Tas - TOs on King Island

Tasmania.
Telegraph Offices on King Island.

King Island is part of the New Year Group of islands to the north west of the north west tip of Tasmania. It is about km from Point Grim and close to half way between Tasmania and Victoria. The area of King Island is about 1098 km2

There are three other small islands in the group - New Year Island, Christmas Island and Councillor Island.

The four main settlements on King Island are: Cape Wickham, Currie, Egg Lagoon, Grassy and Narracoopa. Cape Wickham has Australia's tallest lighthouse (48 m).

An excellent review of the nature and isolation of Kimg Island is given in the Launceston Daily Telegraph of 4 June 1906.

The first submarine telegraphic cable from Tasmania to Victoria operated via King Island in 1859 before failing partly because of the rocky sea bottom around the island (see elsewhere for details). Another telegraphic cable operated through King Island from 1936 to 1963.

Wireless telecommunication was expected soon after Federation. The Launceston Examiner of 23 June 1908 noted:

"Great interest is taken in every item found in the newspapers that has a bearing on telegraphic communication, either wireless or cable, with this island. It is now some years since the matter was first mooted, and our urgent need brought under the notice of the authorities; but we seem to drift on in the same old way, relying on assurances that seem to be never realised".

The Daily Post in Hobart noted on 12 December 1908 that "the residents are also looking forward to the establishment of the wireless telegraph". AWA constructed one of the three Tasmanian Coastal Radio Stations on King Island.

A post office opened on 1 June 1892 as King's Island and operated until 1903 when it changed name to King Island. In 1917, the location was called Currie. Other official Post Offices were opened on King Island with telegraphic facilities at:

Grassy (in the southeast from 1918 to 1935 and then from 1943 to 1991);
Naracoopa on the east coast (1920 to 1962);
Egg Lagoon in the north (1925 to 1967) to replace Yambacoona (1922 to 1925);
Pearshape to the south (1946 to 1959).

Other localities of King Island are Bungaree, Loorana, Lymwood, Nugara, Pegarah, Reekara, Sea Elephant, Surprise Bay, Wickham and Yarra Creek.

Currie. A Telegraph Office was opened on King Island in 1892. The Launceston Daily Telegraph noted on 18 August 1916 that King Island "now ... has wireless communication with the mainland ...". That was a reference to the construction of the AWA Coastal Radio Station.
Four datestamps were used in the Post & Telegraph Office: King's Island from 1892 to 1903.
King Island from 1903 to 1917 with the 'S removed from the original date stamp. Used: Diameter: 24 mm. Rated: RR.	4 January 1917.
Currie with KING IS at the base. Used: 1 January 1929 to 11 October 1949. Diameter: 28 mm. Rated: RR.	1 January 1929.
	11 October 1949.
Currie with TAS AUST at the base.