Western Australia: 1869-1900.
Telegraph lines in the Pilbara.

 

The Pilbara region of Western Australia is defined here, for purposes of describing line construction, as being the region between Onslow and Condon/Pardoo on the coast and eastwards through Fortescue, Marble Bar and Newman to the Northern Territory border. A historical timeline for the Pilbara is available on Wikipedia. It is a major mining area and global biodiversity hotspot.

Pilbarra (the original spelling) was an area on the Pilbara Creek which is a tributary of the Yule River to the west of Post Hedland. In the 1880s-1890s, there were many references to Pilbarra which could be interpreted broadly as being Port Hedland.

Construction of the following lines is described below:

    1. the line to Onslow and the Fortescue from the Gascoyne Region;
    2. the line to Roebourne and Cossack;
      2.1: Cost estimates.
      2.2: Purchase of Camels;
      2.3: Construction of the line to Roebourne.
      2.4: The need for a Telegraph Office at Roebourne.
    3. the line north to the Kimberley;
      3.1 Balla Balla and Mallina;
      3.2: Boodarrie and Port Hedland;
      3.3: Condon.
    4. the line to the Marble Bar - Nullagine goldfields.
      4.1: Condon to Marble Bar;
      4.2: Marble Bar to Bamboo Creek;
      4.3: Marble Bar to Nullagine;
      4.4: Talga Talga and Western Shaw.
      4.5: Nullagine to Newman.
    5. An alternative line between the Mid West and the Kimberley.
      5.1: The overall route and the problems it would solve.
      5.2: The 1911 Perth to Nullagine line.
This map continues
into the Kimberley region.
This map continues into the Mid West region.

1. The line to Onslow (the Ashburton) and the Fortescue.

The line from Carnarvon in the Gascoyne region to the north via Lyndon (Winning Pool) was constructed by the Carey team at the end of 1884. A telegraph office had been opened at Carnarvon in August 1884 but no other Telegraph Offices were constructed to the north until the line reached Ashburton (Onslow) where an office was opened in July 1885. A gold field had discovered in that place in 1879. Intermediate stations between these two places were constructed later.

Auriferous reefs had first been discovered in the West Pilbara in 1877. Other fields soon followed - at Ashburton in 1879, at Nullagine in 1886 (both gold and diamonds) and Marble Bar in 1890 (gold, jasper and tin). The Pilbara Goldfield was proclaimed in 1888. Iron ore discoveries were not made in the Pilbara until the 1960s.

Some problems were encountered early in the construction phase in the Pilbara. On 27 November 1884, The Goulburn Evening Penny Post reported "An affray took place between some Europeans and some Chinese who are engaged in constructing the Roeburne telegraph line, Western Australia, when the Europeans were compelled to fire on the Chinese, wounding two of them".

On 25 April 1885, the Perth Western Australian reported that "(as at 15 April) Mr. Carey has got as far as Mardie (near the Fortescue) with his survey of the telegraph line, so it will not be long before he arrives here (at Roebourne). The working party will be some time before they reach the Ashburton, as water is very scarce at the present scene of operations. It will be a grand thing for us all when the work is completed".

On 30 July 1885, the Commissioner of Railways announced to the House that "that he had just received a telegram, informing him that the telegraph line had been extended to 80 miles beyond the Ashburton and that the contractors confidently expected to reach the Fortescue on the 1st. October and complete the line to Roebourne by the 1st. December next. The announcement was received with loud cheers". (Perth Daily News 30 July 1885).

Communications were rated very highly as reflected through the The Daily Mail of 13 August 1885 which "reminds our readers of the notice posted at the Telegraph Office to the effect that telegrams for Cossack and Roebourne, to be forwarded by horse-express from the Ashburton extension, will be received up till eight o'clock this (Thursday) evening".

Work progressed quickly so that, on 13 August 1885, the Daily News reported "Yesterday the Hon. the Director of Public Works received a telegram from the Roebourne telegraph party, informing him that the line would be completed as far as the  Fortescue River within a fortnight's time".

The Asburton gold field was abandoned about 1890.

 

2. The line from Fortescue to Roebourne.

The Inquirer of 1 January 1879 noted directly and with brevity that "The settlers at the North-West are agitating for the extension of telegraphic communication to Roebourne".

2.1: Cost estimates.

The West Australian Times of 5 August 1879 reported on an investigation into several suggestions about the extension of the telegraph lines:

"In pursuance of a resolution passed by the Legislative Council last year, His Excellency the Governor appointed a commission to report on the best route and the probable cost of establishing telegraphic communication with Nicol Bay (a short distance south-west of Roebourne) ... The commission consisted of the Surveyor General, the Director of Public Works and the Superintendent of Telegraphs. In their report, presented to the legislature, last week, the committee estimate that the cost of constructing a line of telegraph to Roebourne (a distance of 700 miles) would not be less than £39,200. The annual cost of station staff, linemen and allowances, the commission estimates at £2,000".

These estimates seemed very high to many. Indeed the Fremantle Herald of 25 September 1880 waxed lyrical about the overall Government expenditure made by the then outgoing Government. In part:

"The ruling majority were occupied during the entire sitting with dreaming dreams.

They began by dreaming that the huge balance against the colony which was a short time since brought to light as attributable to the Governor being able to expend money in excess of the amount voted by the Legislature. The dream was baseless and, like most dreams, incoherent and contradictory. A Governor may sometimes spend more money than is necessary and some Governors may be highly imprudent ...

The fact is, you can no more bind down the supreme administrator of public affairs as to the exact sum he is to expend than you can bind down the general of an army as to the precise number of pounds of powder he shall blow away. He is expected to be able to justify his expenditure but, when is he not able to do so? Here the dream was disturbed by the voice of one who was not dreaming, saying that "What was wished, could not be" and then the half awakened dreamers tried to dream again, and dreamt that some one else would give them this Great Accountant who was to save them so much money.

And then their dream changed and they dreamt of coffers full of gold, and railways and telegraph lines. It seemed to them that they were in Fairy Land and had only to ask to have. To obtain permission from the stern guardian of the State to float loans for this thing and that thing, it was only necessary to put down on paper the amount they wanted and to set down the revenue as larger than the expenditure.

But it was all a dream. A part of the dream - that relating to the Roebourne telegraph line - may perhaps come true. But that which related to a loan for a railway and another loan for paying off an accumulation of tradesmen's bills must vanish before the despatch of the Secretary of State as the mist before the rising sun".

 

2.2: The purchase of camels.

As would be expected, conditions for constructing the telegraph line to Roebourne were difficult at the best of times. "In order to enable them to carry out their work the more expeditiously, Messrs. J. & W. Bateman, the contractors for the construction of the telegraph line to Roebourne, have purchased a number of camels from Sir John Elder. We understand that the animals in question will be brought over land from South Australia" (The Inquirer 9 May 1883). The following month, the Herald (23 June 1883) reported that "Mr. Whitfield Mills has started from the Overland Telegraph Line to Roebourne. His party consists of Mr. C. Short, five Afghans and thirty camels. He intends going along the telegraph line till he cuts Mr. Goss's track, which he will follow to Eyre's Rock, thence he will branch off and take a northerly and westerly route through unknown country". The distance from Yalara (Ayers Rock) to Roebourne "as a (tired) crow flies" is about 1,500 kms!!! Unknown land.

 

2.3: Construction of the line to Roebourne.

Progress with the survey was reported by the West Australian on 25 April 1885: "I hear that Mr. Carey has got as far as Mardie (near the Fortescue) with his survey of the telegraph line, so it will not be long before he arrives here. The working party will be some time before they reach the Ashburton, as water is very scarce at the present scene of operations. It will be a grand thing for us all when the work is completed".

