion of the first project used jarrah timber poles and the South Australians used iron poles. Later WA extensions used iron poles as well.
An example of the types of poles used on the E-W link can be seen below and here (scroll down to Buller pole).
On the 8th December 1877 the telegraph line between Perth WA and Adelaide SA was completed. For the first time, WA was in direct contact with the eastern Australian colonies and also the rest of the world via the (1872) overland link Adelaide - Darwin and on to Java via submarine cable. As I understand it, the Western Australian portion of the first project used jarrah timber poles and the South Australians used iron poles. Later WA extensions used iron poles as well.
An example of the types of poles used on the E-W link can be seen below and here (scroll down to Buller pole).
Northern WA Telegraphs
By 1884 the Perth - Broome telegraph line was in service (and extended on a simplex line to Wyndham). The 1650km undersea cable from Banjoewangie, Java, came ashore at Broome on the 26th February 1889 offering WA an alternate international path that was independent of the the existing link via Adelaide - Darwin.
By 1884 the Perth - Broome telegraph line was in service (and extended on a simplex line to Wyndham). The 1650km undersea cable from Banjoewangie, Java, came ashore at Broome on the 26th February 1889 offering WA an alternate international path that was independent of the the existing link via Adelaide - Darwin.
WA colonial Telegraph Stations
A list of WA colonial telegraph stations and their opening dates up to 1901 can be downloaded below. Simply click on "download file". Information supplied by Mr R Herbert from the papers of the late J Moynihan.
A list of WA colonial telegraph stations and their opening dates up to 1901 can be downloaded below. Simply click on "download file". Information supplied by Mr R Herbert from the papers of the late J Moynihan.
tg_stn_open_dates__3_.pdf | |
File Size: | 403 kb |
File Type: |
A detailed history of the Eucla Telegraph Station is available on the WA State Heritage site inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Admin/api/file/48fbd3d7-ea55-3f85-cc0b-6f62a2fdb4a3
The document below (particularly pages 11 - 15) gives more information about prominent telegraphists along the WA section of the E-W route; William Graham and his family, George Stevens (Later Telegraph Master at Eucla and ultimately WA Chief Engineer here) and Charles Annear. George and Charles both married daughters of William Graham - in all, I believe, four of William Graham's daughters married telegraph men!
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~gregheberle/AdobePDF/Books-PDFs/GrahamFamilyNarrogin-withPhotos.PDF
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~gregheberle/AdobePDF/Books-PDFs/GrahamFamilyNarrogin-withPhotos.PDF
WA's first indigenous telegraphist/postmistress
Mary Ellen Cuper- (1847 – 1877)
Mary Ellen Cuper- (1847 – 1877)
Photo Credit: With acknowledgements to the archives of the Benedictine Community of New Norcia73397P
Born as Ellen Pangieran in Bunbury to Aboriginal yorga (woman) Yanjipp, Mary was sent to Bishop Salvado’s Benedictine mission in New Norcia for education. She married in the district and became Mrs Cuper.
The commencement of a telegraph line to Geraldton via New Norcia required a full-time telegraphist. Mary Ellen was trained by Bishop Salvado for the work. When the position of postmistress at Victoria Plains (New Norcia) became vacant in 1873, the superintendent of telegraphs James Fleming, reported that Bishop Salvado had ‘an applicant in a female Aboriginal who is perfectly familiar with the telegraph Code’. Mary Ellen was formally appointed in January 1874 with an annual salary of £30.
Source: http://www.wawomenshalloffame.com.au/index.php/2021-inductees-roll-of-honour/
Several more detailed sources about Mary can be viewed at:
https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/cuper-mary-ellen-12873
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Ellen_Cuper
The end
The traditional wisdom i.e. "Wikipedia" maintains that the last WA Morse code telegram was sent in WA in 1963 but the "Morsecodians" website states "1968. Nov 5th. Morse telegraphy was last used in Australia between Roebourne and Wittenoom Gorge in the north-west of Western Australia, just eight months short of 100 years after the transmitting of the first telegram."
Further information
This excellent site gives detailed information about Western Australian telegraph history
https://telegramsaustralia.com/Forms/Colonial/West%20Australia/The%20lines/WA%20lines%20-%20overview.html
The traditional wisdom i.e. "Wikipedia" maintains that the last WA Morse code telegram was sent in WA in 1963 but the "Morsecodians" website states "1968. Nov 5th. Morse telegraphy was last used in Australia between Roebourne and Wittenoom Gorge in the north-west of Western Australia, just eight months short of 100 years after the transmitting of the first telegram."
