Western Australia.
Telegraph lines in the Gascoyne.

The Gascoyne region of Western Australia is defined here, for purposes of describing line construction, as being:

The Gascoyne is the smallest region in Western Australia. The telegraph line from Geraldton simply went along the coastal route to Hamelin Pool, then to Carnarvon and north to Roebourne in the Pilbara. There are only five Telegraph Offices recorded for the Gascoyne region. Being realistic, the line through the Gascoyne was a connection to the northern region.

In the Legislative Council of 5 September, 1881, Sir Thomas Campbell made reference to funding the construction of a line of telegraph from Northampton to Roebourne:

"It is proposed to invite tenders from lessees of second class land in the Northern District, who, in return for grants of land within their leases might be willing to form a syndicate for the purpose of constructing the ine of telegraph. There will be no difficulty in this, and like the projected line of railway from Albany to York, it will be a question of extension of a direct connection, by means of a submarine cable, between the local telegraph system of Western Australia and that of India and the Mother country".

On the same sitting day, Sir Thomas also provided more details of his financing approach.

 

1. Preparations.

Although the North-West region of the Pilbara around (say) the Ashburton River (Onslow to Roebourne) was sparsley settled, there were many and significant sources of income. Unfortunately what this remote area lack most was communication. Its isolation contrasted markedly with the growing population centres in the South and edging to the east in various places. A wonderful, passionate Letter to the Editor addressing this problem was published by the West Australian on 29 April 1881. Clearly a telegraph line would help the region significantly.

The Daily News of 28 May 1883 presented a very comprehensive overview of the line from Geraldton to Roebourne via the Gascoyne:

"Good progress is being made in providing the necessary equipment for the Government survey party in connection with Roebourne Telegraph Line.

    • The direction of the party has been entrusted to Mr. Surveyor Henry S. Carey (who had been the assistant to Mr. C. D. Price in a similar duty on the Eucla line);
    • Mr. C. D. Price was the lead constructor - so interchanging roles with Carey;
    • his assistants are Mr. William Strickland, jun., -- who, in addition to his proved efficiency in surveying, has, like his chief, had a good deal of experience of the country which will have to be traversed - and Mr. Gardiner;
    • Mr. Jonathan Parish, who was also employed throughout the construction of the Eucla line, has received the appointment of working overseer;
    • there will be four other Europeans and two natives attached to the party.
Fifteen horses will be required, and these, under the charge of Mr. Strickland, will be started overland to Northampton about Friday next. Mr. Carey will proceed to Geraldton by steamer, and that gentleman contemplates setting out upon his work from the Mines about the 20th proximo.

From thence the line will be carried in a general direction west of north, crossing the Bend of the Murchison River to Hamelin Pool, at the head of the eastern loop of Shark Bay - a distance of about 130 miles from Northampton, thence to Carnarvon (at the mouth of the Gascoyne Elver), via. Wooramulla River, which is distant about 260 miles from Northampton. This station will of course serve the rising district of the Gascoyne in its most central part. Point Cloates — distant 390 miles from Northampton — will be the next station; then the Ashburton River station (in the western portion of the Nickol BayNow say Karatha and sheltered from the ocean by West Intercourse Island. district), about 420 miles from Northampton ; and, lastly, Roebourne, about another 180 miles distant — or, approximately, 700 miles from Northampton and 1,000 miles from Perth.

It is intended, we understand, that no part of the line shall come nearer than a distance of two miles of the coast — a very wise provision, it need not be added, since the sea-air is known to have such a deteriorating influence on the wires.

The contractors (Messrs. J. & W. Bateman) contemplate that the bulk of the poles, wire, and insulators will arrive from London during August and September next, and they have already negotiated with a building firm for the erection of some of the stations. Places for landing the materials (besides Geraldton and Sharks Bay, Carnarvon, and Port Walcott) will probably be sought for under Port Cloates, in one or more localities on the eastern shore of Exmouth Gulf, and also at a spot between there and Nickol Bay.

