Vic Swan Hill line

Victoria - Colonial period: 1854-1900.
The Swan Hill line.

The first line into the Central-north region of Victoria was that to Sandhurst (Bendigo) in January 1857 to serve the goldfields in the surrounding district. To about 1862, lines were developed in the Ballarat-Sandhurst region involving the opening of a number of Telegraph Offices. Some of those Offices were used in the lower part of the Swan Hill line - from Kyneton to Tarnagulla.

In concert with the Government's strategy to construct lines across large distances, the Swan Hill line was constructed from Inglewood throiugh Kerand to Swan Hill in the early 1860s.

Construction of the Swan Hill line is described as follows:

offices opened on the first line;
Why Swan Hill?
the rapid construction to Swan Hill;
the line to Euston;
definition of the line;
the alternative route.

In concert with the construction of new lines, Telegraph Offices were opened along the 1857 first line to Sandhurst at centers which were important in their relationships to the gold rush and the expanding commercial interests. Hence Telegraph Offices were opened within months at Kyneton and Castlemaine - the latter in particular being a critical junction for several lines over future years.

This map leads to the Donald line.

This map leads to the Echuca-Deniliquin line.

Why Swan Hill?

Swan Hill was the centre of a European community with extensive interests in agriculture in the surrounding area. It had developed around the only crossing of the Murray River for over 100 miles - and that was by a punt. In 1853, two vessels had travelled from Adelaide to Swan Hill along the Murray River and so demonstrated the possibility of using river transport. It was therefore logical to extend the telegraph line to this area and later run other lines and postal services to other townships.

Rapid construction.

A new line was then constructed from Castlemaine to the north to form the Swan Hill line in the following stages:

In February 1858, residents of the Dunnolly area noted at a public meeting that "they had received an assurance that the telegraph would be extended to Dunolly within a few months". In 1859, as noted elsewhere, the line was extended through Maldon to Dunolly and then south to Maryborough and Avoca.
from Dunolly, the line was then constructed north to Tarnagulla - being completed on 1 November 1860 - but opened on 18th. In that year, a major gold find was made at Inglewood.
in 1861, the line was extended through Inglewood - which had just been proclaimed as a municipality - to the north;

Intermediate Telegraph offices along the line were opened in subsequent years according to demand.

On 20 September 1861 in the Legislative Assembly, in answer to a question, "Dr. MacAdam stated that, when the Estimates were laid before the House, it would be proposed to extend the electric telegraph to Swan Hill". On 21 January 1862, the Ballarat Star noted that an item for the extension of the line of telegraph from Inglewood to Swan Hill for £7,000 had been placed on the Estimates. On 21 February 1862:

"Dr Evans said it was not intended, in extending the line from Swan Hill, to proceed via Korong but to take the direct route.

Mr. B. G. Davies stated that the Hon. member did not appear to understand the question involved. If a direct route were taken, an impenetrable scrub would have to be cleared and the important districts of St. Arnaud and Korong would be left unprovided for. He hoped the Government would alter its determination in this matter and take the telegraph where there were people and not through uninhabited scrub where only sheep and cattle browsed.

Dr. Evans said he knew well the district in which Korong was situated, having represented it in a former Parliament. But, though there was no man in the colony who would do more for Korong than he would, he had a public duty to perform.

Mr Hood could not see that any extension of the line to Swan Hill was needed. He asked for an explanation.

Mr. Houston considered it injudicious to extend the telegraph to Swan Hill in a direct line as the crow flies avoiding all seats of population. If necessary, he believed the House would not refuse to vote the extra sum necessary to take in these places.

Mr. Johnston, having been asked a question respecting Rutherglen a few days ago, said that the telegraph was already there and the vote on the estimates for that place was for a station and about half a mile of wire. There was good reason to believe that the extension to Swan Hill would pay - the business in stock between that place and Melbourne being very large. With respect to the £9,500 for the intercolonial wire, the Government of South Australia had threatened not to allow the use of the wire if the Victorian Government did not carry out its engagements in reference to the intercolonial line.

In reply to Mr Houston, Mr Johnson said that if the Victorian Government did not connect the two second intercolonial lines, the sister colonies had threatened to do it themselves along the banks of the Murray and thus deprive the Victorian line of all the messages. A loss would thereby be suffered of more than £3,000 per annum. With regard to the Swan Hill extension, it was to be carried out because it was believed the line was required and would pay.

Dr. Evans, in reply to the question previously put by Mr. W. C. Smith, said that it was the intention of the Government to carry out the works on the Estimates. (Laughter.)

After some further discussion the vote was agreed to".

In the Legislative Assembly of 21 February 1862, Dr. Evans replied to a question to say that it was not the intention of the department at present to extend the telegraph wires so far west as Korong. Mr. Davies retorted that he hoped the Government would alter its decision and "take the telegraph where there were people and not through uninhabited scrub where only sheep and cattle browsed".

In 1862, it was agreed to construct the line from Inglewood to the north through Kerang and Swan Hill.

in January 1862, £7,000 was placed on the Estimates for the line of telegraph from Inglewood to Swan Hill;
on 14 June 1862, The Herald noted that a contract had been accepted from Thomas Thompson to mark out the telegraph line from Inglewood to Swan Hill covering 100 miles at £2 18s per lineal mile marked - £290.
on 3 July 1862, The Argus noted that, in the previous Gazette, a tender had been let to Thomas G. Grun for the erection of a line of telegraph from Inglewood to Swan Hill for £5,061.

The Inglewood Advertiser of 7 October 1862 reported "We perceive that Swan Hill and Kerang are in the new scale of charges posted up at the Telegraph Office. The contract for the erection of the posts between Inglewood and Swan Hill has been several weeks completed and nothing remains to complete communication between the Murray and the seaboard but the stretching of the wires".