Further information
This excellent site gives detailed information about Western Australian telegraph history
https://telegramsaustralia.com/Forms/Colonial/West%20Australia/The%20lines/WA%20lines%20-%20overview.html
Rottnest island Heliograph
Rottnest Island is a small island of around 19-20 sq km located about 18 km offshore, west of Fremantle. It has had a chequered history since colonial times and served, amongst other things, as an Aboriginal prison, wartime internment camp and military base. Today it is a popular tourist destination.
A heliograph is a solar telegraph system. It signals (usually Morse code) by flashing sunlight reflected by a mirror. An interesting article on the way heliographs worked can be viewed at:
http://www.modulatedlight.org/Modulated_Light_DX/Heliograph.html
"Prior to about 1880, communication with the mainland was primarily with semaphore flags and flares. A manned lookout at Bathurst Point included a signalling station which relayed shipping information between Wadjemup Lighthouse at the centre of the island and Arthur Head at Fremantle. A heliograph was installed in 1879 at Signal Hill, the small rise overlooking the main settlement in Thomson Bay. A Frenchman by the name of Henri Courderot was the heliograph operator and was paid to operate the service once a day, weather permitting. A single circuit submarine communications cable was laid from Cottesloe in 1900, after which the heliograph service was discontinued. This was replaced with a larger cable in 1935."
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rottnest_Island and “All the News in a Flash – Rottnest Communications 1829 – 1979" J.F Moynihan 1988
Rottnest Island is a small island of around 19-20 sq km located about 18 km offshore, west of Fremantle. It has had a chequered history since colonial times and served, amongst other things, as an Aboriginal prison, wartime internment camp and military base. Today it is a popular tourist destination.
A heliograph is a solar telegraph system. It signals (usually Morse code) by flashing sunlight reflected by a mirror. An interesting article on the way heliographs worked can be viewed at:
http://www.modulatedlight.org/Modulated_Light_DX/Heliograph.html
"Prior to about 1880, communication with the mainland was primarily with semaphore flags and flares. A manned lookout at Bathurst Point included a signalling station which relayed shipping information between Wadjemup Lighthouse at the centre of the island and Arthur Head at Fremantle. A heliograph was installed in 1879 at Signal Hill, the small rise overlooking the main settlement in Thomson Bay. A Frenchman by the name of Henri Courderot was the heliograph operator and was paid to operate the service once a day, weather permitting. A single circuit submarine communications cable was laid from Cottesloe in 1900, after which the heliograph service was discontinued. This was replaced with a larger cable in 1935."
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rottnest_Island and “All the News in a Flash – Rottnest Communications 1829 – 1979" J.F Moynihan 1988
WA's first telephones
Colonial WA was at the forefront of telephony. The Western Australian Times of Fri March 15 1878 (p.2) reported "The telephone has been introduced into the telegraph department at Perth and Fremantle with complete success". Similarly the Inquirer and Commercial newspaper of March 20 1878 (p.1) reported "An experimental trial with the telephone between Perth and Fremantle a distance of 12 miles has been very successful". 12 miles is approximately 19 km and the connection was made over the existing telegraph line commissioned in 1869.
The first long distance telephone experiments in WA are credited to Messrs G.P. Stevens and E.H. Innes between Bremer Bay and Albany (a distance of more than 100 miles) . At Mr Steven's suggestion, Mr Innes obtained a pair of Bell's "pine cased 'phones" from a passing P&O ship and their first successful transmissions occurred in July 1878.
In August 1878 the colony's first permanent telephone service was installed between Perth's Government House and the Colonial Secretary's office. This is among the first Australian permanent "commercial" telephone services. Reported in the Western Australian 23 Aug 1878. It is likely that these early phones were either Bell's first commercially available "cased" models patented in January 1877 or slightly later "butter stamp" types of early 1878.
Colonial WA was at the forefront of telephony. The Western Australian Times of Fri March 15 1878 (p.2) reported "The telephone has been introduced into the telegraph department at Perth and Fremantle with complete success". Similarly the Inquirer and Commercial newspaper of March 20 1878 (p.1) reported "An experimental trial with the telephone between Perth and Fremantle a distance of 12 miles has been very successful". 12 miles is approximately 19 km and the connection was made over the existing telegraph line commissioned in 1869.
The first long distance telephone experiments in WA are credited to Messrs G.P. Stevens and E.H. Innes between Bremer Bay and Albany (a distance of more than 100 miles) . At Mr Steven's suggestion, Mr Innes obtained a pair of Bell's "pine cased 'phones" from a passing P&O ship and their first successful transmissions occurred in July 1878.
In August 1878 the colony's first permanent telephone service was installed between Perth's Government House and the Colonial Secretary's office. This is among the first Australian permanent "commercial" telephone services. Reported in the Western Australian 23 Aug 1878. It is likely that these early phones were either Bell's first commercially available "cased" models patented in January 1877 or slightly later "butter stamp" types of early 1878.