Indeed it was not long before Mr. Carey completed the survey. On 3 June, the West Australian reported "Mr. Mayne, Inspector of Pearl Shell Fisheries, started for Fremantle on the 22nd inst. in his own boat taking with him, as far as the Ashburton, Mr. B. C. Carey, the surveyor, who finished his survey of the telegraph line to Roebourne on the 14th inst. and also the extension from Roebourne to Cossack. We expect that the telegraph will be at Roebourne in about six months time". Then on 11 July came the news from the Victorian Express that:

"The construction of the Roebourne telegraph line is fast approaching completion. On Thursday evening, we received a telegram from our Ashburton correspondent stating that the line was finished up to that port. Five months hence, it should be completed to Roebourne and we suppose that the construction of the line to Kimberley will then be immediately undertaken, when the colony will possess within its boundaries nearly 4,000 miles of telegraph.

This is truly wonderful considering how short a period time it is since our telegraph system was initiated. The connection of our very remotest settlements with the rest of the world by telegraph cannot but prove encouraging to present settlers - and highly conducive to fresh settlement. We suppose no country in the world has done so much in such a short time in the matter of telegraph construction as Western Australia, when regard is paid to our sparse population".

On 15 June, 1885 news was published by The Inquirer which indicates the strategy used on the Eucla line - but not on the Ashburton line in conjunction with the Union Bank murders - had at last been adopted: "Mr. Price is still pushing ahead the telegraph line with his renowned perseverance and I believe he will very shortly have the line open for communication to the Ashburton. We have already had the steamer's departure wired through from there, which is a great boon to us all, as we know when to look for her arrival here". On 15 July, the same source commented "On Thursday last the contractors (Messrs. Bateman) for the construction of the N. W. telegraph line received intelligence from the manager (Mr. Price) to the effect that the line had been completed as far as the Ashburton River, where an office will be located. This is most gratifying information for the public at large. Per next Otway, Mr. Bailey, of the Telegraph Department, together with the newly-appointed Station Master and his assistants for that station, will proceed to the Ashburton for the purpose of making the necessary arrangements for the permanent opening of the line so far".

The Daily News of 11 April 1885 reported that "From Roebourne we learn that the surveyors employed in the work of selecting the route of the telegraph line between Northampton and that township, are expected to complete their work by the end of June. The work of poleing and wiring the line has been finished as far as 410 miles from Northampton, making the distance to be poled and wired at the present time about 280 milesIt is easy to take distances for granted in Australia.
Altogether, this stretch of line along a coastal part of Western Australia was nearly 700 miles - that is approximately the distance from London to Barcelona!!. ".

On 30 July 1885, the Commissioner of Railways announced to the House that "that he had just received a telegram, informing him that the telegraph line had been extended to 80 miles beyond the Ashburton and that the contractors confidently expected to reach the Fortescue on the 1st. October, and complete the line to Roebourne by the 1st. December next. The announcement was received with loud cheers". (Perth Daily News 30 July 1885).

Communications were rated very highly as reflected through the The Daily Mail of 13 August 1885 which "reminds our readers of the notice posted at the Telegraph Office to the effect that telegrams for Cossack and Roebourne, to be forwarded by horse-express from the Ashburton extension, will be received up till eight o'clock this (Thursday) evening".

On 23 September 1885, the Inquirer reported: "We learn that the construction party of the North-west telegraph line are now with in a day's ride of Roebourne — about sixty miles ... the telegraph line between Cossack and Roebourne will be completed within the next week". It should be noted here that Cossack was the port and Roebourne was about seven miles inland. The two places were connected by a tramway.

On 27 October 1885, The West Australian reported on the opening of the Roebourne Telegraph "Office" on 1 October - the day the line reached Roebourne. The report added:

"When the last post was fixed, Mrs. A. McRae was requested to break a bottle of champagne on it, which she did, amidst the cheers of the onlookers. On the 9th there was a dinner, followed by a ball, given to Messrs. Price, Carey and officers, which was a great success. About 43 sat down to table. The speeches were cut short, as the room was required for the ball, at which 35 couples were present, and which passed off well. We missed Mr. Laurence, who was unable, from ill health, to attend.

On the 10th there was a sale of the plant, camels, horses, &c, of the contractors. The camels (26 and a calf) did not obtain a bid. The reserve, I hear, was £2,000. The horses (draft) fetched fair prices. The Murray Squatting Company (Mardie) bought nine mares at an average of £33. The plant realised good prices.

The natives are much amused with the camels, but the horses are terrified and will not come willingly within half a mile of them. I don't know what is to be done with these camels. If there is a gold rush to Kimberley, they will fetch big prices and I fancy they will be left here awaiting events at Kimberley".

The opening of a Telegraph Office on the coast at nearby Cossack - about 10 miles from Roebourne - was motivated by the development of the pearling industry. Cossack was the birthplace of Western Australia’s pearling industry and the home of the colony’s pearling fleet. At the time of the opening of the Telegraph Office, 44 pearling vessels were operating from Cossack. Due to Government intervention to protect the pearling beds, the industry was moved to Broome in 1886. Nevetherless, while visiting Roebourne in October 1887, the Director of Public Works announced that the Revenue Schooner MEDA would be immediately based at Roebourne to take charge of the pearling grounds - both around Cossack and around Broome.

On 20 January 1894, the Western Mail reported:

The following message had been received by the Inspector of Telegraphs from the station-master at Onslow: As there is no probability of the line east of Fortescue being restored for some time, please notify public that telegrams for Roebourne and northern ports will be in time for despatch by S.S. Albany, if received at Onslow not later than 10 a.m. Thursday, 18th inst."

As noted in several places elsewhere in this website, major problems arose during the rainy season. Conditions were no different in 1895 when, referring to 16 January, the West Australian reported "Communication on the Northern telegraph line is not yet permanently restored. On Friday night the stationmaster at Fortescue telegraphed to the Postmaster-General that a line had been carried across the river, communication with Roebourne being restored at six o'clock. Yesterday the Postmaster-General received the following telegram from Fortescue: The river again came down a banker at 2 p.m. to-day and is rising steadily. Communication with Roebourne may be interrupted at any moment".

2.4: The need for a Telegraph Office at Roebourne.

The Daily News of 31 July 1884 reported that "the Director of Public Works informed the House that the delay which had occurred in beginning the construction of a telegraph line between Roebourne and Cossack arose from want of funds to erect the necessary buildings, which would cost £1,800, whereas only £250 had been provided by the Government".

Soon after,on 7 August 1884, Mr. McRae asked the Director of Public Works, in the Legislative Council, whether it was intended to have a telegraph station at the Fortescue River. The following day, the Director answered "that no provision had been made for a station at the Fortescue, but, should it in the future be deemed advisable to have a station there, one would be established". Mr. McRae represented his electors in the appropriate manner and, in the Council on 18 August:

"Mr. McRae moved that a humble address be presented to His Excellency the Governor praying that he will be pleased to take the necessary steps for establishing a telegraph station on the Fortescue river on the Northampton and Roebourne telegraph line now in course of construction ... The distance between the Fortescue and the proposed station at the Ashburton was about 170 miles, being about midway between that place and Roebourne. As it was one of the most important districts in the North, and as this telegraph line would run through the greater part of it and, so to speak, pass by the very doors of a great many of the settlers, he thought the House would agree with him that they had a just claim to consideration in this matter.

... The Director rose and stated that he could only assure the hon. member, in somewhat similar words to what he had used the other night, that if the Government were satisfied as to the necessity of this station they would have no objection whatever to to its being established.

Mr. Marmion thought the Director of Public Works' reply was rather an evasive one, and not altogether satisfactory. As to the Government being satisfied with regard to the necessity of this station, he thought the Government should, to a great extent, be guided by the opinions of that House as to the necessity or desirability of works of this character.

Mr. Grant hoped there would be no delay on the part of the Government in establishing this station.

