Telegraph lines in the Goldfields Region: Inter-regional to Mid-West.
- Australia 1901-1988
- New South Wales
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The construction of the telegraph lines in the Goldfields region is described on several pages and the developments can be accessed from the following:
5. The inter-regional link - the line between the Murchison and the Goldfields.
A telegraphic link between the two important gold regions of the Murchison and the Goldfields made eminent sense:
- there was already communication between them in terms of postal communication;
- the distance across the arid land between Cue and Darlot was manageable - about 100 miles (320 km). Many hopeful diggers were prepared to trek across the dry plain from the Cue/Mount Magnet area to the newer fields reaching from Wiluna to much further south;
- it provided a Perth-to-Perth telegraphic circuit via Gerald-ton - Cue - Menzies - Coolgardie which could support communication when interruptions occurred.
| This map extends into the Mid-West region. |  |
| This map extends into the upper part of the Goldfoelds region (above Leonora). |
A bicycle mail route to Lake Darlot, which had been established in 1895. This privately operated service was soon replaced with an official weekly mail run between Cue and Lake Darlot via Lawlers. A report in the West Australian of 29 January 1896 provides an insight into the way communications were conducted between these two places:
"The Postmaster-General has received the following telegram from Cue: The Lake Darlot and Lawler's mail arrived here at 10.30 a.m. today, being three days late. The mailman reports that heavy rains have fallen, and that the roads were terribly boggy, which made it impossible for the camels to travel beyond a walking pace for the greater part of the journey. The outgoing mail from the Cue to Lawler's was despatched to time on Saturday the 25th instant. The Postmasters at Lake Darlot and Lawler's also report good rains for four days".
"Mr. Hamblin, the cyclist, has just been with us (at Lake Darlot), and reports that a lot of attention is directed this way from Coolgardie owing, no doubt, to the good developments that have taken place in properties here owned by Coolgardie Co's. Our mail via Niagara will soon be an established fact, we are told ... Menzies is agitating for the extension of the telegraph line to this place via Niagara. It would be a step in the right direction as the permanency of this district is assured" (The Murchison Times 22 February 1896).
On 20 April 1896, the Geraldton Advertiser reported on the new mail development under the heading RACE TO LAWLERS:
"A paragraph appeared in our issue of last week containing a brief notice of the petition recently presented by Mr. Alexander, M.L.C., to the Postmaster General, on behalf of numerous residents in the North Coolgardie and East Murchison goldfields. Mr. Sholl's reply, in which was embodied the assurance that the connecting link in a through mail route from Coolgardie to Cue would shortly be completed, can hardly fail to awaken interest in everyone who is acquainted with the marvellous transformation which the last few years have worked in a tract of country previously a veritable terra incognita.
In effect, there will be a through postal service from Perth to Geraldton by way of Coolgardie, Menzies, Niagara, Mount Malcolm, Lake Darlot, Lawlers and Cue — a route which may be roughly estimated as some thirteen hundred miles. The mail route, in the natural course of events, is the forerunner of the telegraph line, just as the telegraph line is the forerunner of the railway.
The wires have already reached as far eastward of Geraldton as Cue and as far northward of Coolgardie as Menzies and, while the Geraldton-Cue railway is every day advancing, the Coolgardie-Menzies railway has already been promised by the Government and, once begun, is sure to be rapidly pushed forward. Consequently it will be seen that the question which mast be raised in the very near future as to telegraph and railway developments between Cue and Menzies is bound to be a question of vital importance for the port of Geraldton and the Murchison goldfields".
During 1896, the mail run between Cue and Lawlers was again changed - this time starting from Mount Magnet en route to Lake Darlot via Lawlers. That link lasted for six years.
5.2: Discussion about the start and end points of a telegraphic connection.
Also starting towards the end of 1895, there was growing agitation amongst the public supported by a variety of reports in newspapers for the construction of a telegraph line between the two regions. It is also important to recall from the discussion above that the telegraph line was connected at Menzies in December 1895 and at Lawlers in August 1897. Hence references to Lawlers are based on the assumption that the line to Lawlers would be completed before the link from the Murchison was operational.
The Day Dawn Gazette of 14 November 1895 asked for a telegraph line to be constructed from Cue (in the Murchison) to Lawlers. There was also a significant number of public meetings and deputations held at about this time requesting that the Government construct a telegraph line from Mount Magnet to Lawlers. Newspapers frequently carried reports about these meetings.