It is interesting to note that "fake news" is not a modern phenomenon. In various published biographies of Mr William. J. Hancock , the Superintendent - Telephones from about 1885 (mentioned later), it is stated that Mr Hancock installed the above-mentioned telephone service in 1886. This is clearly incorrect but, in his role as Superintendent, it is highly likely he upgraded the line and equipment. Shades of Alan Bond's claim to have painted the iconic Dingo Flour sign at Fremantle!
http://www.australiaforeveryone.com.au/files/perth/dingo-mill.html
http://www.australiaforeveryone.com.au/files/perth/dingo-mill.html
Telephone exchanges
W.A's first telephone exchange opened in Perth on 1st December 1887. It was a local battery/magneto manual system operated by telephonists (described here). Automatic (i.e. dial) telephony hadn't been invented yet and did not arrive in WA until 1914.
According to a paper read to the WA Historical Society by the above-mentioned Mr Stevens in 1939, Perth's first telephone exchange was located in a small, three roomed brick cottage on the north side of Wellington Street near the intersection with Barrack Street.
One room housed the exchange and the other two the Superintendent's office and "fitters" workshop respectively. Later, a temporary linesman's workshop was squeezed in at the rear between the cottage and the railway cutting.
These premises served until June 1892 when the exchange was transferred to more spacious accommodation on the second floor of the General Post Office (Treasury Building) in St Georges Terrace on the corner of Barrack St. An exchange was maintained at these premises for over two decades until the installation of Perth's first automatic exchange in 1914.
As an aside, the original exchange building, vacated in 1892, and the adjacent "Working Men's Institute", were lost in the realignment of Barrack and Beaufort Streets with the construction of the "new" Barrack St bridge of 1894.
Perth's first telephonists were Misses Constance (Connie) Letch and Ada Woodbridge but were soon joined by Misses Marie Woodbridge and Minnie Furlong. Connie Letch connected Perth's first call on 1st December 1887. Miss Letch (married name Carter) maintained an interest in telephony over her life and she pops up in at least three media reports on telephone history; in 1918, 1939 and again in 1955. In recent years, this writer had the pleasure of meeting a descendant of Mrs Carter and her family still celebrates her contribution to our telephone history.
Colonial administration
Perth and Fremantle exchanges were established by William John Hancock -Superintendent Telephones Section of Works and Railways. All telephone systems, including railway telephones, were transferred to WA Posts and Telegraphs Dept by 1890. Works (and Railways) Dept was apparently only a placeholder for telephony until. in Nov. 1889, colonial legislation defined telephones as a form of telegraph, enabling absorption into the Posts and Telegraphs Dept.
On Federation, postal, telegraph and telephone services were taken over by the Commonwealth (PMG).
Regarding railways - In 1890, the Works and Railways Dept was split up. Telephones went off to P&T, Railways section became WA Govt Railways and Works became Dept of Works and Buildings I don't know when WAGR resumed control of their telephones - possibly soon after Federation?
William John Hancock
Mr William John Hancock (1863 - 1931), mentioned above, had an accomplished career. He arrived in WA from Dublin at age 22 to take up the post of Superintendent Telephones after the death of Mr James C Fleming in 1885. Hancock oversaw significant developments in WA's telephone and telegraph systems but he left that position in 1893, and became the "Government Electrical Engineer" in 1894. a position he held until retirement in 1922. It is believed that he brought the first X-ray machine to Perth in 1895 and he remained active in the development of radiography for the rest of his life.
Perth and Fremantle exchanges were established by William John Hancock -Superintendent Telephones Section of Works and Railways. All telephone systems, including railway telephones, were transferred to WA Posts and Telegraphs Dept by 1890. Works (and Railways) Dept was apparently only a placeholder for telephony until. in Nov. 1889, colonial legislation defined telephones as a form of telegraph, enabling absorption into the Posts and Telegraphs Dept.
On Federation, postal, telegraph and telephone services were taken over by the Commonwealth (PMG).
Regarding railways - In 1890, the Works and Railways Dept was split up. Telephones went off to P&T, Railways section became WA Govt Railways and Works became Dept of Works and Buildings I don't know when WAGR resumed control of their telephones - possibly soon after Federation?
William John Hancock
Mr William John Hancock (1863 - 1931), mentioned above, had an accomplished career. He arrived in WA from Dublin at age 22 to take up the post of Superintendent Telephones after the death of Mr James C Fleming in 1885. Hancock oversaw significant developments in WA's telephone and telegraph systems but he left that position in 1893, and became the "Government Electrical Engineer" in 1894. a position he held until retirement in 1922. It is believed that he brought the first X-ray machine to Perth in 1895 and he remained active in the development of radiography for the rest of his life.