Several other hon. members having spoken in favor of the resolution, it was put and carried unanimously".

The complete version of the interesting debate is included in the West Australian of 21 August 1884.

 

3. The line to the Kimberley.

After reaching Roebourne, plans to extend the telegraph line through the first half of the Kimberly to Derby were immediately implemented. Indeed the line was constructed to Cossack (then known as Tien Tsin Harbour) where a Telegraph Office was opened in November 1885.

In February/March 1886, tenders were called (e.g. The Albany Mail and The Inquirer and Commercial News, Perth) for the construction of the "Telegraph line from Roebourne to Derby distance about 1,220 miles. Iron poles. All material to be supplier by the contractor".

The Perth Correspondent the Ballarat Courier (26 June 1886) reported frustration about the lack of communication especially about the diggings in Western Australia as well as in the other Colonies:

"Things are very quiet here just now and, notwithstanding the goldfield at Kimberley, nothing seems very vigorous. As for the diggings, they might as well be up to the head of the 'White Nile' as at Kimberley, for Perth. We find in extracts from the eastern colonies five times as much news as we can gather from our own colony. For instance, we are totally in the dark about the diggings until some party running short of provisions comes down to Derby or some steamer arrives from Cambridge Gulf. Now, when arrivals from the goldfield reach Derby, what then? There is no telegraph there and every man wishing to get or convey news, even by telegraph, must travel some 500 miles. True, there is a party from the Roebourne and pushing towards Derby. But why, I wonder, is there not a party driving from Derby to meet the others and get the telegraph at work in half the time.

It is reported from Derby that two men left Derby for the diggings with a wheelbarrow full each of provisions, and that hand-carts with provisions and, for the first time, a bullock waggon of provisions, with several pack-horses in case the bullocks or waggon should break down".

The Inquirer of 21 July 1886 noted in the Shipping News:

"By the courtesy of Mr. J. Bateman, Jr., Secretary of the W. A. Shipping Association, we learn that a telegram was received by him on Sunday from Capt. Marden, the Association's London agent, stating that the barque Electra had been placed on the berth there for Cossack. It is expected that this will be the Association's August vessel, and that, after discharging cargo for Fremantle, the Electra will be despatched to Cossack, for which port she will probably have on board the material required for constructing the Roebourne-Derby telegraph line.

It is certainly a remarkable coincidence that the vessel to convey the material for this new line of telegraph is of the same name as the transport boat employed by Messrs. J. & W. Bateman to convey the material used in the Northhampton-Roebourne line.

As an incident in telegraphic rapidity, it may be mentioned that the telegram announcing the berthing of the Electra was despatched from London at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday and was received by Mr. Bateman at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday — the time occupied in its transmission being exactly thirteen hours, without, of course, allowing for difference of time. The time occupied in its transmission was less than six hours".

"Messrs. Latimer, Clark & Co., the contractors for the Cossack and Derby telegraph line are about shipping out their material which will be sent via Singapore by the Natal" (Western Mail 11 September 1886).

As an aside, the conditions for ordinary folks in these areas at that time was not good. The Inquirer of 2 March 1887 informed its readers that "at Cossack and Roebourne sickness is very prevalent, in fact the public health of the district is worse than it has ever been previously".

A sad note: the Inquirer of 13 February 1889 reported "The barque Electra, which vessel brought out from England to Cossack the bulk of the Northampton-Roebourne Telegraph plant, has recently been lost in a hurricane while at an island in the South Seas. Capt. Fisher and the whole of his crew escaped from the wreck with safety. The Electra was a fine vessel of 668 tons, and had only made a few voyages when her career was so abruptly closed".

3.1: Balla Balla and Mallina.

As was common on most of the goldfields in the Pilbara region, gold was found but only a few hardy souls continued for long. In January 1893, the Warden for the Pilbara region noted:

"Mallina Mine has been idle for twelve months but, during the last six months, negotiations have been proceeding between Mr. Roe and a London Company for putting machinery upon it. Mr. Roe informs me that arrangements have been made to spend £25,000 in putting machinery upon the mine and developing it - so I hope soon to see it at work again".

A number of developments occurred the following year related to the needs of the district from Roebourne which culminated in a public meeting at Marble Bar on 4 August 1894. Activities of relevance reported in the West Australian of 28 August included:

  1. A petition is in course of preparation to be sent to the member for Roebourne for presentation to the Postmaster-General, asking that a telegraph line be erected from Mallina goldfieldAbout 20 km (13 miles) SE of Whim Creek. to Balla BallaOn the coast about midway between Karatha and Port Hedland and about the same distance but north of Whim Creek., connecting with the main line north. It is considered that the line is warranted by the developments in the mines, and the number of new leases taken up.

  2. A chess club had been formed in Roebourne.

On 1 September 1894, the Nor'West Times provided more details of the petition (presumably the same one) from the residents of the Balla Balla - Malina area:

"We have before us a copy of the requisition from the residents of Pilbarra district to be forwarded to the member for the Pilbarra (Goldfield) for presentation to the Postmaster-General.

The petitioners ask for:

  • the extension of the telegraph to the Mallina goldfield by the erection of a branch line from a point in the main line near Balla Balla - a distance of about 16 miles;
  • the establishment of a post and money order office, and the appointment of an operator to undertake the postal and telegraphic duties conjointly.

In support of the request, it is urged that the importance of the items is emphasized by the facts that:

  • Malina is at the intersection of six distinct roads to important centres of population, namely, the Nullagine, Pilbarra, Croydon, Marble Bar (by Green's track), Condon, Balla Balla and Roebourne;
  • that the nearest telegraph office is at Boodarie (5 miles distant);
  • that the travelling public and the mining and pastoral interests would be served;
  • that a satisfactory revenue may be counted on; and lastly
  • that the present adverse conditions of postal and telegraphic communication seriously impede and prejudice development of existing investments.

It will readly be conceded in the district that the requirements of Mallina are reasonable and, considering the large section of the travelling and settled public a telegraph line thereto would serve, the Government should have no apprehension of the line proving non-paying. To be added to the facts already cited by the petitioners is the taking up of new leases in the vicinity of Mallina which is destined to become, in the near future, a large gold-producing and populous part of the Nor -West".

The importance of these two places to the development and export of products from that area is described in the Western Mail of 23 August 1895.

The Northern Public Opinion of 27 June 1896 reported that the Steamer Albany had arrived (at Roebourne??) from Wyndham on 24th bringing down the telegraph material for the Mallina line.

While campaigning for the forthcoming Legislative Council elections to represent the Northern Province, Mr. D. McDonald McKayMcKay won his election and was a member of the Council 1896 - 1902. emphasised that:

On 29 August 1896, the Northern Public Opinion informed its readers that "The extension of the telegraph from Mallina to Pilbarra will be completed, under the superintendence of Mr. A. Mackenzie, in a little more than five weeks hence".

3.2: Boodarrie and Port Hedland.

In August 1892, a new Telegraph Office was opened at Boodarrie - further east of Cossack and about 30 miles (50 kms) to the northwest of Marble Bar. A lease on Boodarrie Station had been taken up in 1880. It was not, however, until 1895 that a serious attempt was made to establish a township on the coast from Boodarrie where there was a much better port than that at Cossack.

In January 1894, a cyclone hit the north-west area: "The Roebourne-Cossack telegraph line was so injured as to have been unworkable for some time, while a considerable portion of the tramway has been washed away. At Cossack several boats have been swamped at their anchors and, from the inland districts, reports are to hand of phenomenal falls of rain, the heavier being at Wedge's Boodarrie station, where thirteen inches of rain fell in a few hours. The hurricane reached its height about midnight on Wednesday night, since which it has gradually abated". The Telegraph Operator at Boodarrie managed to send a telegram to the Postmaster General: " River down banker. Water two feet deep in office; walls partly washed down. Have removed everything to sheep station. Water going down slowly, Unable travel some time; cannot get horses".