The line is to be completed, according to the terms of the contract, by the close of April, 1885".

The first two sections of the survey have been noted previously. "The third section connects the GascoyneRenamed Carnarvon in August 1884. with Point Cloates, about 30 miles from Exmouth Gulf, and, during the survey of this part, there will be a large marsh or salt lagoon to traverse. The fourth and fifth sections, from Point Cloates to the Ashburton, and thence to Roebourne, will be comparatively easier, but it is evident that, for the next two years, the party will have their work cut out for them, especially as their object will not be the survey of the telegraph line only, but also to obtain all possible information that may be serviceable to the Survey Department, and enhance the range and accuracy of the maps in present use. The first section of the survey will probably be over about the middle of August, when the contractors will commence operations" (West Australian, 1 June 1883).

The 600 km coastal region of the Gascoyne region is centered around the junction of the Gascoyne and Thomas rivers. In a debate on Responsible Government in the Legislative Council on 30 August 1882, the Hon. Member for Geraldton advocated for less influence from Downing Street (UK Goverment) if correct decisions were to be made for the future of Western Australia. He claimed that if a loan for Public Works were asked, the Secretary of State would interfere. The member gave an eloquent discourse on the inadvisability of allowing the Government in the Mother Country to continue to maintain its supremacy in decision making over the growing Colony:

"Then we go on to 1878, when the question (of Responsible Government) again came before this House, and the position of affairs was reversed, the resolution introduced in favour of the immediate adoption of Responsible Government being rejected in favour of an amendment affirming that the desired change might be further deferred. All the speakers, however, who took part in the debate still admitted that the adoption by the colony of the proposed change was only a question of time ... The hon. member for Geraldton, himself, the mover of the amendments referred to, went so far as to say that unless the Imperial Government relaxed its supervision over the work of this House, it would be the duty of the House - a duty which it owed to the country - to reconsider the whole subject and, in some way or other, take the entire management of our affairs upon our own shoulders.

I would ask the hon. member whether the Imperial Government has in any way relaxed its supervision, or whether the Secretary of State does not still interfere in almost all matters of detail connected with the administration of the colony. The hon. member says no. Why, sir, I was quite humiliated - I say it advisedly - was quite humiliated the other day when I saw from the papers which were presented to this House by His Excellency the Governor, that even such a paltry matter as a question regarding a subordinate officer - like the locomotive foreman at Fremantle - had been made the subject of voluminous despatches between the Governor and the Secretary of State. Even in such a trifling matter as that, the Secretary of State was asked, not in plain terms perhaps but inferentially , to advise what course ought to be pursued.

I say again it is humiliating to me, and it must be humiliating to this honorable House and humiliating to the country, to find that even such petty departmental disputes as these have to be referred sixteen thousand miles away for the purpose of being reviewed by Her Majesty's Government who, evidently, are not disposed in any way, so long as we remain under the present circumstances, to relax their control over our affairs.

Another proof of this was afforded last year, when this House passed a series of resolutions in favour of raising a loan of £310,00 for extending the Eastern Railway to York and for constructing a telegraph line to the Nor'west. What was the result?

  • Did not the Secretary of State interfere with the details of that scheme?
  • Did he not interfere with it to mar it?
  • Did he not tell us he could not think of allowing us to borrow enough to construct a line of railway all the way to York or a line of telegraph all the way to Roebourne,
    but that we must content ourselves with a railway half-way and a telegraph half-way - a railway with its terminus in the middle of a forest and a telegraph leading into the bush
    where it could not possibly have been utilised - except by the noble savage to whom it would probably have been an object of absorbing interest?