Colonial WA telephone legislation
An Act to protect telephones was passed in the WA colonial Parliament 29th November, 1889. This demonstrates how new this whole technology was. The legislation was enacted nearly two years after the first exchange network was installed. Click on download file below to view the Act.
File source: https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/
telephone_act_1889_-_[00-00-00].pdf | |
File Size: | 180 kb |
File Type: |
Fremantle
The first Fremantle (manual) telephone exchange was installed in a room located at the rear of the newly built Town Hall and was open by the 1st February 1888. There is some conjecture as to opening date. J.F. Moynihan wrote in 1991 that three dates are suggested; I Jan, 23 Jan, and 1 Feb 1888. His suggestion is that the switchboard was commissioned 1 Jan, customers first connected 23 Jan but not reported in the newspapers until 1 Feb! Fremantle exchange's first telephonists were Misses R. Chamberlain and E. Crake (Source: http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/). Another source I once came across adds a third telephonist, a Miss Dunlop, but I cannot find any further mention of her?
For the sake of historical completeness the other telephone staff servicing Perth/Fremantle in 1887/88 were initially:
Superintendent; Mr William J. Hancock
Fitter; Mr George Skaife
Linesmen: Messrs E. Davis and W. Aldred
and later in 1888
Inspector; W.A.L. Knox
In December 1894 the Fremantle switchboard was updated and transferred to a larger room at the front of the Town Hall.
WA’s exchanges at the end of the colonial era
Perth (1887), Fremantle (l888), North Fremantle, Geraldton and Albany (1895), Guildford (1896), Coolgardie, Kalgoorlie and Boulder (1897), Cottesloe (1898) and Northam (1900). Rottnest exchange, at that time served WA Government organisations only and was not listed. For more information on these exchanges go to early days of the PMG in WA here .
First exchange telephones and equipment
The initial WA colonial order for telephone instruments was for 50 Western Electric Magneto Bell Telephone Instruments with Bell Receiver and Blake Transmitter. The following is an image of the original order.
The initial WA colonial order for telephone instruments was for 50 Western Electric Magneto Bell Telephone Instruments with Bell Receiver and Blake Transmitter. The following is an image of the original order.
An order of 50 instruments probably seemed extravagant at the time, as a newspaper report of November 1887 indicated that only 23 subscribers (17 in Perth and six in Fremantle) were signed up prior to the exchanges opening but, as the following directory of February 1888 shows, subscriptions burgeoned and more instruments would have needed to be ordered. The bottom left image shows a similar type of telephone to the above order.
Later instruments to be used by the colonial authority included the Berthon Ader introduced in 1890s and, from the turn of the century, Ericsson wall and table models.
At this time in Western Australian telephony history all the exchange services were local battery, magneto working (WA didn't progress to central battery working until 1911) and all the lines were single wire/earth return. These principles are explained here.
Later instruments to be used by the colonial authority included the Berthon Ader introduced in 1890s and, from the turn of the century, Ericsson wall and table models.
At this time in Western Australian telephony history all the exchange services were local battery, magneto working (WA didn't progress to central battery working until 1911) and all the lines were single wire/earth return. These principles are explained here.
The first switchboards
There are no surviving records of WA's first switchboards, but in a presentation in 1917, the above-mentioned Mr Hancock described them as being two 50 line units manufactured by the Western Electric Company of USA. The images below shows (L) a typical 50 line W.E board of that time (1882 W.E. catalogue) and (R), a typical exchange employing similar equipment (The telephone room, Melbourne Exchange, by Julian Rossi Ashton - 1881. Source; State Lib. Victoria.
There are no surviving records of WA's first switchboards, but in a presentation in 1917, the above-mentioned Mr Hancock described them as being two 50 line units manufactured by the Western Electric Company of USA. The images below shows (L) a typical 50 line W.E board of that time (1882 W.E. catalogue) and (R), a typical exchange employing similar equipment (The telephone room, Melbourne Exchange, by Julian Rossi Ashton - 1881. Source; State Lib. Victoria.
WA's earliest surviving telephone directory 1888
(Source Old PMG documents)
(Source Old PMG documents)
For a sharper, downloadable image of this directory, click on the pdf below.
phone_list_no_2_-1888.pdf | |
File Size: | 613 kb |
File Type: |
The Australian colonies federated into the Commonwealth of Australia on 1st January 1901. For an overview of the early day of the PMG in WA after Federation go here
If you have any artefacts, information or photos relating to Perth or Fremantle’s early telephone history – particularly from the late 1800s and early 1900s – I’d be very pleased to hear from you. Drop me a line via the contact link above