In the late 1880s and for some time after, a remarkable pioneer and enterpreneur Tom Traine worked around the broader Port Hedland - Boodarrie - goldfields area. A real survivor and creative thinker who once took a bullet apart to use the gunpowder to make ink to sign a cheque. Later Tom was one of the founders of Port Hedland. A fascinating story.

After a survey, Port Hedland was gazetted as a town site in October 1896. Two months before that, Sir John Forrest had "admitted that PilbarraInterpret as Port Hedland. had unearthed £400,000 of gold. This means an immense revenue return from the miner - and Pilbarra township was still without telegraphic communication". The Northern Public Opinion of 2 January 1897 claimed, in its review of the previous year, that "probably the most important, is the extension of the telegraph. Mallina and Pilbarra are connected by wire with Roebourne, and Nullagine — a place that has warranted such communication for years past — is likely to have a similar concession in a few days".

An interesting news item appeared in the Nor-West Times on 7 January 1893: "The telegraph line between Roebourne and Boodarrie was interrupted yesterday morning and communication has not been restored. A linesman has been sent to ascertain the cause of the interruption".

On 9 July 1897, the Western Mail reported that "It is proposed, we understand, that the telegraph station at Boodarrie shall be removed to Port Hedland. This improvement is expected to result in great convenience, in view of the increasing importance of the latter place and the construction of a jetty at a cost of about £10,000". In November 1897, the first stage of this transfer took place with the Boodarrie Telegraph Office being moved to Causeway Camp on the causeway connecting the island then known as Port Hedland to the mainland. That Telegraph Office was in turn was renamed Port Hedland in November 1898.

 

3.3: Condon.

The line to Condon was part of the Roebourne to Derby line. The next place used - at least as a repeated station - was at the De Grey River.

In the Northern Times of 10 April 1925, plans to rectify a long present problem were announced: "The Federal Postmaster General arrived here yesterday to meet Dr. Page. In the course of an interview he stated that for a considerable ime the Perth-Wyndham telegraph line had been subject to interruption between Condon and La Grange owing to the heavy sea mists which induce leakage of current. Approval had therefore been, given for the removed of the line from its present coastal route to one further inland, and material had been forwarded, and the work, which was to cost £16,000, was now in hand".

 

4. The line to the Marble Bar - Nullagine goldfields.

The area to the south-east of Port Hedland proved to be rich in many metals and especially gold. On 2 August 1890, the Perth Western Mail reported that "Five men - named John Williams, John Doyle, John Pryde, Charles Capner and Nile Bengston - arrived in Roebourne from Shaw Falls, Nullagine, this morning, bringing with them 460 ounces of gold, including two big nuggets, one weighing 333 oz. 8 dwts. This massive nugget is very handsome". Later iron ore was discovered in very significant quantities.

Gold was found at Marble Bar in 1890 and the town was officially gazetted in 1893. On 21 January 1893, the Nor-West Times published a stern comment:

"The claims at Marble Bar and Bamboo Creek goldfields were, as we have had occasion to before mention, taken up by working men, many of whom had but very limited means but they possessed the innate perseverance of the ideal pioneer and were persistent and constant in their labours. The work and time expended by these pioneers represented a large amount of capital; and to this is largely attributable the early success and development of the fields. In this they have only received their just reward.

A greater recommendation or proof that the fields are bona fide cannot be given; and moreover they have not had even the modicum of assistance from the Government that any minor field in the colony would justly be entitled to, but, on the contrary have almost been wholly ignored as not being of sufficient importance to warrant the expenditure of public money to assist in their development.

We were told to prove our mines payable and the Government would "lavish" public money on them as they had done - and are still doing - at YilgarnYilgarn is the regional reference for the area around Southern Cross in the Mid West region.. The Marble Bar field has long since been proved, but nothing further than promises from Ministers, intended only to keep us quiet, have we received. We are tired of listening to these Ministerial promises. We have been galled long enough by them and shall not be satisfied on this point until we have had those promises fulfilled.

We have completed our part and the least the Government can do is to act uprightly towards us. Wire and material has, we are told, been indented for our promised telegraph line from Condon to Marble Bar; this work should immediately be taken in hand ...

Now we can boast of holding the two most important goldfields in the colony, besides the well-known Mallina mine which is now about to be worked again and on more advantageous lines to those under which it was "attempted to be" worked by the former holders. Coming close after the established proof of the permanency of Marble Bar, we have the phenomenal yield from the first crushing on the Bamboo Creek field of 12ozs. to the ton".

On 21 August 1896, The Inquirer reported:

"A good deal of dissatisfaction exists at Roebourne (reports our local correspondent), more especially on the eastern goldfields, owing to the construction of the telegraph line from Marble Bar to Nullagine not having been commenced.

At Nullagine the population equals that of Marble Bar or Bamboo Creek and, seeing that the line has been promised for a considerable time and no reason is assigned for the delay, complaints are fully justified. From the accounts of travellers, the roads on the goldfields are in want of much attention. Even the main road from Roebourne to Marble Bar is in a very bad state.

Attention should be given at once to the Pilbarra roads. The electoral returns for the North Province are not likely to come to hand until the middle of next week, when the Albany will return from Wyndham. Not much interest was taken in the election in the country districts".

After the significant efforts made to establish the telegraph lines, a hurricane hit the area on 26 February 1926:

"The hurricane, which visited Marble Bar and Nullagine, did considerable damage to the former township - and the telegraph line between the two towns was greatly damaged for its whole length. Condon cannot get into communication with Marble Bar, Broome and other stations to the north. During the storm, three telegraph horses were turned out for safety but they were blown into the sea and drowned. Sheep stations in the Marble Bar district are reported to have suffered severe losses".

 

4.1: Condon to Marble Bar.

The Condon-Marble Bar telegraph line was discussed during the Loan Estimates in January 1893. The Nor'West Times of 18 February 1893 reported a telegram dated 14 February at Perth:

"Tenders will be called for immediately for the telegraph line from Condon to Marble Bar.
Please make this known in Roebourne.
L. R. Davis Warden Pilbarra

This is indeed welcome news to us (at the Times).

Indeed, tenders were called for the construction of the Condon-Marble Bar telegraph line in March 1893.

Often mistakes are made by clerks but ultimately it is a Government which has to wear the problem because the details of recommendations were never checked. For this line of telegraph, it appears that such an issue might have arisen:

"THE MARBLE BAR TELEGRAPH.

It is currently reported that the material for the telegraph line from Condon to Marble Bar is to arrive at Cossack from England by the Australind and we have it on good authority that it is to be transhipped from the steamer at the Roads, landed at Cossack jetty, where the successful tenderer takes delivery. Then it will be again put on the lighter and shipped to Condon.

This is indeed a most roundabout and expensive transit and, in drawing attention to it, we do so in a true public spirit as it not only affects our own particular portion of the colony but the community at large. The Government are thus, evidently for the want of procuring sufficient information as to the cheapest method of landing the material, not only going to put the country to the expense of the lighterage from the steamer to Cossack and the higher charge of lighterage from Cossack to Condon than from the Roads to that port, but they propose to burden the country with the extra cost of handling which such a detour necessitates. It must appear to any reasonable person that the Government are making an error in deciding to adopt this course and that, unintentionally no doubt, they will virtually be squandering public money.

The lighterage charges from the Roads to Cossack are 8/- per ton and that from Cossack wharf to Condon about 20/- while if the material, which is of a ponderous nature, were hauled over the side of the steamer into the lighters at the Roads and shipped direct to Condon, the whole cost should not exceed 12/- per ton - and its frequent handlings would be reduced to two. We actually know of one case in which a shipowner mentioned 10/- per ton as a fair freight on this material from the steamers side to Condon.

