Victoria - Colonial period: 1854-1900.
The first lines.

The beginning of telegraphic communication in Victoria.

This story is told in the following parts

1. The first ideas.

2. The line to Williamstown.

3. Sandridge.

4. The line to Geelong and Queenscliff.

4.1 Extension to Queenscliff.

5. The lines to Ballarat and Sandhurst (Bendigo).

6. Possible extensions.

7. Footnote- what we become used to.

8. Competition for the English News - Queenscliff versus Sandridge.

 

1. In the beginning ...

The beginning of telegraphic communication in Victoria cannot be placed on the shoulders of one man - it was simply such a major and innovative undertaking. As a precursor to such a radical social and economic change, the environment must be conducive to the acceptance of the enterprise and the development of the proper climate involves a number of far-sighted individuals. Two of these will be identified here although there are many.

Hugh Culling Eardley Childers arrived in Melbourne in 1850. In the following year, he became a member of the first Victorian Government and he was made Auditor-General in 1852. He was instrumental in helping to found Melbourne University and assisted in its management from 1853 to 1859.

In 1853, Childers asked Lieutenant Governor Latrobe to permit him to put a sum on the Estimates for constructing a telegraph line from Melbourne to Port Phillip Heads. Such a line would be useful for telegraphing news of the arrival of ships. Childers believed that construction of a telegraph was too important to be left to a private company. His proposal met with opposition in the Council and was refused.

Meanwhile, late in 1852, an American named Samuel McGowan arrived in Australia after having worked with several Canadian and American telegraphic companies. Prior to those experiences, he had also worked with Samuel Morse. He came to Australia with the explicit intention of establishing the telegraph. He brought with him a telegraphist and a large quantity of telegraphic equipment.

McGowan had discussions with many people both in Victoria and elsewhere. Naturally, one of the most influential was Hugh Childers. During their discussions, in the first half of 1853, Childers asked McGowan to build an experimental line from the old Audit Office in Lonsdale Street to the principal buildings in Melbourne. This line was actually the first line in the southern hemisphere. He then asked members of the Legislative Council to come and see it at work. They were immediately convinced of the power of the new technology and, soon after, the Telegraph Department was established. The Age newspaper also witnessed the demonstration and became a significant supporter.

 

2. The line to Williamstown.

McGowan still wished to construct a longer telegraph line - and of course own the mechanism of such communication. Before he could begin construction to demonstrate his expertise however, the Colonial Victorian Government advertised a contract to construct a telegraphic line from the Government Offices in Melbourne to the signal Station at Gellibrand Point, Williamstown - a distance of about 10 miles. By so doing, the Colonial Government confirmed its decision that the lines in the Colony would be a Government responsibility. McGowan was told (in the nicest way of course) that, if he continued independently of the Government, the contract would be awarded to someone else. Soon after, McGowan decided the Government was proceeding in absolutely the correct way and he was delighted to be awarded the contract - which would enable him to achieve his own personal ambitions but in a different way. Thus began an era (which never really ended) of Australian Governments not wanting commercial and private interests associated with telegraphic communication. It was a pattern repeated in almost every Australian Colony. To settle the arrangements, the position of Superintendent of the Electric Telegraph was immediately offered to McGowan.

Construction of the Williamstown line began on 19 November 1853. The Williamstown Telegraph Office was constructed on Point Gellibrand. The line took time to build because labour was expensive. The electric wire was hung from poles about twenty feet high from the ground and took a north-westerly direction from Williamstown along the north bank of the Yarra River. It then followed "a rather circuitous route by the north-east" until it reached the Custom House in William Street, Melbourne where a temporary office had been set aside at the rear.

The line was "placed in operation" in February but not opened for business to the public by Governor La Trobe until 3 March 1854 due to a shortage of office space. Even then however, the line was available without charge to the users until 1 May when the Electric Telegraph Act 17 Victoria, No. 22 was introduced. A detailed account of the operation and the equipment is reproduced elsewhere. The Argus on 6 March 1854 reported the opening of this line in the following way: "The remaining wires have been fixed during the past week between Government House and the Custom House, which now has the means of instantaneous communication with Williamstown. We presume that the facilities thus afforded for communicating with the shipping, etc. will, under some regulation, be accessible to the merchants and shipbrokers of Melbourne. Circumstances are continually occurring which render this a great boon to the shipping interest".

The line was used almost immediately for operational purposes. For example, the Shipping Gazette and Sydney General Trade List of 12 June 1854 carried the information "Masters of vessels are recommended to have ready a summary in triplicate of the latest and most important intelligence they may be in possession of, for the purpose of affording the public early information. A copy should be given to the boarding officer for transmission by the electric telegraph, a branch of which is in full operation between Melbourne and Williamstown, and is immediately to be extended to Geelong and the Heads".

