Queensland - Colonial: 1861-1900.
Administrative details of the Telegraph Branch.

 

The Telegraph Branch for Queensland operated independently frpm the Post Office as the Telegraph Department from 1861 to 1879. At that stage, the two separate Departments were amalgamated and so each became a branch of the Post and Telegraph Department.

In the 1861-1879 period, the Head of the Telegraph Branch had direct access through the Postmaster-General (the Minister) to Parliament. In 1868 during the discussion of the Estimates, it was proposed to use the network of telegraph offices throughout Queensland to collect meteorological data.

After the two branches were amalgamated in 1879, the Superintendent of Electric Telegraphs reported to the Under-Secretary of the Department. Further details of the administrative structures are given in Gribble, p. 335-6 and p. 424.

 

The following table summarises the various names given to the Branch and the Officers who were in charge.

Name of Position Officer in Charge Appointed Ceased Reason for leaving
Inspector of Telegraphs and Superintendent of Works. J. J. Austin 24 November 1860 31 March 1863 Unknown
CN to Superintendent of Electric Telegraphs in 1865. W. J.Cracknell(U) 28 November 1863 July 1880. Retired
  A. F. Matveieff (U) 17 October 1880 6 January 1893 Retired
CN to combine with Under-Secretary in 1893.
In 1897, the word "Electric" was omitted. Combination probably as a consequence of the 1893 Depression.
John McDonnell (U) 7 January 1893 7 November 1899 Retired
  R. T. Scott (U) 8 November 1899 30 June 1901. Promoted
         
Chief Manager of Telegraphs from 1 July 1901 when previous 2 positions were separated soon after Federation. R. O. Bourne (N) 1 July 1901 9 July 1902 Retired
CN in 1904 to Manager Telegraphs. E. L. Hanna (Q) 1 October 1902 31 October 1910 Retired
  J. R. Kelly (Q) 20 November 1910 12 November 1925 Retired
CN in 1926 to Superintendent of Telegraphs. E. H. Bourne (V) 14 January 1926 17 November 1926 Promoted
  S. J. Wilcox (U) October 1927 11 March 1936 Retired
  J. G. Allen (V) 1 July 1936 4 November 1937 Promoted
  F. G. Hayward (V) 6 January 1938 12 September 1945 Promoted
CN in 1955 to Superintendent Telegraph Service on the reorganisation of the four services (Telegraph, Telephone, Commercial and Radio) under the newly constituted Telecommunications Division. A. L. Jones (N) 29 November 1945 19 July 1957 Retired
  P. J. H. Gribble (V) 3 October 1957 11 December 1961 Retired
  L. G. Craig (Q) 1 March 1962 30 January 1964 Branch ceased.

NOTES:

(Q) = Queenslander.
(N) = born in New South Wales.
(U) = born in the United Kingdom.
(V) = born in Victoria.