We are aware that the expense of shipping the material from Cossack to Condon is to be borne by the contractor for the line but, in calculating the price at which he can execute the contract, this expense will be taken into account. We sincerely trust the Government will not commit themselves to such a reckless expenditure - reckless, we say, because it evidently is to be incurred without deliberation — and that, in future, the strictest economy in constructing public works will be maintained.
(Nor'West Times, 11 March 1893).

No new advances to report - Nor'West Times of 13 May 1893:

"THE MARBLE BAR TELEGRAPH.

We have still another striking exemplification of the dilatoriness of the Public Works Department in having commenced a necessary Northern public work, for which the material has been landed and is lying to rust for the want of being utilized.

Some time ago the Warden telegraphed to Mr. A. S. Roe that tenders were immediately to be called for the construction of the Marble Bar telegraph line from Condon. Since then the material has arrived from England, and two months has elapsed from the time it was landed in Condon but no official notification has been made of the tenders being out. The matter seems to be as far forward as ever.

This very serious delay may be attributable to some extent to the recent bank failures and the consequent locking up of the funds available for the purpose and for this we would, of course, be willing to make every allowance.

It is well known with what rapidity the construction of the Southern Cross telegraph line was hastened and we are anxious to see in the North some of that despatch displayed which has marked the construction of southern works of this sort.

A telegraph line from Condon to Marble is much needed and the way in which the field and its neighbour, the Bamboo Creek, are increasing in importance and their present advanced state of development should warrant the Government pushing on with the erection of the line at once. It is earnestly to be hoped that no further delay will be occasioned and that tenders will be invited forthwith".

In his speech to the opening of Parliament on 5 July 1893, the Governor noted that the line from Condon to Marble Bar "would be put in hand at once". Indeed at the beginning of June 1893, various outlets carried news that the Condon-Marble Bar Survey party had arrived. Mr. Geyer (the Government Surveyor) was the only person to be nominated in the party and, after completing the survey of the Marble Bar and Condon town sites as well as the Marble Bar-Condon telegraph line, he returned to Roebourne about 14 June.

Suddenly,
"Great indignation is expressed at the shelving of the construction of the telegraph line from Condon to Marble Bar. It is considered we are entitled to equal treatment with Yilgarn at least".
(Nor-West Times, 24 June 1893).

The Times followed up the story and reported (on 1 July):

"During the week, in order to set at rest the speculation as to the cause of the delay in the construction of the Condon-Marble Bar telegraph line, we enquired from South what was to be done by the Government in the matter. We received authentic information in reply that the delay in its construction was owing to the want of funds caused through the present depression but that the Government intend pushing the work through at the earliest possible moment.

While granting this, and recognising the fact of the work itself being unable to be proceeded with through lack of funds consequent upon the public funds being locked up in the closed banks, we should have liked to have seen the Government show their bona fides by inviting tenders. If the funds needed for the construction of the line are locked up, that is no plausible reason why every departmental preliminary detail should not be fixed up to enable the work to be commenced directly the funds are available. It looks very much like stopping the machinery because the steam is running down".

Even given this reply, the people of Marble Bar held an Indignation Meeting on 3 July "to protest against the action of the Government in refusing to accept tenders for the Condon-Marble Bar telegraph line". They even had to point out that the people of Bamboo Creek had not been informed of the meeting because their mail had still not left Marble Bar. Insult to Injury!! The petition drew 83 signatures.

The Gazette of 23 August 1893 called (again) for tenders to construct the 88 mile Condon-Marble Bar telegraph line. Fairness in tendering is alway (no mostly) an accepted practice:

"On Tuesday (28 August) the Government Resident received a telegram from the assistant Engineer-in-Chief, stating that, by the mail which left Fremantle for North in the Saladin yesterday, he is forwarding plans and specifications for the work which are advertised to be seen at the Court-houses at Roebourne and Geraldton, tenders to be returnable on September 26.

The notice to local persons desirous of tendering for the contract is very short - in fact it does not give them a chance of getting their tenders prepared in time for the closing. We know of at least two Nor'-West firms who intended to tender for the work but these being remote from Roebourne, it will be almost impossible between their receipt of notice of tenders being receivable and the date of closing, for them to come to town and glance through the plans and specifications and make out their estimates for the work. The local people should no doubt have been shown a little more consideration than this".
(Nor'West Times, 2 September 1893).

Soon after, the Nor'West Times informed its readers that:

Contractors intending to compete for the Condon-Marble Bar telegraph line contract will observe that the time for the receipt of tenders has been extended four weeks and that "telegraphic" tenders will be receiveable provided that properly addressed written tenders are in the hands of the Government Resident by the time of closing. The latter alteration has undoubtedly been made in consideration of the non-existence of the coastal mail service. The extension of time is, we understand, the result of the timely recommendation made by Mr. Cowan to the Director of Public Works".

Closing date then became 24 October.

Tenders for the first section of the Condon-Marble Bar telegraph line were opened on 24 October 1893. The tender submitted by Mr, J. S. Scott of Perth was the lowest but the amount quoted was not disclosed. That tender was accepted in November. electrician, have arrived here (at Cossack) and have since proceeded to Condon".

The Nor-West Times commented on 9 December with "We were glad indeed to hear of the final letting of the telegraph line from Condon, though it is to be started at the worst time of the year, when the track will be either without feed or heavy with the rains, if we are lucky enough to get them. Had this work been put in hand with the promptitude of a Southern undertaking, it would have been finished by this time to to the greater profit of all concerned.

The teamsters here laugh at the idea of the contractor getting his carting done at the low figure he has fixed as his limit (£400), which is not £3 per ton, or less than one quarter of the present price. Owing to the conditions which I mentioned above, it would be impossible for anyone to do the work for less than £6 a ton, except at a loss".

Little news about construction was printed until in 1 May 1894, the Geraldton Murchison Telegraph updated readers with "The telegraph line to Marble Bar will be completed in about two months' time". Soon after, the Western Mail published, on 19 May 1894, the following broader view of the needs of the Marble Bar community:

"At a large public meeting held at Marble Bar recently, resolutions were unanimously passed:
(1). Protesting against the action of the Government in ignoring the interests of the Northern goldfields, and therefore, of the whole of the colony, in not insisting upon the completion of the telegraph line from Condon to Marble Bar; also against their having made no move towards the erection of a post and telegraph office.
(2). That a money order office should be established at Marble Bar at the earliest possible opportunity.
(3). That in view of the buildings erected by private individuals, the Government should build a permanent Court House, lockup and quarters for all Government officers there.
The present quarters being unfit for the purpose.

It was mentioned that two summary cases had occurred where white men had to be chained to ensure their safe custody owing to there being no place to put them in between their arrest and the time of the hearing of the cases.

Two petitions were also read before the meeting:
one praying for the proclamation of a Roads Board for the Pilbara district;
the other for the immediate appointment of a medical officer for the goldfields.
This latter requisition pointed out that a similar request to the Government about 18 months ago had been left unacknowledged and, as the inhabitants now numbered more than 300, and several deaths had occurred which might have been prevented had a physician been procurable, a medical man was most necessary".

An announcement was made in the West Australian of 2 August 1894 that the "telegraph line to Marble Bar was opened on Monday afternoon (30 July)". Unfortunately a caveat was also added ... "Mr. McKenzie, one of the contractorsClearly incorrect - McKenzie was one of the Government's main construction supervisors., has transmitted messages over the wires since it was within 20 miles of Marble Bar by means of a field instrument in order to oblige the public". Clarification was given in the Legislative Assembly on 8 August by the Director of Public Works in answer to a question from Mr. Keep:

"the erection of the Condon and Marble Bar telegraph line was completed, but the final inspection was not made, nor was the line taken over. The public had already used the line by the courtesy of the contractor's agent. It would be opened as soon as an operator could be placed in charge".