The Western Mail of 8 May 1896 reported that "in answer to questions, Mr. Illingworth said he had secured the promise of the speedy erection of the telegraph line from Mount Magnet to Lawler's, that he would ask for better accommodation for the local schoolmaster and also for another public well. He said he could not promise to support Mt. Magnet or Cue as the starting point for the railway to Lawler's until he had looked fully into the matter".
The Murchison Times of 6 May 1896 reported:
"We received, yesterday afternoon, the following telegram from Mr. E. H. Wittenoom, the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, who is at present visiting Geraldton:
"I am surprised to read in the telegrams that Mr. Illingworth stated in reply to a question at Mount Magnet that he had secured the promise of the speedy erection of the telegraph line from Magnet to Lawlers. Please contradict this statement. I have never made Mr. Illingworth a promise in the matter and never heard of him in connection with it until about a fortnight since. I had some correspondence with the Mount Magnet people on the subject some time ago and sent them a reply before Mr. Illingworth mentioned it".
Later Mr. Illingworth admitted that it had been Mr. Wittenoom's predecessor he had spoken with.
On 1 June 1896, the West Australian carried the following announcement:
"NEW TELEGRAPH LINES.
Recognising that no important centre, however remote, can live in this age of quickness without telegraphic communication, the Minister of Post and Telegraphs, Mr. E, H. Wittenoom, has had under consideration for some time past the connection by telegraph of several goldfields centres. Among these has been Lawler's, from both Menzies and Mt. Magnet thus making a circle from Perth to Perth, via the central goldfields towns and the Murchison towns. The exact route has not been decided on; in fact, the Minister admits that nothing has been definitely arranged.
With a view, however, to keeping up with the times, and so that there may be no unnecessary and vexatious delays, material sufficient to do this work has been ordered. Some people, it is understood, desire to see the line run only as far as Lawler's from either Menzies or Mt. Magnet; but it is considered that, if the line is carried to Lawler's from either of these points, the distance that would have to be covered in completing the circle would be infinitesimal compared with the good which would be derived from the extension".
On 3 July 1896, the Western Mail reported:
"It was recently stated in these columns that it was proposed to connect the telegraph systems of the Coolgardie and Murchison goldfields by the erection of a telegraph line between Mount Magnet and Menzies, via Lawler's. It was at first proposed that the line should run direct between Lawler's and Menzies.
An alternative scheme has now been submitted to the Minister for Post and Telegraphs by the Postmaster-General. This proposes that instead of taking the line direct from Lawler's to Menzies it should run via Mount Malcolm, and thence to Niagara. A line from Menzies to Niagara is now in course of construction, and the junction of the two lines would therefore complete the connection of the telegraphic systems of the two goldfields. The distances over the last suggested route would be as follows:
Mount Magnet to Lawler's, 152 miles;
Lawler's to Mount Malcolm, 88 miles;
Mount Malcolm to Niagara, 33 miles;
Total, 273 miles
The distance by the other route via Lawler's and thence direct to Menzies would be 267 miles - so that the new route proposed would involve the construction of six miles of additional telegraph line. The roundabout route is, however, considered the more desirable one in that it would include an additional telegraph station - at Mount Malcolm - while it would pass through country more auriferous and with the prospect, therefore, of containing a larger population in the near future".
Clearly such a route made logical sense and continued the strategy of providing alternative circuits to avoid delays when one line failed for whatever reason.
On 28 July 1896, the Government announced that "an indent for the material for the telegraph line from Mount Magnet to Lawlers had been despatched to London. The work, however, would not be commenced until the railway reached Mount Magnet".
On 28 August 1896, the Inquirer noted that the survey for the telegraph line from Lawlers to Mount Magnet had been commenced on the previous Monday.
The West Australian of the same date carried a longer report of the announcement:
"If, the line from Niagara, after reaching Lawlers and the developments justify it, the wire will be carried on to Mount Magnet, thus giving the department an alternative route for cables to London between Coolgardie and Geraldton via Lawlers should there occur at any time an interruption between Coolgardie and Geraldton via Perth".
