As has been the case in America, the early achievements of Postal engineers and others in developing communications between the isolated communities of the Commonwealth of Australia are fascinating and instructive to all interested in the art of telecommunication. However, perhaps none is more interesting and indicative of the tenacity and pertinacity of the Australian pioneers than that of the establishment of the overland telegraph line between Port Augusta and Port Darwin shortly after Australia had been crossed for the first time by John McDonald Stuart in 1860-1862.

It was less than ten years later that a telegraph line had been completed practically along the route taken by Stuart (Figure 1). Prior to this, however, in the late 1860's, there was great rivalry between Queensland and South Australia as to who should have the honor of linking their telegraph system with the cable being laid from Singapore to Darwin. Each wanted the other Australian colonies to support the project from their particular point of view. When in June, 1870, no agreement had been arrived at and the Cable Company seemed to favor the land line being constructed from Darwin (in the Northern Territory) to Brisbane (in Queensland), the South Australian Government, evidently realizing that some drastic action was necessary if they were to have the line in their state, made an offer to the Cable Company to build a telegraph line from Adelaide (in South Australia) to Darwin (1,975 miles). It was to be completed by the time the Company had completed their cable, this being estimated at eighteen months from the time of the offer. The offer, which meant that the telegraph line had to be constructed at the rate of 110 miles per month, was accepted, and heavy penalties for non-completion of the line in the time indicated were provided for in the agreement. It was not until about the middle of August, 1870, that the construction was started. The Postmaster-General of South Australia, Mr. Charles Todd (who was knighted in 1893), planned and supervised the work.

The route was divided into three sections --- the lower section from Port Augusta to 500 miles north was let by contract at approximately $103 per mile, and the northern end from Darwin to about 650 miles south was let by contract at prices varying from $155 to $222 per mile, the Government to provide in each case wire and insulators. The central, and most difficult portion, was to be constructed by the government. Each section was subdivided into many subsections, and a party allotted to construct each subsection. A small exploring party went ahead of each main party and marked out the route to be taken. The equipment of each party included 15 horse wagons, 17 bullock drays (a low wagon without sides), one bullock wagon, five express wagons, 165 horses, and 200 bullocks.

A depot was established at the Finke River (about 830 miles north of Adelaide) for the provision of fresh meat for the men working on the adjoining sections, and 2000 sheep were sent there. It must be remembered that all the material, provisions, etc., had to be hauled from either Port Augusta or Darwin by horse, bullock vehicle, or camels, and some idea of the difficulties experienced can be realized by the fact that it took Harvey's party, who constructed one of the central sub-sections, eight months to reach the beginning of their section.

It was far too big a job to be done in the specified time, and when the period had expired (December, 1871), there were still many gaps in the line. A delay had also occurred in the cable construction, and although not far off completion, the cable was not completed on the contracted date. A compromise was reached regarding the infliction of penalties, and the South Australian Government redoubled its efforts. However, it was not until August 22, 1872, that the last gap was closed and telegraphic communication was established between Australia and England. The total cost of the line was approximately $1,200,000.

The original line was a 7/14 stranded iron wire conductor, specially manufactured by Messrs. Johnson and Nephew (probably in Adelaide). Some years later most of it was removed and replaced by a 400 lb. galvanized iron conductor. In 1898 a 265 lb. copper wire was added to the route, and these two wires were known as the Darwin Copper and the Darwin Iron. The copper carried the high speed telegraph channel, and the iron the interstation telegraph channel.

At least two types of insulators appear to have been used during initial construction efforts. One type was of porcelain, about 4-1/2 inches across at the bottom and 5-1/2 inches high, but having a metal top, two inches in diameter, screwed on to the porcelain. A metal plate bolted on to the metal top, and two holes, through which a wire could be passed, were formed when the plate was screwed down. Apparently only one hole was used, but the tightening of the bolt held the wire firmly between the plate and the metal top of the insulator. There were thus no tie wires necessary with this type (Figure 2).

Another type of porcelain insulator was completely covered with a metal armour. The metal armour is shaped exactly like the insulator, and the wire was tied to this similarly as is done on present day insulators. The porcelain was set into the armour by a kind of cement, and a thread was provided in the porcelain for a metal spindle. The metal armour protected the insulator against aborigines who would attempt to break them and use the porcelain for making tools, points, etc. They also took the binding wires from insulators to make fish hooks and, with some ingenuity, made tomahawks from the footplates taken from iron poles. Presentations of fish hooks and tomahawks to the natives overcame this particular problem. As was noted in a recent letter from Len Hicks, line foreman for the Postmaster-General in Finke, Northern Territory, the chances of finding any of the armour coated style in good condition now is probably rather remote.

It is unfortunate that the records regarding original sources of the first insulators used may have been lost. Inquiries to the Postmaster-General's Museum in Adelaide, as well as reference to several books and also early issues of The Telecommunication Journal of Australia, have failed to produce any useful information. Apparently most of the porcelain insulators used during the past 20 or 30 years were made by Fowlers Potteries in New South Wales and Kosters Pottery in South Australia (Adelaide), or simply imported.

In many instances the line did not take a direct route between various points, but followed creeks and watercourses. The reason for this was that most of the poles were cut from the timbers growing along these watercourses, and also that it was necessary to follow the watercourses in order to obtain water. However, termites insured that most of the wooden poles had very short lives, perhaps only of a few years' duration. In 1880, re-poling with Siemens (Siemens Brothers & Co., London) and Oppenheimer metal poles was commenced in places, but it was not until 1898, when the 265 lb. copper conductor was added, that the line was fully iron-poled. During the erection of the copper wire and the final iron poles, the line route was considerably straightened, now following a more direct route and not keeping to the watercourses.

Five men died during the construction of the lines, one from thirst, one from consumption, another from fever, one was lost in the bush when looking for stray horses, and one was drowned.