Had it not been for the action of the Secretary of State in interfering with the details of this scheme, we should have had this railway to York completed at far less cost than we shall now ... The same again with the North West telegraph. Had it not been for the interference of the Secretary of State, in insisting upon improving the original scheme and deciding that the line might be constructed halfway into an uninhabited desert instead of into a settled portion of the colony, we should probably by this time be connected with our important Northern settlements and, instead of having received £13,000 in land revenue from the Kimberley district, we should have received double that amount, as we should then have been in communication with those distant settlements and possessed of some reliable information with reference to this latest acquisition to our territory instead of being, as at present, cut off from all communication with this important part of the colony. (Hear, hear.) So much then for the interference of the Secretary of State".

In July 1884, the Railway and Telegraph Loan of £254,000 was floated in London. It was immediately being expended for the extension of the Eastern Railway to York and for the telegraph to Roebourne.

As noted previously, the Northampton to Geraldton line was constructed through the coastal part of the North West Region in the late 1870s to support lead mining and the shipments.

After the line to Geraldton was completed in 1873 and became operational in June 1874, there was a pause in activity before construction started to extend a separate line from Geraldton.

The resumed line went north to Hamelin Pool where the Flint Cliff Telegraph Office was opened in 1884 (later changing its name to Flagpole Landing).

 

2. Construction activities.

2.1: To Hamelin Bay.

Once Mr. Price and Mr. Carey had completed their tasks in the Murchison, the pair worked with contractors J & W Bateman to oversee the construction of the 700 mile Northampton to Roebourne telegraph line. In January 1884, they proceeded to Flint CliffHamelin Pool. at the head of the Hamelin Pool, Shark's Bay to enable work to be done to the south from that place and hence reduce the long overland transport of materials. The Geraldton Victorian Express of 13 February 1884 reported that "the Roebourne Telegraph line is completed as far as Flintcliffe, and that the Station there will shortly be opened to the public. The constructing party under Mr. Price deserves every credit for the way they are pushing on this most important work". The schooner Ivy left a depot of poles, wire, etc near Hamelin Pool.

On 8 March 1884, the Herald reported that "Messrs. J. & W. Bateman's ketch "Electra" sails tomorrow for Sharks' Bay and Gascoyne, taking supplies of telegraph materials, and the station officers Messrs Thompson and Furlong for Sharks' Bay, together with all the materials for the erection of the second station at Gascoyne".

On April 15, 1884 "The telegraph survey party arrived overland from Wooroomala on the 1st, and the Electra (ketch) from Fremantle reached this port (Carnarvon) the same day with 60 tons of goods to discharge, consisting of materials for building the telegraph station and of telegraph poles, etc. The building of the station is to be commenced on the 7th inst., and we expect to have the telegraph wire here in a month or two".
(The West Australian).

The West Australian of 10 May 1884 reported that "A telegram has reached the Director of Public Works from Mr. H. S. Carey, dated Hamelin Pool, May 3rd, stating that the first section of the Roebourne telegraph line to that point had been completed according to specification. The line to the Hamelin Pool station, Sharks Bay is not yet open to the public".

Also in May 1884 came reports of the difficulties in constructing the line south from Hamelin Pool:

"We understand that the telegraph construction party engaged in the erection of the line between Northampton and Roebourne encountered considerable hardships in connection with their work on the first section, terminating at Hamelin Pool (Sharks Bay). It was anticipated that the construction of this part of the line would be the heaviest portion of the whole undertaking and this anticipation has been more than realised - the work proving difficult beyond expectation. The whole route nearly - a distance of 150 miles - is through thick forest country, in many places presenting a rocky surface, and north of the Murchison, without any permanent water.

The heat of the weather also severely tried both the camel transport and the horse service but the whole party, we believe, endured these drawbacks cheerfully. Two of the camels, however, succumbed. The Afghans in charge of the camel transport are spoken of very highly. They are said to be well up to their work and thoroughly reliable. The material used for the construction of the line is reported to be of excellent quality and the posts, being of iron, will be proof against atmospheric and other disturbances to which wooden supports are liable".
(The West Australian 13 May 1884).