On 16 October 1896, the Western Mail reported on a meeting in Geraldton on 13th with Mr. Wittenoom:
"the Minister of Mines said he was responsible for the statement that the telegraph line to Lawlers would go from Mount Magnet and that material had been ordered for the same. The officer selected to make a survey had travelled from Niagara by way of Lake Darlot and Lawlers to Mount Magnet. He then sent in his report, in which it was stated that between Mt. Magnet and Lawlers there was no single station or settlement that required a line whereas between Niagara and Lawlers there were no less than ten. It was consequently decided to begin the line from the Niagara end, seeing that so many more people would be accommodated thereby. To continue work from Lawlers to Mount Magnet would be a matter for further consideration. It would cost £15,000, and would only put these two places into communication but it would give an alternative route. The Minister admitted that his first impression was in favour of the Magnet-Lawlers line, but it would have been hardly fair to leave so many other places out in the cold for months.
Everything possible would be done, declared the Minister, to prevent a recurrence of recent interruptions on the Telegraph line between Geraldton and Cue".
In April 1897, Mr. Peate and Faiz Mahomet travelled to Cue overland from Coolgardie via Menzies, Niagara, Mount Masterton, the Diorite King and Lawlers. They left Geraldton about a week later to return to Cue to be present at the railway opening demonstration before returning to Lawlers to open new premises (for further details see the Western Australian Courier of 24 April 1897).
Discussions still went on. On 29 May 1897, the Mount Magnet Miner reported on the fortnightly meeting of the Mount Magnet Municipal Council during which they agreed to write to the Minister of Post and Telegraphs asking that a telegraph line be constructed between Mount Magnet and Lawler's. There were also comments in the press related to "Lake Way, or Wiluna, as the town is known officially, badly wants telegraph communication with the outside world, and as the Public Works Department have promised £3,000 towards the new road from Nannine a strong effort should, it is urged, be made to have a telegraph line constructed at the same time".
On 28 July 1898, the Perth Daily News reported that "Lake Way - or Wiluna as the town is known officially - badly wants telegraph communication with the outside world, and as the Public Works Department, has promised £3,000 towards the new road from Nannine, a strong effort should be made to have a telegraph line constructed at the same time".
An interesting interview was published in the Murchison Times on 11 August 1898. In part:
"Mr. A. Lucanus arrived in Cue (in the Murchison) from Lake Way (Goldfields) on Tuesday ...
I did the journey in four days and a half. The dry stage is still there, and we had to carry a tank of water with us. The new road will be about 50 miles shorter than the present road, but the old road will be used for twelve months or so after the new one is opened, as the latter will be too heavy for the teamsters for a time. Camels will, of course, take the shorter route ...
Wiluna is looking fairly lively now that the battery is there. There are two hotels, four stores and several private houses. Fresh mutton can be obtained from the local butchers, Messrs. Taylor and Connor, and I believe that cattle will be brought there soon ...
Both the batteries at work (10 heads) have a plentiful supply of water and heaps of stone to crush. I believe that there are now 8,000 tons of stone at grass, all of which looks promising stuff ...
Mr. Lucanus, do you favour the Menzies-Leonora-Lawlers route proposed for the railway in the Government policy? ... Well, of course, we want the railway at Lake Way and should be glad to get it from any direction. At the same time, we should prefer the Cue - Nannine route. The Murchison route is certainly the proper one for Lake Way, as it would bring us much nearer to the coast than the other. At the same time, the Menzies route would put us into touch with the more fashionable field of Coolgardie ...
the principal wants are a weekly mail from Cue. At present it takes about a month to get a reply to a letter sent from Lake Way. Then we want a Post Office in the township. It is exceedingly awkward having no Post Office, as we cannot even register letters containing money. We also want telegraphic communication".
5.3: A possible alternative route.
About half way between Mount Sir Samuel and Mount Magnet is a town called Sandstone - about 100 miles (160 kms) east of Magnet. It was gazetted in 1906. To the north was Black Range (proclaimed in 1902). They are in the western part of East Murchison.
The Mount Magnet Miner of 22 August 1903 reported on a meeting of the Black Range Progress Committee. In part, "Mr Pierce spoke re the advisability of having the telegraph wire connected between Magnet and Lawlers. Moved by Mr Pierce and seconded by Mr Leslie, that the secretary write to the Deputy Postmaster General asking what steps should be taken to have the wire laid on, and point out the great need of a Money Order Office being established here, as many men were put to a deal of trouble and much loss of time, owing to the absence of such necessities.— Carried".