There are several problems with this response but it did explain the use of the line before it was officially open. They were a keen lot those proud and determined Marble Bar(barb)ians!!!!

The telegraph line was opened on 25 August 1894.

 

4.2 Marble Bar to Bamboo Creek.

Life before the telegraph was, as we all know, not much fun and more isolationist. With nothing to break the loneliness of a distant field isolated from the world both near and far (even to be denied an opportunity to complainThe well known saying is
Unhappy is the dog without fleas!! about non-working telegraph wires) those on the diggings faced very difficulty lives - even with the promise of riches for some. Indeed on 9 January 1893, a report from the Warden - published in the West Australian - described the status of the various mining areas. About the Marble Bar and Bamboo Creek fields at the beginning of 1893, he noted:

Marble Bar: At Marble Bar, business was rather slack when I left chiefly, I think, owing to the near approach of the holidays. Upwards of twenty leases have been applied for here, but a few of them have since been abandoned on account of the owners being disappointed about the early arrival of machinery for crushing.

The Coongan Company's machinery has been running since July last with very good results, the returns ranging from 1 oz. to 4 oz. to the ton. Several large parcels giving as much as 3 oz. but, as the company have several mines, they have been unable to do much crushing for the public as yet, and a public crushing plant is much required. Good miners are very scarce, and men who understand their work can get plenty of employment at good wages.

There is plenty of water in the Government well and provisions are plentiful and fairly cheap. Mr. Geyer has finished surveying the leases and expected to commence the survey of the townsite about the middle of this month. I have granted a machine area, adjoining the townsite, to Francis and party and Mr. Francis is expected from Sydney shortly with a ten head stamper battery. The Coongan Company have imported another Huntingdon mill, which they will be able to work with the same engine and men as those at present employed. They hope to get it to work by the new year when their weekly crushings will be doubled. With the mill now at work they have averaged about thirty tons per week".

Bamboo Creek: At Bamboo Creek matters look somewhat brighter since the advent of Byass and Co's. crushing machinery which will probably commence operations early in January. A very good supply of water has been obtained for the battery, about two miles down the creek from the main camp, the only drawback to the site being that it will be about four miles from those mines farthest to the south-east, which will make the carting expensive. There is a very good road from Bamboo Creek to Condon, except one place where it passes through the great range, and I have let a contract for a cutting at that place which will do away with the difficulty. Water for domestic purposes has been struck at various places, but, owing to the doubt as o where the population will ultimately settle, I have not arranged for a public well as yet, and for the same reason, thought it best to defer the survey of the townsite. Upwards of twenty-five applications for leases have been made here, and nearly all of them are being worked, most of the lease and claim holders being very busy getting stone for the battery. Good miners are scarce and command good wages".

A year later, "The petition praying for the extension of the Marble Bar telegraph line to this field has been largely signed, and is being forwarded to the Bar for the co-operation of the Marble Bar people"
(Nor'West Times 17 February 1894). On 9 June, the same source reported "The people of Bamboo are looking forward to the time when they shall be in touch with the outside world by telegraphic communication. When is the township of Bamboo to be surveyed? It seems high time this should be in hand if the Government are alive to the means available for increasing the revenue. Mr. Geyer is on the spot and could make the survey. He could also survey a telegraph line to Marble Bar. Perhaps we shall hear more as the election matters proceed. Mr. Keep will certainly be reminded of these items, for we intend taking up the motto - "AGITATE".

On 7 July 1894, the Western Mail reported that "To a deputation interested in the Nor-West goldfields, the Premier, on Wednesday, acceded to their request, by promising that an extension of the telegraph line from Marble Bar to Bamboo Creek, a distance of 35 miles, would be carried out. The Marble Bar telegraph lines will be completed in about a fortnight's time, and the extension will be commenced as soon as possible".

The Murchison Times noted on 22 August 1894 that the Premier had allocated funds in the Loan Bill Estimates for the telegraph line connecting Bamboo Creek to Marble Bar. On 6 October, the Nor'West Times reported no progress:

"We had the promise of the Government some time ago that the telegraph line should be extended from Marble Bar to here at once, but so far matters don't seem to be progressing very fast. It is a thing of almost daily occurrence for residents here to have to ride to Marble Bar before they can transact their business, which causes a delay that is often dangerous.

Bamboo Creek is, in all respects, entitled to as much consideration as Marble Bar, and events go to prove that the telegraph line should have been expended to here when the Bar received a like privilege from Condon. The residents here will be much gratified to see the powers-that-be make a move to supply this serious and much-felt want with as little delay as possible".

Finally some positive news involving the ever-reliable Mr. Alex Mackenzie: "The Government have decided to proceed with the construction of the telegraph line from Marble Bar to Bamboo Creek in answer to pressing request's from the residents of Bamboo Creek mining centre. The work is to be put in hand at once and Mr. A. Mackenzie, electrical engineer, has been appointed to superintend the construction of the line. Mr. Mackenizie will leave Perth with material and a number of assistants by the Tagliafero on Nov. 24" (The Inquirer 16 November 1894).

On 19 January 1895, the Northern Public Opinion updated readers with "The Marble Bar - Bamboo Creek telegraph line is getting well under way, over seven miles being already completed. Mr. McKenzie, the officer in charge is convinced he could get through in three weeks if the material were on the ground".

On 13 April, the Northern Public Opinion reported: "The telegraph line from Marble Bar to Bamboo Creek is now approaching completion. About fifteen miles of wires have been constructed, and all the post-holes are sunk right through to Bamboo Creek. Mr. McKenzie only awaits the arrival of the teams with the balance of the material which he expects to have utilised and thus complete the contract in about a fortnight.

He has been severely handicapped in the construction of this line owing to the great difficulty of getting teams to cart the material from Condon, and then again, most of his men were stricken down with sickness and I regret to state that one of these (W. Tweedie of Victoria) succumbed to that dreadful malady typhoid fever.

Through the courtesy of Mr. McKenzie, messages may be sent from the Talga Creek (about 22 miles from Bamboo Creek) to Marble Bar whence they will be transmitted to their various destinations. By this arrangement, the residents are saved the necessity of riding to Marble Bar, and thus save considerable time and expense".

The Bamboo Creek Telegraph Office opened on 19 April 1895The sometimes quoted 20 April is incorrect and was a Saturday on which the date newspapers reported the opening of "yesterday".. On 20 April, the Daily News and other newspapers noted "The Postmaster-General, Mr. R. A. Sholl, yesterday received the first telegram which has passed over the new telegraph line between Perth and Bamboo Creek. The message, which was received at twenty minutes to five was as follows:

Line finished at 3 p.m. to-day. Office now open for business".

On 5 July 1895, The Inquirer informed its readers:

" Mr. Alexander Mackenzie, supervisor of telegraphs construction, who has quite recently completed the line to Bamboo Creek, left recently by the s. Albany for Geraldton, whence he will proceed to Yalgoo to superintend the construction of a branch line to that Goldfield".

The mines in all areas were given great names - far too many to record here. As an example, the mines just around Bamboo Creek included:

In March 1895, the Charlie, the Bonnie Doon and the Caledonian Mines were sold in England "at satisfactory prices".

The Murchison Times of 25 May 1895 reported "A lucky prospector picked up a 196 oz. nugget last Sunday in a gully 27 miles from Bamboo Creek. The only Sunday labour entailed was the conveyance of the precious treasure to the camp. The ground has now been taken up as a reefing property".

 

4.3: Marble Bar to Nullagine.