The same article did report good news as well:

"The station at Sharks Bay (Hamelin Pool) is now officered and open to the public. As the telegraph line was not connected to another office either to the south or to the north, the office must have just conducted basic postal business. The construction party are about half way over the second section, working in the direction of the GascoyneGascoyne changed name to Carnarvon on 15 August 1884. where the next station will be. The building for the Gascoyne office is now being erected and the materials distributed. It is expected that the line will be opened that far about the beginning of July ...

H.M.S. Meda called here on the 21st ult. on her way to Cossack and the Otway on the 28th bringing Mr. J. C. Fleming en route for Flint Cliff where he is expected to open the new telegraph station".

The difficulties of living and working in such a remote area as Gascoyne (Carnarvon) were highlighted by an article in Geraldton's Victorian Express on 12 March 1884 with a dateline 3 March:

"On Saturday March 1st, Mr. H. S. Carey, the officer in charge of the Telegraph Survey Party, arrived at the port in a boat from his party suffering from the measles, from which it is hoped by all he will speedily recover.

The town was thrown into a gloom the same afternoon owing to the news of the death of Mr. T. Bird jun. The deceased, who was about 29 years of age, had been suffering from measles for some seven days but, although the attack was a severe one, no one anticipated any danger until tbe Saturday afternoon when Mr. Carey warned them that the case was a most serious one.

His funeral took place on Sunday afternoon, Mr. Carey kindly reading the burial service. Everyone in the neighborhood attended, the deceased having been in the district about five years, and being well known and respected.

... The overland telegraph survey is being pushed energetically ahead under the direction of Mr. Carey, but I am afraid that officer will have to go below on sick leave, as he is still suffering severely from the after effects of his recent attack of measles, due to the exposure inevitable to one in his position. I hope he will soon return thoroughly restored. Everyone here thinks he and his party have an awful job before them, on account of the waterless state of the country through which he has to run the telegraph line. The country is very dry throughout but, although water is very scarce, feed is plentiful and tbe sheep and cattle on the Lower Gascoyne look well".

Much later, in mid-January 1893, the Loan Estimates were being discussed in the Legislative Assembly. In part, funds were allocated for the construction of a telegraph line from Flint Cliff to Freshwater Camp in Shark's Bay.

 

2.2: To Carnarvon.

The next section of the line went north towards Carnavon which had only been settled in 1876 as the centre of a major sheep grazing activity. Much later, in December 1897, a Telegraph Office was opened at Woomeral - just north of Hamelein Pool and inland from Shark's Bay. A large artesian bore water supply had been drilled there which was useful for stock - and presumably for telegraph linesmen. It was also a convenient mid-point between Carnarvon (about 100 miles north) and Hamelein Pool (about 50 miles to the south).

On 13 May 1884, the West Australian provided an update of the survey party's progress: "The telegraph line will be a great boon to this district when completed. It should be nearing the Gascoyne now.

I have an idea that the proposed line along the coast, from the Gascoyne to Point Cloates, will be found to be impracticable as it is very hilly, with a rocky precipitous coast guiltless of any landing places and with a stage of about one hundred miles without water. The whole way over this strip of country is nothing but a succession of deep valleys and almost inaccessable sandhills, covered for the most part with spinifex and dense scrub, making travelling both slow and difficult.

It was here that Messrs. Charles Brockman and Robt. Shaw suffered such hardship in 1882, and had to abandon one of their three horses.

A much easier and shorter route could be got along the east side of the great salt marsh, crossing the Minilya and Lyndon rivers near their outlets, and from thence in a straight line to the Ashburton, passing through a great deal of the settled country. A station, too, on the Minilya or Lyndon would be a great convenience to the settlers, whereas a station at Point Cloates would be out of their reach for many years to come".