In August 1903, the Truth noted "Black Range, with a population of between 200 and 300, is without the services of a medical man, the nearest being at Magnet or Lawlers, a distance of 80 miles in either case, and unconnected by telegraph. Bad luck for embryo Black Rangers".
Also in August, the Mount Magnet Miner reported a delegation meeting with the Minister of Lands:
1st request: the survey of a railway line from Mt Magnet to Black Range and Lawlers.
Reply: Mr Drew said he was in thorough sympathy with the request, and would do his bestA request for a horse and buggy parking area at the proposed railway station when it was built would have been acted on more promptly one presumes. for the construction of the line when circumstances warranted it.2nd request: a telegraph line to Black Range, telephone line to Boogardie and the matter of mail services to Black Range.
Reply: these matters were Federal matters and the Commonwealth authorities were jealous of State interference, but he would do his best in these matters".
At last a major breakthrough - after only nine years. The West Australian of 24 February 1905, was scarcely able to hide its surprise and jubilation when it announced:
"Mr. H. Mahon, M.P. states he has received word from the Postmaster-General that an inspector will be sent to Black Range to report on the advisability of constructing a telegraph line. This is an urgent question, and the delay has been a serious drawback to the district.
Another question agitating the minds of the public is the construction of a railway from Mount Magnet to Lawlers. The member for the district, Mr. F. Troy, is greatly interested in the idea and anxious to see the line built".
Unfortunately - no go:
"Telegraph Line to Black Range.
Mr. H. Mahon, M.P., has been in further communication with the Postmaster-General in respect to the construction of a telegraph line from Magnet or Lawlers to Black Range. He has again received an answer somewhat unfavorable to the project.
The Postmaster-General bases his decision on the report of his Perth deputy, who states: "The cost of construction as originally estimated by the late officer in charge has been reduced by the electrical engineer to £4,920, while the inspector has increased the estimated monthly revenue to the maximum of £35, made up as follows:
Postage stamps £18, telegrams £14, postal note commission £3.
After a searching local inquiry as to utilising trees wholly or partly, I am convinced that nothing short of a properly poled line can be provided for Black Range, the cost of which is out of all proportion to the revenue derivable therefrom, notwithstanding the estimated increased revenue and reduced cost."
Commenting on this letter, Mr. Mahon stated that he had exhausted every argument to induce the authorities to alter their decision. They refuse to do so but intimated that, if the State Government guaranteed to make good any deficiency between the expenditure and the revenue from the line, its construction would be favorably considered. All that now remains to be done, in his opinion, is for the people of the district to bring pressure on the State Government to give the required guarantee to the postal authorities".
(Kalgoorlie Miner, 1 March 1905).
At this stage the matter gets very boring: "he said, she said". For a memo by memo description of this verbal tennis match, see West Australian of 23 February 1906.
Nevertheless, on 23 June, the same source informed its readers of several interesting comments on developments in Black Range (including the post office and the hospital - have a read) including:
"A communication from Mr. H. Mahon, M.H.R,., has been received stating the tenders for the telegraph line will be called almost immediately, and it is generally understood three months will see the line open".
Th East Murchison News of 7 September 1906 carried an article about mining around Black Range which started with the following description:
"Ninety-five miles east of Mt. Magnet on the Northern railway, lies the Black Range goldfield. The field is an extensive one, the Maninga Marley group of leases, which have quite recently proved to be valuable properties, being nearly sixteen miles to the south-east of Black Range townsite, and to the north-east, at a distance of seven miles, lie the Sandstone group of leases".
Without publicity, the next stage was reported in the Geraldton Guardian of 12 February 1907 (in the following order of importance):
"Mr. J. V. Kearney is making arrangements for the erection of a first-class brewery at Sandstone at once. An up-to-date plant will be installed, and Mr. Kearney hopes to have the brewery in full swing in about three months' time.
Since the work of constructing the Mt. Magnet-Black Range telegraph line was resumed last week, good progress has been made with the work and the first section of 13 miles from Mt. Magnet is practically complete".
5.4 Sandstone and Black Range.
Sandstone seems to have been forgotten since its gazetting in 1906 - most attention being on Black Range. But - without fanfare - a Post and Telegraph Office was opened in about 1910.
In May 1906, newspapers were reporting discussions about "telegraphic communication with either the Magnet or Lawlers". In the Mount Magnet Miner of 23 June 1906:
"It is reported that Warden Clifton has marked out an area of about 1¼ miles square north of the Sandstone leases for a new townsite, pending its selection and survey.