During a visit to the Pilbara in June 1892, the Minister for Railways stated that "He believed in making roads, wells, telegraphs, etc. when the gold field was proved to be permanent". The lack of an extension of the telegraphs to Nullagine was seen as greatly hampering progress and several capitalists - willing and anxious to invest - were complaining of "this backwardness". Indeed on 9 January 1893, a report from the Warden - published in the West Australian - described the status of the various mining areas. About the Nullagine field, he noted:

"There were upwards of seventy men in the vicinity of Nullagine when I was there last, but very few of them were doing much good, although that field still continues to be a place where men can obtain a living while waiting for something to turn up. Some months ago the lead of gold on Grant's Flat was again picked up, and some lucky men did very well for a time, but it was lost again after passing through some eight or ten claims, and has not since been re-discovered.

Many are of the opinion that the true bottom at the Nullagine has never yet been reached and, if a bonus were offered to the first miner who bottomed in the deep sinking, persons might be induced to try for it. Without some such inducement, no one cares to incur the expense of testing the matter especially now no extended claims can be granted. There is plenty of water in the creek for present purposes, and provisions are plentiful and cheap and are likely to continue so, as there is a good road now to Condon. I am having a well sunk at the Bluff, thus doing away with the only long dry stage upon it".

In the following year (1894), the same warden of the Pilbara field received information from Sir John Forrest that the extension of the line to Nullagine from Marble Bar had been approved.

By April 1895, residents at Marble Bar and Nullagine were "becoming indignant" over the delay in constructing a telegraph line between the two towns. That line had been sanctioned over a year before, whilst the telegraph line from Roebourne to Mallina, which had been promised long afterwards, had already been completed. An extension had also been promised to PilbarraInterpret as Port Hedland. (and it was completed in October 1896".

"The absolute necessity for the extension of the telegraph line from Marble Bar to Nullagine is daily becoming more apparent and, to such a stage has public feeling on that most important goldfield arrived, that the residents there are making and will continue to make strenuous exertions for the desired construction. That it is time the Nullagine were linked to the outside world by the electric current no-one, seeing that it is one of the oldest goldfields in the colony and admits of enormous possibilities in the way of development. can deny.

As telegraph lines and the requirements of this district with regard thereto are op tapis, perhaps it would not be amiss for me, in my capacity as a watch dog for the public interests, to draw general attention to the fact that were Pilbarra goldfield suddenly boomed - and who shall say in this country of surprises that it is not to be so—the local means of communication with Roebourne and southward would be totally inadequate. Even as it is now, it often takes days to obtain a reply to a message sent to Roebourne, as the single wire of the main line is almost wholly occupied with the colony's present extensive cable business, which takes precedence of that handed in for transmission to local and eastward stations".

This extract from the Northern Public Opinion of 16 May 1896 continues further and can be accessed here.

Residents were becoming very frustrated. Their anxiety was similar to that felt at Port Hedland based on the very large quantities of gold being mined but no telegraphic communication available. The Nullagine gripes were further compounded by the claim that residents also could not even send a registered letter from that place.

The pressure continued in the Northern Public Opinion of 13 August 1896:

"Considerable dissatisfaction exists on the Nullagine at the non-fulfilment of the promise made that the telegraph line would be extended from Marble Bar to Nullagine. The residents of the Nullagine have good cause for their wrath, as the number of men on the field, and the gold discoveries made, fully warrant the line. Mr. Mackenzie, the officer in charge of telegraph construction in the Nor'-West, will soon have completed his work at Pilbarra and Towranna and the Government should certainly authorise him to at once proceed with the long-promised and much required Nullagine line.

The length of the line from the Bar, taking a nearly straight route, is only some sixty miles, and it surely is apathy only on the part of the powers that be that, long ere this, the line has not been commenced. We understand that, not only on the goldfield itself and locally, is this tardiness condemned but that capitalists in England are complaining of the delays occasioned in getting news from the Nullagine, a field which is now attracting their attention".

The West Australian of 22 September 1896 noted:

"A largely-attended indignation meeting was recently held at Nullagine to protest against the non-erection of the telegraph line to that place. It appeared that a telegram was received from the Minister of Mines to the effect that he had been advised the prospects of Nullagine did not warrant the extension of the telegraph line at present, but, when the Government thought they did, the matter would be taken in hand. Seeing that Nullagine has supported a larger population than either Marble Bar or Bamboo Creek for a considerable time past, the residents of Nullagine consider they are being unjustly treated".

In another news item - dated 16 September - but printed by the West Australian of 26 October 1896 - the situation described above is elaborated:

"This telegraph line was sanctioned over twelve months ago and the material ordered, but it was used for an emergency on the Coolgardie line. Everyone in the district has a very shrewd idea from whom the Minister obtained this gratuitous advice. If he had consulted the warden or any of the officials on the goldfields, the advice would have been very different. Owing to the continual absence of our member, Mr. Keep, it is difficult to get the just wants and requirements of this goldfield laid in an unbiased manner before the Government".

On 24 September in the Legislative Council, a question standing in the name of Mr. McKay with reference to the extension of the telegraph line to the Nullagine goldfields was postponed at the request of the Minister of Mines. The following week in the Council, the Minister of Mines responded to Mr. McKay and acknowledged that 18 months ago, the Government had promised the extension of the telegraph line to Nullagine should be carried. In lieu of those circumstances, instructions had been issued to proceed with the work immediately. Those in the "Halls of Power" moved (relatively) fast and so the next piece of information we have is that

"Preparations for commencing the erection of the Nullagine telegraph are already being made, and, on Thursday, Mr. A. Mackenzie, with the necessary additions to his staff, left for Cossack to proceed to Marble Bar via Condon. The contract for delivering the poles along the route has been let to Messrs. Royer & Walters, who have undertaken, we believe, to complete their distribution before Christmas. They have engaged all the available teams for the carting. The survey is in the hands of Mr. E. W. Geyer. Mr. Mackenzie expects to be able to open communication with the Nullagine and the outside world about Christmas - should all go well."(Northern Public Opinion, 31 October 1896).

On 13 November: "the s.s. Diamond (with telegraph material for Nullagine line) left for Condon on 12th".

In November 1896 a very urgent situation arose. An expedition financed by Albery Calvert left Mullewa on 13 June 1896 to explore parts of Western Australia especially the Great Sandy Dessert. In October, two members left the party to to make a side journey but never made it back to the meeting place in mid-November. Mr. Geyer, the Surveyor then at work on the line to Nullagine, was selected as one of two people to try to find the missing men. The other man Hourigan was apparently helping Geyer at Nullagine. It was difficult to reach them because there was no telegraph line but the Minister had decided that the search party should start from Nullagine with the camels they had acquired. The Minister said he would communicate with the men "by sending a messenger". If only action on the line had been taken earlier!!!! At one stage, the Surveyor-General, Mr. H. Johnston, sent a telegraph to the Warden at Marble Bar asking if the Warden knew the whereabouts of Mr. Surveyor Geyer. Even by mid-December it was clear more could have been achieved in at least despatching the rescue party had telegraphic communications been available to Nullagine.

Finally -

"The construction of the telegraph line from Marble Bar to Nullagine was completed on February 6 when communication was opened.

Congratulatory messages passing from the Minister of Mines to the residents and to Mr. A. Mackenzie, Superintendent of telegraph construction in the North, under whose supervision the extension was effected.

The work occupied two months and 25 days.

One of the roughest tracts of country in the whole colony is traversed — belt after belt of rough, rugged hills, interspersed with occasional plains and small flats. The last nine miles was exceptionally difficult of construction. For a number of miles here and there, dynamite had to be used in forming the holes for the poles. Great credit is due to Mr. Mackenzie for the comparatively expeditious manner in which the work was carried out".
(Pilbarra Goldfield News 19 February 1897).

Mr. MacKenzie was recalled to Perth almost immediately after completing the line.