The Daily News of 19 July 1884 reported that "The Roebourne Telegraph line will be opened to the public as far as Carnarvon, on the Gascoyne, at the latter end of next week". Indeed several outlets carried a story, with a dateline of 26 July at Gascoyne, that "The Roebourne Telegraph line was completed as far as the Gascoyne on Thursday last in the presence of several individuals, including Mr. George Baston, senr., Mrs. Charles Crowther and Miss Mary Baston, the last named young lady erecting the last pole". Various sources indicate that the telegraph office opened on 10 August 1884.

The West Australian of 7 August 1884 provided the following description:

"our correspondent writes as the Roebourne telegraph construction party arrived here on the 23rd July and the wire was fixed at the Carnarvon office on the same date.

The camels created a great deal of excitement in the town, and every one tried his skill at riding them, which gave rise to many amusing scenes. Another camel died from snake bite the other day, which makes two lost by Messrs. Bateman and Co., on their way overland from Northampton.

The third section of the telegraph line has already been commenced.".

On 4 September 1884, the West Australian reported: "The S.S. Natal arrived here (Carnarvon) on the 11th inst., on her way from Singapore. Mr. Trinder and the captain came on shore and 13 coolies were landed here as imported labourers - 5 Messrs. Russell & Co., 6 for Messrs. Davis & Co. and 3 for the Roebourne telegraph construction party. Taking them as a whole, they were a fine set of men. The s.s. Otway arrived. here on Angnst 18th, on her way to Cossack, landing here Messrs. J. C. Fleming, Lloyd and Devenish - the two latter are the Telegraph Master and his assistant".

On 28 October 1884, the Shipping News published in various newspapers noted that the ketch "Electra" had left Fremantle for Gascoyne via Shark's Bay "with telegraph material". She is recorded as having reached Carvarvon on 3 November "on her way to Boolbarly with 80 miles of telegraph material for the Roebourne telegraph construction party. The survey of the line has been completed to within a hundred miles of the Ashburton which will be reached, it is expected, about Christmas time".

As an aside - the New Zealand Times of 25 November 1884 carried the story that "The barque Malay, which arrived here from Geographe Bay, West Australia, on Sunday, brought a cargo of 840 jarrah telegraph poles. We believe that this is the first shipment of jarrah poles received in the colony and that they have been ordered as a trial. It appears strange that New Zealand, generally reputed to be so rich in useful timbers, should be reduced to importing telegraph poles from the most distant of the Australasian colonies".

 

2.3: Carnarvon to Ashburton (Onslow) in the Pilbara.

In the Legislative Council on Monday 28 July 1884, the Director of Public Works informed Members that a map of the proposed telegraph line between the Gascoyne and the Ashburton Rivers would be laid on the table in three days. On 31 July, the Director of Public Works fulfilled his promise and laid on the table of the House a map showing the present proposed route for the line between the Gascoyne and Ashburton and also the surrounding country. Mr. Grant, who had requested the map, suggested that the northern telegraph line should be taken by way of the Minylia.

On 15 November 1884, the Daily News updated readers with "we learn that the Roebourne telegraph construction party is pushing ahead the poleing and wiring with all speed. The survey of the line as far as the Ashburton is expected to be completed towards the end of December".

On 24 January 1885, the Eastern Districts Chronicle was one of many newspapers who carried the following:

News has just come to hand at Perth of the committal of a horrible double murder at Roebourne on the night of the 12th instant. The following telegraph messages were received in Perth on Wednesday last, they having been conveyed by police escort from Roebourne to the most northern operating station on the overland line. It will be seen that the murder had been committed something like nine days when the news reached head quarters. (The two men - Messrs. Anketell and Barrup - had their heads cut open by a sharp instrument in the context of an unsuccesful Bank robbery).