Almost all associated with the introduction of the telegraph were supportive and encouraging - even some who had been dubious at first. The Argus of 3 June 1854 noted "The Electric Telegraph furnishes a case in point. People talked about it for several months but no one took much interest in the matter till good Mr McGowan set to work, patiently stretching his chattering cobwebs from pillar to pillar along our streets. Now that this system has become a reality amongst us, the extension of the line to Geelong and the Heads will be warmly greeted by every colonist of Victoria".

It was not long before an incident occurred which was not only "perhaps the greatest demonstration of excitement that has ever been known to occur in Melbourne" but it highlighted an operational problem which would later face telegraph operation in all Colonies. On the night of 7 September 1854, events led to the population of Melbourne turning out because of a rumoured invasion by the Russians. "All that could go, did. The deaf went to see, and the blind to hear. The quidnunc went to seek his pabulum and the mare's-nester to expound to any listener he could find the mystery at which all were agape". The suspicions turned out to be ill founded. During the height of the anxiety, the (Melbourne) Telegraph Office "was in a state of siege; the clerk in charge who, having done his day's work, was out enjoying the evening balmy, returned in haste, set his batteries to work, and made his corrections, but found, to the general disappointment, that there was no circuit, for the Williamstown station was unoccupied. He remained on the watch for some time, but at last, as things became quieter, retired to rest" (page 2). There would be several other incidents in which lives were lost because of major telegraph offices not being staffed at night.

In McGowan's Report for the half year to June 1859, he states "A new line is now in course of completion between Melbourne and Williamstown following the east side of the railway line and within the railway fence on which are provided four additional wires, which I propose shall be continued to Geeloug during the months of August and September next, taking opportunity at the same time to replace all defective or decayed posts in the line so as to render the entire work is effective and durable as may be possible".

3. The line to Sandridge (Port Melbourne).

On 1 July 1855 a short 2 mile line was opened to Sandridge. It was constructed to provide information about shipping and activities in Port Melbourne and was an example for a similar initiative in Sydney the following year.

Sandridge was renamed Port Melbourne on 6 March 1884.

 

 

 

4. The line to Geelong and Queenscliff.

The Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure submitted to the Legislative Council in November 1853 contained an estimate of £15,014 1s for a line of Electric Telegraph to Geelong including a extension line to Shortland's BluffQueenscliff.

It appears as if tenders were invited in March 1854 for the establishment of an Electric Telegraph from Melbourne to Shortland's BluffQueenscliff via Geelong. On 17 April 1854, tenders were also called (see for example The Argus of that date, p 3) for the supply of 1,000 telegraph poles either round saplings or solid timber sawed square. In addition to further information about the poles, the advertisement requested that 500 poles be delivered to each of Williamstown and Geelong.

On 20 June 1854, the Argus updated readers on progress as follows: "We have it from undoubted authority that the line of electric telegraph from Melbourne to Geelong will be positively completed by the 10th of August next. The work is now being proceeded with with extraordinary rapidity and the contractor promises to have finished it by the above time. A flag staff will, in a short time, be erected near to the hospital and the time-ball, indicating p.m., will rise and fall at the correct time. These matters will be a great boon to the inhabitants of Geelong, and they will, no doubt, appreciate anything to further their interests".

Unfortunately another problem arose during the construction of the telegraph line to Geelong. The Geelong line was understandably to be a separate line from that to Williamstown and hence it had to cross the Saltwater River - now known as the Maribyrnong River. The Argus of 28 September 1854 summarised the problem and the solution - and the new problem - as follows:

"Some time since we directed attention to the absurdity of throwing a permanent bridge across the (Saltwater) River so as to obstruct its navigation. As nothing has since been done to prevent such a gross mistake from being carried into effect, we give a report of the meeting held yesterday at the Criterion and beg to call the attention of the Government to the facts therein stated ...

We trust that the subject will be pressed upon the attention of the Government or, as a most remarkable instance of the manner in which these matters have been managed, we may repeat that even in such a simple affair as carrying a telcgraph-wire across the river, it was so carelessly done that vessels of a certain height of mast could not pass under it. The Government consequently issued an order - not to raise the wire or carry it under water - but positively prohibiting vessels having masts which could not pass under the wire from trading in the river.

Now this is a strong fact and we therefore repeat it. But stupidity did not stop here. When the palpable injury to public interests occasioned by this regulation dawned upon the doormouse intellects of the authorities, they sought a remedy for the evil and found it in adding to the height of the telegraph posts on one side of the river, leaving the other side unaltered; and there it was, a day or two ago, reminding one of a preparation for some "terrific ascent on the tight-rope," but not in any way relieving the shipping nor protecting the wire from the possibility of accident.

With such facts before us - the Saltwater River threatened with an obstruction, the Yarra Yarra already bridged over and, by these means, the only two navigable rivers in this port of the colony being permanently rendered unnavigable, it was quite time for those most directly interested to take the matter up on public grounds".