Telegraph Offices were opened in both Kerang and Swan Hill in 1863. Both of these stations were close to the border with New South Wales.

An interesting comment on the funding of telegraph Offices came from the Pastoral Times published at Deniliquin NSW in November 1862: "There is a growing conviction in the public mind here that we belong geographically to Victoria. ... That enterprising colony is extending telegraphs, railways and all great public works to her extreme confines. No such mean, contemptible "guarantees" are asked from her outlying colonists as that which has called forth this article. Even Swan Hill, a far less important place than Hay, is to have its Telegraph Station opened immediately".

The Bendigo Advertiser of 10 February 1863 gave some positive news:

"TELEGRAPH TO SWAN HILL.

The wires are now complete to Swan Hill and as soon as the necessary office requisite, which are in a forward state, are finished, we shall then enjoy direct communication with a large squatting and agricultural district. It was ascertained last week that the wire was broken from over-straining at Reedy Lake, on this side of Fenton's station. Men were at once despatched to repair the damage and the whole length of line so far as the wires are concerned, is ready for immediate working".

The Swan Hill line was a very important line in everyone's view. Even in the Legislative Assembly on 21 March 1863, the Swan Hill line was being discussed as Victoria's third intercolonial line - simply awaiting the relevant lines being constructed by New South Wales and South Australia.

The Swan Hill Telegraph Office was opened about the middle of April 1863 while the Telegraph Office at Kerang was not opened until 7 August 1863.

Over 10 years later, Telegraph Offices were opened at Serpentine (1873) and at Durham Ox (1874). When the road between Durham Ox and Kerang was being planed in 1874, the Government was requested to survey and mark out an alternate line of road from Durham Ox to Kerang "because the present telegraph road was regarded as altogether unsuitable". The Riverine Herald described the telegraph road "as almost useless in any season".

A proposed line to Euston.

In McGowan's Report for 1867, he discussed the possibility of a line from Swan Hill to Euston:

"The extension proposed during 1866 of a line from Swan Hill to Euston, in connection with the direct interior line from Adelaide to Sydney via Wentworth, Euston, Balranald, Deniliquin and Hay, still remains undecided. But I have before discussed the great importance of this extension in relation to our intercolonial business, I consider that it is only necessay now to bring the subject again under notice with the view of urging the matter on your attention. A glance at the map of this colony will show that, although the Southern and Eastern districts are comparatively well provided with telegraphic communication, the very large district extending north and west from Swan Hill is without such a facility. for advancement unless through offices at considerable distances within the adjoining colonies. I trust that this extension may not long be deferred as the want of the communication is much felt by the Department".

Definition of the Swan Hill line over time.

In 1864, the Electric Telegraph Department regarded the Swan Hill line as beginning at Tarnagulla (linked from Castlemaine) and the line then proceeded north to the other three stations - Inglewood (which had linked from Sandhurst), Kerang and Swan Hill. By 1881, the definition of the line had changed to include all stations from Gisborne to Castlemaine (from the Northern line), Dunolly and Maldon (from the Donald (Cross-Country) line). These stations then linked to Inglewood on an expanded Swan Hill line including the newly opened station at Dunham Ox.

In 1866, an extension of the Swan Hill line was proposed along the Murray to the north-west to Euston in N.S.W. That proposal was in connection with the direct interior line from Adelaide to Sydney - Euston being connected in that line in 1867. McGowan noted in his 1867 Report (dated 18 February 1868) that "the extension ... still remains undecided; but as I have before discussed the great importance of this extension in relation to our intercolonial business, I consider that it is only necessary now to bring the subject again under notice with the view of urging the matter on your attention. A glance at the map of this Colony will show that, although the Southern and Eastern districts are comparatively well provided with telegraphic communication, the very large district extending north and west from Swan Hill is without such a facility for advancement, unless through offices at considerable distances within the adjoining colonies. I trust that this extension may not long be deferred, as the want of the communication is much felt by the Department". That suggestion was also in line with Todd's thinking for a line from South Australia.

The alternative route.

About 1882, an extension of the line to Swan Hill was constructed from Bendigo along the railway lines - well to the east of the normal telegraph line. From Bendigo, it passed through Eaglehawk, Sebastian, Raywood and Pyramid Hill to join the original telegraph line at Kerang. The 1890 Annual Report on the Department notes (p.12) that "the line between Durham Ox and Pyramid Hill had been dismantled between Durham and Tragowel Railway Station. The circuit was diverted via Pyramid Hill and thence on railway poles to Tragowel. This was done with the double object of improving the route and bringing Pyramid Hill into the telegraph circuit".

The Burke and Wills expedition.

"We regret to state that the major part of the exploring party, led from Melbourne in Ootobor last by Mr. Burke, have returned to the settled districts of the colony, having lost four of their number by death, and leaving Mr. Burke, with three companions, somewhere in the unexplored interior or, as is hoped, on the northern coast, where he can be relieved by sea. Shortly before the receipt of this intelligence Mr. A. Howitt had set out for the interior, following Mr. Burke's track, at the head of an auxiliary relieving party, as described in our last monthly summary, and the first information of the return of the large number of Mr. Burke's party to Menindie was communicated by Mr. Howitt by telegraph from a station between Bendigo and Swan Hill".
The Argus 25 July 1861.

The following telegraph stations were included in the 1889 list:

Line 138:	Melbourne through Footscray Test Box , New Gisborne, Kyneton, Malmsbury, Castlemaine, Sandhurst, Bridgewater, Inglewood, Serpentine, Durham Ox, Kerang to Swan Hill (on Railway Department poles from Pyramid Hill to Kerang).
Line 156:	Kerang to Koondrook.