The news being so delayed raised question about the need to open communication along the telegraph line as it was constructed - not for public use but to keep the relevant authorities in Perth alert to emergency situations and vice versa. Comparisons were drawn with the progressive opening of the Eucla line as construction continued although in a very different context. See the Inquirer for more details of this very appropriate strategy. By 1 April, the two murderers had been captured are were to be forwarded to Perth for trial. The Geraldton Victorian Express of that day acknowledge the progress of one its competitors with "It is quite evident from this piece of news that the Inquirer has anticipated even the West Australian, and has established direct telegraphic or telephonic communication with Roebourne".

On 26 February 1885, the West Australian updated the status of progress: "The Roebourne telegraph construction party are now over 100 miles from the port (Carnarvon). The party have have had a trying time of it on account of scarcity of water and feed. They were much inconvenienced owing to the cutter Maud landing her stuff, consisting chiefly of forage, 30 miles from where it ought to have been landed, which caused much delay and extra work".

In 1885, major construction activity took the line further north from Carnarvon through Onslow and Fortescue in the Pilbara to Roebourne and nearby Cossack. The first reported development was published in the Inquirer of 14 January 1885:

"the Ketch "Electra" will take in telegraph wire, etc., and sail for the Gascoyne and Ashburton early. It is gratifying to know that the contractors (Messrs. Bateman) are making satisfactory progress with the work, communication having been opened up fully a hundred miles north of Carnarvon".

By 10 May, 1885 the

"Learning from outages on the Eucla telegraph line, conditions of the contract included that all poles be of iron and that the route not be closer than two miles to the coast. The workforce for the telegraph line was supplemented by Chinese labourers.

In November 1884, Charles Price was set upon by seven armed Chinese who were dissatisfied with their rate of pay, and by a threat from Price of loss of rations if they went on strike. The assault, near the Lyndon River, north of Carnarvon, was only stopped after two of the group were shot in the legs and the ringleader was knocked down. A few weeks later another worker on the telegraph line, having been dismissed, attempted suicide in Charles Price’s room at the Carnarvon Hotel and later died of the gunshot wound" (Engineering Heritage Western Australia: Charles Price, accessed 5 August 2023).

The project was completed on 1 October 1885.

On 5 July 1886, The West Australian wrote an excellent, insightful and gracious editorial about the survey and construction of the Northampton to Roebourne telegraph line under the supervision of Mr. Henry S. Carey:

"At the time this line was completed, we referred, in a few short lines, to the hardships those engaged upon it had undergone, to the pluck and perseverance they had displayed and to the acknowledgements due to them from the public they had so faithfully served. ... It is all very well, for instance, to resolve to extend our means of communication by the telegraph. We vote the money, think much of our enterprise, and complacently await results. But perhaps there is no work we could undertake involving such difficulties, such hardships, such toil and such patience as Australian bush telegraph construction ...Scarcely if at all less arduous (than coonstructing the Eucla line), was that service upon which Mr. H. S. Carey was engaged, Mr. Price taking the constructing part. In the report Mr. Carey sent in, only here and there do we find slight indications of the sufferings he and his party underwent. The physical difficulties attending their work are scarcely touched upon. These all are taken as a matter of course in the general line of duty, and as not worth mentioning ... The report, which is chiefly a detailed account of the nature of the country through which the Roebourne telegraph line was taken, puts the department in possession of all facts requisite for forming a practical judgment as to necessities which may arise in regard to upkeep or improvement".

It is a good and important read - looking at the other side.

 

3. Proposed new telegram charges for the Northern line.

Amidst the outstanding efforts being made by the construction party to overcome almost insurmounbtable difficulties, the Postmaster General decided to make a special tariff of charges within certain parts of the Colony - especially including the new northern line. Details of these suggestions are provided elsewhere in the Rates section. The general opinion of Mr. Helmich's proposal was that "it is difficult to understand how an experienced officer like Mr. Helmich could have framed a suggestion which, had it been adopted, would have caused endless trouble to his department, irritated the public, and considerably reduced cash receipts".