As an aside, the Age on 30 October 1854 listed the 15 public buildings then in course of construction. They included:

On 3 November 1854, the Mount Alexander Mail updated readers with "The telegraph line between Melbourne and Geelong is being pushed on with considerable vigor, and it is expected the communication will be complete early next month. The line between Geelong and the Heads will also be finished about the latter end of November, so that we shall shortly have information as to what vessels are coming in long before they reach the anchorage in the bay. We understand it is intended in future to keep the circuit between the chief office in Melbourne, Williamstown and Geelong open day and night so that, in the event of a second naval 'Battle of Melbourne', the Government will not be at a loss to obtain information as to the whereabouts of the enemy".

The Argus of 28 November 1854 reported the disappointing news about the 50 mile line of electric telegraph between Melbourne and Geelong:

"The Contractors state that the line of telegraph from Melbourne to Geelong has been completed and it is ready for working. The Government however, has ordered that the line shall not be opened until the new building at the Geelong extremity is finished, As that will not be the case for six or eight weeks, the public will be deprived of the benefit of the telegraph until the expiration of that time. We hear that it was suggested to the Government to establish a temporary building but that the proposal to appropriate a small sum of money to that purpose would not be entertained by His Excellency. The consequence of that ill-advised parsimony will be a most unnecessary withholding of telegraphic communication with the second town in the colony for a considerable space or time at a period when intelligence from that city and Ballaarat is of most vital importance. The wire was tested last week and found to be efficient in every respect".

The deprivation of access to the telegraph facility was also addressed by the Geelong Advertiser on 24 November 1854:

"It would seem as if Sir Charles Hotham, after all his professions of good Government, has not as yet, in reality, done much. However, he occasionally takes into his head to do a little in the obstructive way, as for instance his unwillingness to sanction the working of the Electric Telegraph between Melbourne and Geelong until such time as a suitable oftice shall have been erected.

The consequence is that a great public convenience, now almost complete, must remain in abeyance until it shall please the Government to provide for its own lackes. At the present moment, three fourths of the public offices in Melbourne are rented - so why not adopt the same course with regard to the telegraph? When the telegraph was first opened between Melbourne and Williamstown, the Melbourne terminus was a wretched little two-roomed wooden shed, so frail in its structure as to render it necessary on a windy day to have the apparatus covered with a linen cloth to keep off the dust. Had it not been for the remonstrance of the Superintendant (Mr. McGowan) aided by a few broadsides from the Press, I do not believe two bricks of the new terminus would be now found together. If Sir Charles does not look out, his laurels will quickly fade for, though profuse enough in his promises, his performances have been small indeed. But new brooms always sweep clean".

Finally the Geelong Telegraph Office opened on 5 December 1854. The first telegram sent from Geelong gave information about the gold miners at Ballarat where, on 30 November 1854, miners had burned their contentious mining licences. On 3 December, Government soldiers stormed the lightly guarded stockade at Eureka and killed at least 22 miners (losing 6 of their own in the process). These events underlined the importance and significance of having the telegraphic communication facility.

A contemporary account of the opening of the Geelong office appeared in the Geelong Advertiser of 9 December 1854. Its basic yet informative approach deserves it to be repeated here:

"THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

This wondrous machine has been, for the last few days, in full working order in a little wooden house behind the Custom House. It is well worthy of a visit and the operator courteously explains the mode of working to visitors. The telegraph speaks "yaap yap, y'p, yaap, yp, yp, y'p" goes the metal tongue which means that Melbourne is talking to Williamstown; "yap, yap, y'p, y'p. yaap," Williamstown is replying to Melbourne; "yap, yap, yap," again goes the clapper. "It is Iunch time, we'll be back at half-past one." "yap, yap, yap." "wait a minute, I have a question to ask" and so on. Operators who are very experienced can repeat the message from the sound alone but to avoid the possibility of the telegraph retracting its statement, it actually writes them at the same instant that the clapper tongue goes on yap, yapping! The replies are impressed on a strip of stout paper that is drawn through a certain arrangement of small cylinders and comes out impressed with a series of dots and lines of various lengths from which hieroglyphics, the operator reads off fluently the exact words of the message! It is the greatest invention of the age".

 

4.1 Extension to Queenscliff.

The Geelong Advertiser of 15 December 1854 reported:

"The contractors for the Electric Telegraph Line (between Geelong and Queenscliff), Messrs. Butcher & Co, commenced their labours about ten days ago and have, by great activity and good arrangements, so far progressed with the works that they contemplate having nearly ten miles of posts erected along the main road by Monday next. The posts are about twenty-five feet long and were cut and squared in the vicinity of Western Port from whence they were brought by the schooner "Rosebud." Half of the cargo landed a fews days since at this place (Queenscliff), the remainder will be carried by the same vessel to Geelong in order to facilitate their cartage to the line of road lying between it and the Wellington Hotel. The contractors are very sanguine with the expectation of getting the whole of the posts erected and the wire fixed by New Years Day and, as far as I am able to judge of the manner in which the building work at the Station House is proceeding, I think there is every probability of the Telegraph being put in full operation by the middle of January, a period which will doubtless be looked forward to with considerable pleasure by those who sympathise in the general interests of this colony, as denoting the accomplishment of one of its most useful and important undertakings in behalf of our social progress".