The Post Office has been opened in new premises and an officer of the Commonwealth from Perth has been installed at a salary of £127 per annum.
Tenders are invited for leasing the Sandstone Government Well.
A communication from Mr H. Mahon, M.H.R., has been received stating the tenders for the telegraph line from Mt. Magnet to Black Range will be called almost immediately.
Intimation that the new townsite at the Sandstone will be surveyed with out delay, has been received".
The Western Australian of 3 December 1906 highlighted the problem of communication with both Black Range and nearby Sandstone:
"Although there are upwards of 1,200 men on this extensive field and telegraphic communication was promised long ago, the work has not yet been commenced and progress is considerably retarded in consequence.
It frequently happens that urgent messages are sent by cyclists to Mount Magnet or Lawlers, 100 miles distant. Complaints come from the outlying portions of the field that no provision is made for the delivery of mails and that, if it were not for butchers and bakers volunteering to deliver pretty regularly, the miners and company officials would be in a bad way. At Berrigrin, 50 miles away, where 150 people are living, two and sometimes three weeks elapse without a letter being received and then it is only due to the thoughtfulness of a miner or business man who has occasion to come to Nunngarra (Black Range).
Tenders have been invited for the carriage of mails weekly to Manings Marley Sandstone and Berrigrin by bicycle. It is stated, however, that it is impossible to ride a bicycle for several miles at a stretch on some of the roads while the weight of the mail to the places mentioned is often beyond the strength of a strong man.
The feeling generally seems strong against the Postal Department, and it is hoped immediate steps will be taken to provide a suitable mail service".
Maybe the New Year would bring about change. The Kookynie Press of 12 January 1907 reported:
"The survey of the telegraph line from Mount Magnet to Black Range was competed on Thursday morning, the distance between the two points being 104 miles 1 chain 21 links. The line follows the road for 81 miles and then a deviation occurs, which accounts for a reduction in distance compared with the coach road.
Surveyors commenced the return journey to Mount Magnet on Thursday afternoon in order to assist in the erection of the poles, that work (had) been begun on Wednesday. Another party of men will reach Black Range next week for the purpose of commencing work from this end so that the line should be opened before the end of next month.
So far nothing has been done regarding the extension of the convenience to Sandstone or other centres of the field but doubtless telephonic communication will be established without undue loss of time".
On the same day, the Mount Magnet Miner printed a nice piece about a contemporary but also issuing a cautionary note:
"We have received a copy of the first issue of the Black Range Courier and Sandstone Observer and congratulate the proprietor, Mr. O. V. Briner, on the very creditable manner in which the new paper made its appearance. Black Range is to be congratulated on having a thorough pressman at the head of its printery, and the residents should assist Mr Briner to their utmost in every way to maintain the high standard at which the paper has commenced on what wa sincerely trust will be a long, useful and prosperous career.
In starting a paper at Black Range, without telegraphic facilities, the proprietor shows true grit, is not afraid of hard work, and is an acquisition to any town.
With a paper on the spot, the community must recognise that it has the means of making its wants known far and wide and we trust that the recognition that the field deserves will be meted out to it in the near future; if it is not, we feel sure that it will not be the Courier's fault".
In the Black Range Courier and Sandstone Observer of 19 January 1907, it was reported that:
"When in Mount Magnet a fortnight ago, Mr. John McManway telegraphed to several leading politicians asking them to use their influence in having telegraphic communication extended to Sandstone without delay, and on Thursday evening he received replies from the Premier of the State and Mr. Hans Irvive (M.H.R.) (Victoria). Mr. Irvine wired as follows to Mr. McManaway:
Telegram received. Postmaster-General called for special report on extension of line which will receive favourable consideration. I hope to wire you next week that your wishes will be complied with.
The Premier of Western Australia (Mr. Newton Moore) telegraphed as follows:
Your wire 7th January. Have made representations to Federal authorities with view continuation telegraph line to Sandstone.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the wants of Sandstone in some respects are likely to be favourably considered and doubtless when the Vigilance Committee's organised representations reach the authorities no time will be lost in meeting the wishes of the public".