On 16 February 1897, the Pilbarra Goldfield News reported on a Formal Ceremony was held to celebrate the opening of the Marble Bar to Nullagine telegraph line:

"The telegraph line from Marble Bar to here was formally opened on Saturday afternoon, the 6th inst. In the evening, about 50 or 60 guests sat down to a banquet given at the Conglomerate Hotel by some of the most prominent residents to Mr. Alex. Mackenzie (Superintendent of the construction of telegraphs in the North) and the construction party to celebrate the opening. The banquet room was relieved by wild flowers and masses of greenery, tastefully arranged, which had a very pleasing effect.

After the toast to the Queen, the following toasts were also proposed:

 

4.4: Lines to Talga Talga and Western Shaw.

On 11 May 1894, the West Australian reported:

"A rich reef has been discovered by Alex. McKenna and Rory McPhee, two prospectors, three miles east of the Shaw River and fifty miles from Marble Bar. An 18-acre lease has been taken up by the prospectors and several other leases have been since applied for. The lode has been prospected for 600 ft. along the line of reef to a depth of 30ft. In some places, the stone is uniform and of great richness throughout. Mr. McKenna proceeds south by the s.s. Australind to-day en route for Castlemaine, Victoria, to procure a ten-head battery. The find has caused quite a stir among the miners employed on wages on the Bar and at Bamboo Creek. The country surrounding the find bears every indication of being auriferous".

Telegraph offices to the south were opened in the following years to serve the communities engaged in gold mining. Talga Talga was opened on 27 April 1896 on a loop line between Marble Bar and Bamboo Creek.

Another office was Western Shaw. At the beginning of 1893, the report from the Warden noted that Western Shaw had been practically deserted for many months.

The Northern Public Opinion monitored developments and, in 1896, reported with the following date lines (not publication dates)

The line to Western Shaw was completed on 15 January 1898.

 

4.5: Nullagine to Newman.

Newman was originally called mount Newman. It was established in the 1960s by Mt. Newman Mining Company which was a subsidiary of BHP.

A telegraph/telephone line was constructed from Nullagine because it was the closest link to the established telegraphic system.

 

5. An alternative link between the Mid West and the Kimberley.

5.1: The overall route and the problems it would solve.

As with other lines throughout the Colonies, weather was a major cause of interruptions to coastal telegraph lines. In the 1800s, telegraph lines were commonly constructed near the coasts (in all Colonies) because materials delivered by boat did not have to be carted far into unchartered or impassable territory. It was the same - if not worse - along the Pilbara and Kimberley coasts. Constant problems arose to interrupt the coastal lines - especially north of about Carnarvon in the Gascoyne. As the Geraldton Express described on 10 January 1913:

"the old Northern coastal line of evil fame, which was continually going into conference as a result of dissatisfaction with the working conditions produced by the willy-willies, cock-eye bobs, tornadoes, hurricanes, cyclones, typhoons, mere gales and other high-lows which seem to be engaged in the industry of atmospheric agitation on the grand scale anywhere between North-West Cape and Broome, from November to April. It has been quite a common thing in the past, we believe, that a man wanting to send an urgent message from Perth to Broome made it his business before lodging the message to inquire whether the Northern line was interrupted. If it was, as was generally the case, he waited for the next northward going steamer and sent the message per ship. Messages had an irritating way of getting as far as Hamelin Pool and staying there until something happened, and things didn't happen early or often up there".

To avoid the continuation of this problem, planning was commenced in the 1910s to consider an second route to the north. That finally selected was:

The Geraldton Express of 10 January 1913 commented on the coastal route to Broome as follows:

"Unfortunately the last named section of the new line runs along the Ninety-Mile beach from Broome to Condon and this is one of the most storm driven and cyclone-whipt tracts in the Nor'-West. This fact greatly detracts from the reliability of the new line. During the willy-willy season this section of the line will always be peculiarly liable to catastrophic interruption.

Against this there is the fact that this part of the coast does not interpose any obstacle to speedy and safe travel by messenger - say from Broome southwards. There seems to be every probability that every real blow at Broome will wreck the Broome-Condon section.

With the establishment of wireless stations at the northern portsCoastal Radio Stations were opened at
Geraldton on 2 May 1913;
Broome on 18 August 1913;
Roebourne on 26 January 1914; and
Wyndham on 18 May 1914., danger of the complete isolation of any of these ports should become practically negligible provided, of course, that the stations be built sufficiently strong to successfully stand against the ordinary cyclone of these parts. When one thinks of a slender spire 180 feet high being attacked by such a blow as that which sent the Koombana to the bottom a few months ago, the capacity of the wireless mast to stand four square to all the winds that blow may reasonably be doubted. Few old Nor'-Westers are likely to believe that such a mast as it is intended to erect at Geraldton will for long withstand the fury of the gale at Broome.".

 

5.2: The 1911 Perth to Nullagine line.

In 1909, the Postmaster-General indicated he wished to strengthen the telegraph line between Perth and Peak Hill and erect a new line from Peak Hill to Nullagine. The matter was to be considered in connection with 1909 estimates. In early 1910, Sir John Forrest announced that provision had been made for the construction of the Peak Hill-Nullagine telegraph line. When it was completed, he anticipated the stoppages that periodically occurred in telegraphic communication with the North-West and in the Kimberley would be obviated inasmuch as this telegraph line would run far inland and would not be subject to the cyclones or willy-willies which often did damage on the North-West coast.

In May 1910, it was generally accepted that the second line should follow the stock route wherever practicable even though that was not the most direct route. The extra cost of the line would be more than compensated by the other advantages. For example, if a more direct route were to be followed instead of keeping to the stock route, there would be a stretch of about 90 miles of waterless country between the Gascoyne and Ashburton Rivers and attempting to cross that area would render construction costly and subsequent maintenance more difficult.

The estimated length of the duplicate line via the stock route was 325 miles. Although some parts could be crossed more directly to reduce this distance, the electrical engineer noted that the main difficulty was that very little information was available concerning that particular portion of the country. He was decidedly of the opinion that the extra cost of the line would be more than compensated for by the certainty of water supply en route and the probability of stations being established in its vicinity.

On 15 September 1910, the Perth Daily News reported the announcement by the Postmaster-General that "work on the erection of a telegraph line from Peak Hill to Nullagine would be begun when the survey had been completed and all necessary material was available. With the exception of iron poles, all the material had been obtained. The negotiations with the State Government had been completed and they had been asked to proceed with the survey." The survey for the Peak Hill to Nullagine telegraph line finally commenced on 28 November.

By 27 February 1911, the telegraph line had been constructed to 290 miles and it was expected to be completed in early March. An article in then Geraldton Guardian of 9 November 1911 described the conditions and the nature of the construction work on the Peak Hill - Nullagine line.

In November 1912, various papers announced that "The telegraph line between Nullagine and Peak Hill has been completed. It will be open for business when the proper instruments are installed at Nullagine and Peak Hill".

 

5.3: Subsequent developments.

In June 1913, it was announced that "an extensive copper outcrop had been located just west of the 109 mile peg on the Peak Hill to Nullagine telegraph line. The outcrop was traced on the surface for 38 chains".

In October 1919, the Minister for Mines announced that a "hill of copper" had been discovered near the 198 mile post along the Peak Hill - Nullagine telegraph line.

The telegraph line operated effectively for many years - mainly due to the two line repairers who lived in a residence built between Peak Hill and Nullagine - well over 100 miles from the nearest town. Their situation was described thus

"The only communication the two bachelor officials have with the outside world is by phone and wireless, whilst travellers help to vary the monotony. In this connection though, nearly all the pleasure belongs to the linesmen and very little to the visitors".

 

Details of the S.S. Australind which carried so much cargo and so many passengers to the Pilbara and the Kimberly in association with the construction of the Telegraph Lines can be referenced elsewhere.