By 1 January, "the posts for the electric telegraph are all fixed from Queenscliff as far as Maine's public house, close to Geelong". The 20 mile line from Geelong to Queenscliff was opened on 30 January 1855. It had been constructed especially to provide advance information about shipping movements and the latest European news. To extend its purposes further, on 12 May 1855, the Geelong Advertiser reported that "within the last month, a splendid flagstaff has been erected here (at Queenscliff) close to the Telegraph Station. It can be seen from a long distance so that communication can be held with every vessel arriving within or departing the port, a signal-master having been appointed to attend this particular duty daily from sunrise to sunset. As the arrangements in this respect are nearly perfected so as to become of great public utility through the agency of the Electric Telegraph, it is to be hoped that all vessels, particularly those in the coasting trade, will answer the signals when passing Shortland's Bluff".

On 16 December 1854, the Government Gazette announced the Regulations pertaining to the use of the Electric Telegraph. These were slightly amended over time but were about the same as is shown in the McGowan Report to December 1856 as well as on the back of the earliest recorded transmission form used in 1862.

In July 1855, at the completion of these construction activities, Victoria had 72 miles of telegraph line.

It was not long before the traffic built up especially between Melbourne and the Heads. The Geelong Advertiser of 4 August 1859 noted as follows:

"M. 59-1G7S.
General Post Office, Melbourne,
July 20th, 1859.

Sir, Adverting to your communication of the 8th instant, I am directed by the Postmaster-General to state, for the information of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, that provision will be taken on the Estimates 1860, for some additional facilities for the transmission of intelligence by electric telegraph between the Heads and Melbourne on the Lord's Day".

In May, the Gazette announced the award of a contract to E. L. Crowell for £130 10s for "pouring hot pitch and tar into pin holes along the telegraph line between Melbourne and Queenscliff".

5. The lines to Ballarat and SandhurstBendigo.

Gold was discovered in Ballarat in August 1851 - a very short time after Victoria had separated from New South Wales. In 1856, there were nearly 30,000 people working in the area. The name Ballaarat was used from 1837 but officially shortened to Ballarat in 1996. The region grew with many prospectors coming from other Colonies and overseas (especially from Ireland and China). As noted above, the uprising of gold miners against the British Administration - now referred to as the Eureka Stockade - took place in December 1854. It was clear that telegraphic communication had to be established with all haste.

Similarly, gold was discovered around Sandhurst - now Bendigo - about the same time. Here also, there was a big influx of miners from around the world. Coach transport began to Sandhurst in 1853.

After the line had been constructed to Williamstown and the construction of the line to Geelong was complete, another interest in constructing telegraph lines emerged with a business proposition.

The first indication was when, on 30 July 1855, The Argus reprinted an article from the Geelong Advertiser:

"TELEGRAPH TO BUNINYONG.— A matured project to connect Geelong with Ballaarat, by electric telegraph, and thence to Melbourne via the line already established, will be submitted to the public in a few days. The project is to be carried out by a company and the projector, Mr. Butcher, who laid down the line of telegraph from Melbourne to Geelong and thence to Queenscliffe, has received the approval of the Government to the scheme and full sanction to carry it through Crown lands. The undertaking is a very important one, deserving public attention and support. We shall lay full particulars before our readers in a future issue, deferring remarks beyond those necessary to call attention to an undertaking calculated to confer unlimited advantages on the inhabitants of town and country".

A second indication was published a few days later and it came from Mr. W. H. Butcher himself. He was not just an excellent engineer for line construction but also a budding entrepreneur who saw good profits being returned from a line to Ballarat. The Geelong Advertiser of 2 August 1855 introduced the context as follows:

"The following letter put into our hands by the projector of a company to realise that desirable consummation shows that it can be done profitably. The statements made in the letter as to the advantages to be derived from the establishment of the telegraph are as complete as could be expected on a subject which is absolutely inexhaustible. Our correspondent, for instance, has made no mention of the function of the telegraph as a crime detecter and consequently of a crime preventer. Horse stealing would cease to pay, if by a complete system of telegraph, the brands of stolen horses could be instantaneously transmitted to all the places at which horses are usually sold. The applications of the telegraph are endless": 

The Letter to the Editor from Mr. W. H. Bucher is included in full elsewhere.

Discussions about a 60 mile line to Ballarat continued for several months. In the Legislative Council on 13 December, Mr. J. B. Humffray asked his third question in a row - this one about

"what steps had been taken relative to the construction of an electric telegraphic line from Geelong to Ballarat.
The SURVEYOR GENERAL replied that many Hon. members would recollect that the subject had occupied the attention of the House during the last session. Surveys of the line had been made, but instructions had been given to discontinue them, in consequence of there not having been a sufficiency of wire. But it was the intention of Government, as soon as it was in a position to do so, to take all the necessary steps for the establishment of telegraphic communication between the two places".