In the same issue, there is a Report on the Public Meeting at Sandstone related to the telegraphic and postal needs as well as many other facilities (all argued with reasons). It is a wonderful example of early community determination in a place which is 100+ miles from nowhere but a community determined to take reasonable approaches to improving their quality of life. In part, the meeting agreed:
"The time had come when they should insist on being treated as a thriving and prosperous conmunity should be. There were many conveniences which they did not enjoy, chief of which was telegraphic and postal communication, and it was a serious drawback to the companies, business people, and miners, who had quite enough to contend with without railway facilities ... That this public meeting, representing 500 residents of Sandstone and its immediate neighbourhood, respectfully urges the Postmaster-General to take immediate action with the object of having telegraphic communication extended to Sandstone concurrently with the opening of the telegraph line to Black Range (Nunngarra)".
In part, the meeting also noted "Seeing the large number of people in the locality, it was time they arranged for a resident medical man. If a miner's wife were ill, the case might call for two visits daily from the doctor, and they all knew what that meant when travelling expenses were considered, to say nothing of the dangers from delay in certain cases. By voluntary , contributions of 1s. per week they could easily raise sufficient to induce a medical man to settle at Sandstone. The matter of a casualty ward or hospital was another question".
In yet another part of the same issue, "Travellers between Mount Magnet and Black Range state that very few men are employed in constructing the telegraph line to this centre and that at the present rate of progress it will be three or four months before the work is completed".
The Geraldton Express reported on 21 January: "At the new town of Sandstone ... At last we have the telegraph line surveyed, and hope within a few months to be able to boast of a telegraph office".
On 9 February, the Mount Magnet Miner updated readers with "Since the work of constructing the Mt. Magnet-Black Range telegraph line was resumed last week, good progress has been made with the work and the first section of 13 miles from Mt. Magnet is practically complete ... Steps have been taken to have the telegraph line carried on to Sandstone, and we are informed that the authorities have promised the extension".
On 23 February, the Black Range Courier and Sandstone Observer reported on an informal meeting at which the "the Deputy Postmaster-General stated that, during the past week, the number of men employed had been increased from 16 to 32 - 16 men being employed at each end. Already 25 miles of the line had been completed and this would have been increased but for the difficulty experienced in obtaining material, the teamster who secured the contract having undertaken other work. If the material were promptly delivered to both gangs of men, Mr. Dirks was sanguine that the line would be completed by the end of next month".
At a subsequent visit to the Black Range, the Deputy Postmaster-General was asked "the question of postal facilities and to ascertain the reason for the seemingly slow progress of the construction of he telegraph line between Mt. Magnet and Black Range, a distance of 80 or 90 miles. It was found that the line had been constructed for about 30 miles from the Mt. Magnet end and for eight miles from the other. The work at the Black Range end is exceedingly difficult on account of the rocky nature of the country but, as it was apparent that the use of the wire was so urgent, it was decided to expedite its construction so as to have it completed by the beginning of April" (Kalgoorlie Miner 6 March 1907). Surely an unusual excuse when taking to mining representatives who were sinking shafts up to 100 feet deep.
On 19 March 1907, the Geraldton Guardian, under the heading Black Range Items reported "At last the telegraph line is here: the instrument has not been installed in the office as yet, but will soon be Telegraph connection will prove a blessing to one and all in the district". The West Australian of the same date reported a memo of 1 March submitted to the Deputy Postmaster-General "
The Western Mail of 23 March 1907 described the next development:
"Mr. M. H. Mahon. M.H.R., after a lengthy correspondence and sundry interviews with the Federal postal authorities relative to an extension of mail and telegraphic facilities for Sandstone, Western Australia, has received from the secretary of the Department (Mr. R. T. Scott) a copy of a report in regard to these and other matters, which has been submitted by the Deputy Postmaster-General, Perth. The report, which was made by an officer of the Department, is as follows:
- "Returned from Black Range March 1. Have made certain alterations to existing mail service with Maringa Marley, which will afford satisfaction for the present.
- Every effort is being made to push on the telegraph line but difficulties re transport and hardness of country are causing delay. Have every confidence that communication will be established before end of March.
- Attention is now being centred on Black Range and Sandstone and traffic is daily increasing from both Mt. Magnet and Mt. Leonora, the respective termini of the northern and eastern railways, large quantities of machinery etc., being carted from both.
