Telegraph lines in the south-west region.
- Australia 1901-1988
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
- International
- Special aspects
The south-west region is here defined as being the areas either to the south of Hobart or to the west of the first line from Oatlands-Brighton.
 |
There were two main directions for the lines in this region:
To the north-west of Hobart: The line from Green Ponds to Bothwell was a priority and Telegraph Offices were opened in both places in 1865 or before.
|
Bridgewater to Ouse.
The line from Bridgewater to New Norfolk was constructed about 1871 and then extended from New Norfolk to Hamilton in 1872. The Mercury of 28 December 1869 reported:
"We are enabled to state that the inhabitants of New Norfolk have complied with the requirements of the Government on the subject of the extension of telegraphic communication to that township and have made the necessary arrangements for the immediate construction of the line.
To Bridgewater, of course, the present posts will be available, all that is required being the addition of an extra line of wire to be suspended on them. From Bridgewater the wire will be supported by the necessary posts to New Norfolk.
No doubt this work will be the precursor of many similar undertakings extending the advantage of telegraphic communication into the interior of the country districts. We shall be glad to see the next extension made in the direction of Hamilton from New Norfolk across the Macquarie Plains".
The line to Ouse was completed in 1876 and a second line from Hobart via Ouse to Strahan was commenced in 1890. This was a difficult construction activity. Nearly half way to Queenstown, an office was opened at Dee in 1892.
An intermediate station at Glenora opened 1885. New Norfolk was an important area with which to communicate - partly because of the large numbers of settlers from Norfolk Island but also because a centre for invalid and sick convicts had been opened there in 1827.
Other Telegraph Offices opened in this area either on existing lines or on short extension lines include Millbury and Ederslie (1891) and Fenton (1897).
To the south of Hobart:
A number The nature of the terrain in the Huon area dictated that telegraph lines could be more easily and economically constructed by following the coastal route to Cygnet and then up to Geeveston and down again along the coastal route to Southport.
Southport was an important contact point for the Government being the most southerly centre in Tasmania but also because it was a busy port for whaling and sealers and shipping for timber. The Telegraph Office opened there in 1879.
Telegraph Offices were opened as required along the Huon line. Geeve's Town was completed by the end of 1878. An office opened in Port Esperance (Dover) in 1879 and the line was extended to Southport in the same year. The line to Hastings was completed in 1880.
Other offices opened in the mid-1880s or after as demand grew. For example Ranelagh Junction and Rocky River (close to each other) were both opened above Huonville in 1900.