The Age of 15 December 1855 commented on this response as follows:

"I do not think Mr. Humffray will take much by his question respecting the measures in progress for the formation of an electric telegraph between Ballarat and Geelong. The telegraph department has been removed from the control of the Surveyor-General's department and merged in that of the Commissioner of Trade and Customs who, unless he reads up for the question, can only plead ignorance of any measures in progress for the accomplishment of such an undertaking as that alluded to by Mr Humffray. The Surveyor General may probably deliver a stuttering explanation of what the Government, one day, intend to do if honorable members will only let them take their own measures quietly and fittingly, but a true understanding of the merits of this case, in which the Surveyor General has taken so unworthy and discreditable a part, cannot be understood without the entire correspondence being produced. I hope Mr. Humffray, who is a new member and may not be quite up to ministerial dodges, will not be hoodwinked by any specious explanation about that great hobby of the Surveyor-General's trunk lines, but will insist upon the whole of the facts connected with this matter being laid upon the table of the House".

In the Legislative Council on 28 February, 1856 a vote to extend the Electric Telegraph to Castlemaine, Sandhurst and Ballarat for £18,000 was passed. On 15 March 1866, tenders were called in the Gazette for "the supply of certain material and the construction a line of Electric Telegraph from Melbourne to Castlemaine and Sandhurst, and from Geelong to Ballarat. Tenders to state the sum per mile and to be accompanied by the names of two responsible persons willing to enter into a bond for the due performance of the contract".

On 1 April 1856, the Geelong Advertiser updated the situation as follows:

"The contracts for the construction of the electric telegraph lines to Ballarat and Mount AlexanderThe area around Castlemaine have not yet been entered into. Several tenders have been forwarded from individuals who have not the slightest knowledge of the work required but who trust to the chance of subletting the labor to others more conversant with these matters. A great deal of interest is at work and it is not unlikely we may find the construction of these important works committed to some quasi contractor who is just as fitted for the task as he would be to undertake to 'shingle a moonbeam' . To-morrow's Gazette will afford us the desired information".

And then the result from the Gazette of 11 April: "The Government have entered into the following contracts - A. G. English for the construction of an electric telegraph from Geelong to Ballarat and A. G. English for the construction of one from Melbourne to Sandhurst via Castlemaine. Both contracts are taken at £50 6s per mile".

The Geelong Advertiser of 15 April 1856 included the following:

"The line of telegraph from Melbourne to Queencliff (Port Phillip Heads) now includes five stations and, so satisfactorily has the working of this wonderful invention proved, that measures are now in progress to extend its benefits inland and also coastwise. Tenders have been invited for the construction of a branch line from Geelong to Ballarat and another from Melbourne to Sandhurst via Castlemaine. The lines now in use were erected under the superintendence of Mr. Butcher who is believed to be the most talented telegraphic wirer in Victoria; he was one of the tenderers for the extensions now to be effected and it is a subject of regret that he was unsuccessful. The terms are that the cost of construction shall be £50 5s per mile and the contact is assigned to a Mr. English who has never previously contracted for government. This is not work that can be properly performed by any rough handycraftsman but requires a nicety of detail and and amount of intelligence in the workman that practical experience alone can supply; and if its execution is entrusted to hands new to such labor, we greatly fear that it will neither properly work nor stand the length of time in order which the present lines have stood and promise for a long while yet to stand without wanting repair".

By 21 April 1856, the contract for the construction of both lines "had been sealed". The Miners Right, quoted by The Age, reported "Nothing is to be done but to put down posts, arrange the wires and erect offices at the termini. The material for posts is to be had along the route and, if the wire can be procured in Melbourne, we shall soon be enabled to give our thousands of readers the news from England in an hour or so after the arrival of a mail ship in Hobson's Bay. It will be a new era for the press and the people".

Just when everyone thought they were on top of the progress:

"The contracts of Messrs. English and Co., for the construction of the electric telegraph between Geelong and Ballarat and Melbourne and Castlemaine has not been taken up. It would, in fact, have entailed considerable loss on the contractors had they attempted to carry out the undertaking and they have very wisely withdrawn before it was too late. The tenders of Mr. Thompson, for the Bendigo line, and Mr. Mitchell, for the Ballarat line, at an estimate of £64 per mile have been accepted and Mr Thompson has, I understand, entered into the required recognisances for the due performance of his contract. Mr Mitchell has not yet entered into the necessary engagements and it is very doubtful whether he will do so for, at the figure tendered, the work cannot be executed to pay. It is somewhat surprising that the Government should have accepted the lowest tender for the construction of these lines with the experience they have had of the cost of those at present in operation. There is a difference of no less than £14 per mile between English and Co.'s contract and that at present accepted and no less than £20 between that of Messrs Thompson and Mitchell and the next highest tender, whilst there is a difference of nearly £60 per mile between the lowest and highest tenders. The lines at present in operation in the construction of which there were less obstacles than in those at present tendered for, cost upwards of £100 per mile".
Geelong Advertiser of 24 April.