- Generally speaking, the requests of the residents are justified and the extension of the telegraph to Sandstone should be conceded and pushed forward on completion of line at Range, estimates for which will be forwarded with my report. The developments have been rapid and can only be seen by personally visiting the various shows, which are very numerous, and in most instances fully proved.
I shall be glad of authority to transfer an official to Black Range at once to relieve the acting-Postmaster, who is unable to cope with the work. The present revenue fully justifies an official office by the extension of business to Sandstone. I think it advisable to preserve present status until matters more fully settled".
Mr. Scott concludes: "I am to add that the Postmaster-General has approved of the action and recommendation indicated in this report, and instructions have been issued accordingly".
Aboout this time, the Postmaster-General was also receiving requests to extend the line 18 miles beyond Sandstone to Maninga Marley.
In early April 1907, the Telegraph Office at Black Range opened.:
"The chairman of the progress committee at Black Range (Mr. John McManaway), on the opening of the new telegraph line to Nunngarra, telegraphed as follows to the Federal member for the district: Mr. H. Mahon, M.H.R.:
"Accept best thanks for past services rendered by you in connection with telegraphic communication and mails to our centre. For self and residents. (Signed) McManaway."
Mr. Mahon telegraphed a reply congratulating the people of Black Range on their connection with the telegraph system, and hoping that the benefits would be shortly extended to Sandstone and other centres.The Postmaster-General has acquainted Mr. Mahon of certain proposals made as the result of the visit of the Perth deputy to the Black Range district. The department has agreed to Mr. Mahon's request, that the mail service from Mt. Magnet to Sandstone. via Nunngarra, should be increased to three trips per week"
West Australian 16 April 1907.
On 25 April 1907, the Kalgoorlie Miner reported the initial success of the line:
"When it was proposed to build the telegraph line from Mt. Magnet to Black Range, the Federal Government protested that the line would never pay and had it not been for the State Government guaranteeing a 10 per cent return of the cost, the work would not have been undertaken.
The telegraph authorities estimated the business to be transacted at 20 messages each way per diem. That this estimate was a ridiculously low one, and that the misgiving of the Federal Government was unjustified, are proved by the fact that for the first 10 days after the opening of the line, the average number of messages daily was 75 inward and 50 outward. The one and only operator was working from 8 a.m. till 11 each night and, as there promised to be an enormous in crease of business, a second official had to be sent up.
It is now almost certain, in view of the success of the line, that it will presently be extended to Sandstone which is nine miles further on than Nungarra, and will probably continue on to Manimga Marley 15 miles out".
"The extension of the mail service to Sandstone will come into operation on the 1st May, as will also the tri-weekly service from andto Mount Magnet arrangements having been made with Messrs. Cobb and Co. to run through to Sandstone. Fresh tenders are also to be called for conveyance of a mail weekly between Sandstone and Birrigrin, and a determined effort is to be made to secure n additional mail weekly between Maninga Marley and Nunngarra, and Sandstone" (Black Range Courier and Sandstone Observer 27 April 1907).
Finally a start was made on 28 April 1907 to extend the telegraph line from Black Range to Sandstone. On 18 May a number of newspapers were expecting that the completion of the line would be on Saturday 18 May and that the office would be open to the public about noon. Official dates give the opening date at 20 May.
As to further extension, the Geraldton Guardian of 24 May 1907 reported "After a lengthy discussion with the postal authorities on the subject of guarantees for telegraphic extensions, the Premier of Western Australia (Mr. N. J. Moore) conferred to-day with Mr. Austin Chapman, the Postmaster-General, who has consented to at once proceed with the construction of a telephone line from Nungarra to Maninga Marley (about 18 mies east of Sandstone) without guarantee. As the construction party has just counpleted, the line to Sandstone, no delay will occur".
It was not long before some of the original ideas about a telegraphic circuit re-surfaced. The Geraldton Express of 5 August 1907 noted:
"With regard to the telegraph service, no isolation should be possible, because we, in common with other districts of the State, should be placed beyond the vagaries of the elements on our particular line.
The line from Perth is extended as far as Lawlers, in respect of the Eastern goldfields, and as far as Sandstone on the Murchison, leaving a break in the circuit of about 80 miles. Why in the name of common sense have the postal authorities left this short stretch unconnected?
It is a matter of frequent occurrence that the telegraph line breaks down between this and Perth but, with an alternate route, no delay could easily rise in the transmission of messages as, in the event of a break own on the eastern line, the northern line would be available and vice versa".