The contracts were Gazetted as follows: "Constructing electric telegraph from Geelong to Ballarat, W. Mitchell, £73 5s. per mile; the same from Melbourne to Sandhurst, J. Thompson, £64 per mile"

The Argus of 27 September 1856 reported that:

"The construction of the telegraphic line connecting Melbourne, Kyneton, Castlemaine and Sandhurst is rapidly progressing towards completion, under the able direction of S. W. McGowan, Esq. and, should the weather be settled, this important line will be opened for public use in the month of November.

The Geelong and Ballarat line is also in a forward state, and communication between these places will be established, it is expected on or before the first of December. We shall then have about 250 miles of electric telegraph in actual operation and as the advantages of this wonderful medium for the interchange of intelligence can scarcely be over-estimated, the boon thus conferred upon the public at large is one of no ordinary value".

McGowan was apologetic in his Report to both Houses of Parliament (December 1856) for the slow completion time of the two northern lines but he noted that "owing to the inclemency of the succeeding three months (after May) and the nearly impassable state of the roads, progress was necessarily retarded. I feel gratified however in being able to state that, notwithstanding the difficulties which have presented themselves, both lines have been completed in a period little exceeding six months" (p. 9).

In erecting the telegraph line to Ballarat, it was of course necessary to pass by a number of other communities. The Ballarat Star of 20 November 1856, for example, reported "The telegraph is now completed from Mount Buninyong to Geelong and the contractor is busily employed forming the posts in the vicinity of Buninyong Township. In less than three weeks, we are informed, the line will be completed in its whole length and the benefits of telegraphic communication extended to this district". It is at present not known if the district did obtain access to the telegraph at that time. Official records indicate that the Buninyong Telegraph Office opened in October 1862. Hence either a temporary office was used for six years (likely) or the township was ignored although the wires passed through it (also likely).

The Star of 4 November 1856 was pleased "to report that the telegraphic line to Ballarat is hastening towards completion and, during the week, its course into Geelong has been pegged out. Entering the township by the Ballarat Road, the line passes through Church Street, turns into Pakington Street near the Telegraph Road, skirts along Aberdeen Street up to its junction with Ryrie Street and then taking a straight course to Bellerine Street. It is expected that this end of the line will be completed next week and, as the length to be put up at the Ballarat end does not exceed ten miles and the required timber is there very close at hand, we may shortly look for the privilege of speedy communication with the gold fields of the western district".

The Star was able to show the culmination of all the efforts when, in its edition of 4 December 1856, it announced in relation to Ballarat:

"The first telegraphic communication between Ballarat and Melbourne, and vice versa, took place yesterday afternoon at twenty minutes past three o'clock. At that hour Mr. McGowan, the Superintendent of the Telegraphic Department in this colony, communicated to Mr Childers (Ed: the person who had the original thoughts about Victorian Telegraphs) the pleasing intelligence of the completion of the communication between this and the metropolis. The message being conveyed to Mr. Childers, while attending to his duties in the Lower House, was at once communicated by him to the members present, who received it with great applause. A message was also sent at same time to Mr. Haines, to which no reply was returned, owing to that gentleman having left his office earlier than usual, in consequence of receiving intelligence by the Marco Polo of the death of his mother. Last evening, about eight o'clock, the representatives of the ?? Ballarat were invited by Mr. McGowan ?? (to inspect?) the Telegraph. There being no office accommodation ready at present, the spot selected was the last post near the Unicorn Hotel on the Township. A wire was carried from the post to a small testing machine placed on a stump at its base, and thence — to secure moisture — carried to the stream adjoining which runs from Mr Bath's claim. For a considerable time no notice was taken of the repeated attempts of Mr. McGowan to obtain a "hearing" and it was hinted that the "Pivot" had become jealous and had cut off the communication. About half-past eight, however, a responsive — click — click — was obtained and the cause of delay was then stated to have been the transmission of a message to Geelong. Mr. Humffray, who was at the Melbourne station, then transmitted the following remarks to Mr. McGowan: 'The establishment of Electric Telegraph communication between Ballarat and Melbourne is a far more pleasing event to celebrate on the anniversary of the 3rd of December than stockades and massacres'. Yours faithfully — J. B. HUMFFRAY."

Shipping intelligence from the Heads was then received in Ballarat.

Mr. McGowan (who all this while, was reading the messages merely by sound — the click, click, click, so monotonous and unmeaning to those around, being to him symbols of ideas as clear and as vivid as though uttered by the voice of a practised speaker) then enquired whether anything important had taken place in the House during the afternoon. In a few minutes the crowd - which by this time numbered some fifty or sixty eager and enquiring individuals - was informed that, in the Legislative Assembly, Mr Goodman presented a petition against the return of David Blair, Esq., M.L.A., for the county of Talbot. The prayer of the petition was that the election be considered null and void. Nothing else worthy of notice had taken place.

After a few unimportant or at least private messages had been transmitted by Mr. McGowan to the officials in Melbourne, the friendly intercourse was put an end to about nine o'clock. No words of ours can over-estimate the importance of such an event as that which we have now chronicled; the facts speak for themselves. In all the important events that may now agitate the great Australian continent, our pulse will beat time with that of the metropolitan city though, for a year or two we still, so far as mere material intercourse is concerned, will be subject to the delays and difficulties attendant upon travelling in the bush".

As to the line to Bendigo, on the following day (5th December), the Mount Alexander Mail reported:

"The telegraphic wires entered this township (say Castlemaine now) yesterday and will speedily be carried on to Sandhurst. No preparations are yet evident for erecting the station, but we trust the interchange of communication will not therefore be delayed. A temporary building would serve for the time and we see no reason why next week should not see us in receipt of our first telegraphic message.

The line between Melbourne and Ballarat was opened on Wednesday, on which day messages were sent with a view of testing the line which answered satisfactorily. Singularly enough, Wednesday was the second anniversary of the Eureka Stockade and, says the Herald, 'great delight was manifested at the coincidence of dates".

It appears that the line of telegraph reached Sandhurst on 13 December. The Mount Alexander Mail reported on 19 December 1856 that "The line (to Sandhurst) would have been opened a day or two previously had it not been delayed by some scoundrels breaking the wire between Meredith and the Burnt Bridge. Mr. McGowan went off on Monday morning and suceeded in repairing it, so that messages could be transmitted in the afternoon. The practice of breaking the wire is becoming quite a common one with bullock drivers who drive their drays against the post and, by the concussion, often succeed in snapping the wire and sometimes break the post on a level with the ground".

The Castlemaine Telegraph Office opened in January 1857.

In early 1857, the electric telegraph had replaced the system of signalling flags on Flagstaff Hill at Queenscliff employed to disseminate shipping intelligence.

 

Where there is a will there is a way. Creative people use what is before them (no matter how novel) to help solve problems. The Geelong Advertiser of December 1858 reported:

"On Thursday last (2 December) the sale of a valuable freehold property, situated near Ballarat, was effected by Mr George Wright, by means of the wires of the electric telegraph. Notwithstanding this novel mode of bidding, no interruptions, nor hardly more than the usual delay which more or less occurs at any public sale, through reference to parties more particularly interested, took place. The property sold for £1,300, having been put up for sale at £1,000. The bidding was spirited and the event satisfactory".

 

6. Possible extensions.

About mid-1856, discussions were commencing as to where the two lines might be extended from the planned destinations of Ballarat and Sandhurst (Bendigo):

The Argus of 27 September 1856 reported that :

"The construction of the telegraphic line connecting Melbourne, Kyneton, Castlemaine and Sandhurst is rapidly progressing towards completion, under the able direction of S. W. McGowan, Esq, and should the weather be settled this important line will be opened for public use in the month of November".

The Mount Alexander Mail of 8 December 1856 confirmed these planning developments - that "immediately afterwards the line of telegraphs will be extended to Maryborough on the way to Ballarat. When the above communications are established, another line will be parried along the Sydney Road, connecting Kilmore with Seymour and Beechworth and thence to meet the telegraph from New South Wales".

McGowan also foreshadowed, in his 1856 Report, that "Stations will be established at Sandhurst, Castlemaine, Kyneton and Gisborne with the least possible delay and I anticipate having the permanent communication open with these places almost immediately" (p.9). The Telegraph Offices at the first three were opened by April 1857.

In September 1858, a second wire was erected between Geelong and 'Ballaarat "to provide an additional facility for the transmission of messages destined for places beyond the western limit of the Colony i.e. between Melbourne and Mount Gambier in South Australia via Beaufort, Streatham, Hexham, Warrnambool, Belfast and Portland" - see elsewhere for this route.

In the Legislative Assembly on 21 February 1862, the amount of £12,500 was placed on the Estimates for "the removal and re-erection of lines of telegraph (including repairs and addition to wires, etc.) along the railways between Melbourne, Castlemaine, Sandhurst, Geelong and Ballaarat including provision of telegraphic communication for the special use of the railways at all railway stations".

By 1885, major changes had been made to the main lines to handle the significant traffic. The Ballarat Star of 1 July 1885 noted "Fresh wires have been from the central office in Melbourne to the principal suburbs and additional lines have been erected between Seymour and Shepparton and Castlemaine and Maryborough in order to afford additional telegraphic facilities to the people of “the grain districts". On the lines between Melbourne and and Sandhurst, quadruple instruments have been applied, by which one wire is made equal to four, and it is intended to apply one of these instruments to the Geelong line should it be required".

7. Footnote:

It is interesting to obtain insight into the prevailing situation at the time. The Bendigo Advertiser of 30 January 1857 published the following:

INTERRUPTIONS TO TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS.

"Dr. Owens put a very pertinent question to the Government in the House on Tuesday with reference to the Electric Telegraph, which Mr. Childers answered in that jaunty style so offensive to good taste, inasmuch as it shows that the speaker is thinking more of the manner than of the matter of his remarks.

Now we beg that Mr. Childers would understand that this subject is really one of great interest to that portion of the public professed to be served by the erection of the line of telegraph to Castlemaine and Bendigo. We freely admit that the expeditious establishment of electric communication with three great goldfields has been most creditable to the Government and there can be no doubt that it is fully appreciated by the public, who understand the value of material advantages in the shape of public works much better than less material improvements of much greater importance.

But having experienced the benefits of the telegraph, they feel more keenly its suspension. Indeed, they have a right to complain of the irregularity, consequent upon such suspension, for it may entail very serious difficulty and loss. If we are to have telegraphic communication, let us have it perfect or not at all. During the very short time that has elapsed since the line with Sandhurst has been opened, communication has been suspended some four or five times. The last suspension has been for two or three days.

Now there seems to be no end to this sort of thing. On the first occasion of interruption, we were promised that such inconveniences would be very rare and we were assured that they only occurred immediately after the opening of a line. The evil, however, instead of becoming less, has grown greater, and really, if the present irregularities are likely to continue for any length of time, it would be as well to suspend communication altogether until the line is put in such a state as to be free from these interruptions,

When Mr. Childers spoke with such levity of the waywardness of bullock drivers, who would drive against the telegraph posts, being the reason why the line was out of order, Dr. Owens very justly retorted that it appeared to him to be the fault of the Government to have posts erected at the mercy of every erratic vehicle. We have it on the best authority that, on Keilor Plains, the posts are without the slightest protection and the various roads cross and re-cross hundreds of times the line of posts. On the plains near the Gap, the result is very apparent for some half dozen posts are knocked at various angles from the perpendicular and, in one place, on Monday last, the wire had fallen nearly to the ground from the post which should have upheld it. The tracks of wheels might be observed so near the various posts that it ceased to be a wonder how the latter came to be knocked down, and it is only a matter of surprise, considering the number of vehicles on the road, how communication can be maintained for a few hours together. Along the greater portion of the road, the line of posts is protected by a ditch cut parallel between it and the road. Why is this not done throughout—or if there is any difficulty in cutting a trench on the plains, there would be none in finding large stones to place at the foot of the posts and thus keep off the bullock teams and American wagons which at present do such damage. As the Government have gone to the expense of a telegraph line, they might as well go to the expense of making it serviceable.

Mr. Childers stated that it was the intention of the Government to prosecute with rigor any person found guilty of knocking down the telegraph posts and that placards were being circulated offering rewards for the conviction of all offenders in this way. This is very well in its way, but it should be accompanied with precautionary measures against the evils complained of. The line of posts must be protected throughout against such accidents by the cutting of a deep trench and it must be placed under proper supervision. If this is not done, the accidents will still continue and, although an example being made of some reckless offender would do good, it will not be effectual in wholly preventing interruptions which cause very great inconvenience".

 

8. Competition for the English news.

"The recent struggle to get first possession of the English news, and obtain the command of the telegraphic wire at Queenscliff, caused considerable excitement in that coast township on Wednesday. Men, women and children were all out, the struggle being regarded as Queenscliff versus Sandridge.

Mr Flood, for the Argus, having hired a picked Sandridge crew and Grenville and Bird a picked Queenscliff crew. The Telegraphic Department had horsemen ready in case of either party cutting the wire, so great was the expectation of the intensity of the expected struggle and of the unscrupulous nature of the competition.

As far as what took place is yet known. Both boats left the mail steamer at the same time and reached the beach at the same time. From this point to the telegraph office is about a mile and Greville and Bird's horseman rode into the surf, got his parcel and rode up the rise. The Argus parcel was handed by a string of men to the horseman waiting on the top of the beach. The race to the telegraph office was almost neck and neck - Greville and Bird's man ultimately reaching his destination about two lengths before the Argus and the day was won by the Sydney firm.

Queenscliff having asserted itself, the women having screamed themselves hoarse and the men dry with shouting proceeded to get drunk - which they did in a most satisfactory manner. From a rough calculation, there appears to have been at least £200 spent in the struggle by the parties concerned".
(Mount Alexander Mail, 22 August 1862).

 

Footnote: The first circuit arrangement was a simplex one but, about 1857, duplex working was introduced and the output was correspondingly increased. On the Melbourne-Geelong-Queenscliff line, "closed circuit" morse working was adopted, the signals being transmitted by interrupted current. The lines consisted of galvanised iron wire No. 6 S.W.G and the batteries, both main and local, consisted of an early form of Grove cell (extracted from Crawford (1934)).