Planting the first pole on the Overland Telegraph line to Carpentaria.

The Australian Overland Telegraph Line was a 3200 Kilometre telegraph line that connected Darwin with Port Augusta, the construction of the line fell to Charles Todd, South Australian Superintendent of Telegraphs. Completed in 1872 the Overland Telegraph Line allowed fast communication between Australia and the rest of the world. An additional section was added in 1877 with the completion of the Western Australian section of the line. Many consider it be be one of the great engineering feats of the 19th century. Image File history File links Overland_Telegraph. ... Image File history File links Overland_Telegraph. ... Darwin is the territorial capital and most populous city of the Northern Territory. ... Port Augusta (32°29′ S 137°46′ E, population 15,250) is a town in South Australia. ... Sir Charles Todd (born 7 July 1826 in London, died Adelaide 29 January 1910) worked at the Royal Greenwich Observatory 1841-1847 and the Cambridge University observatory from 1847-1854. ... 1872 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1877 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Motto: Cygnis Insignis (Distinguished by its swans) (not included on official coat of arms) Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Governor HE Lieutenant General John Sanderson Premier Dr Geoff Gallop (ALP) Area 2,645,615 km² (1st)  - Land 2,529,875 km²  - Water 115,740 km² (4. ... Engineering applies scientific and technical knowledge to solve human problems. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Conception and Competition

By 1855 speculation and discussion about possible routes for the connection of Australia to the new telegraph cable to Java and then to the world had intensified. Among the possible routes were Ceylon to Albany in Western Australia, and from Java to Darwin, then on to Burketown in north western Queensland to connect the eastern states. 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Albany is a city of approximately 30,000 people on the south coast of Western Australia, 400 kilometres southeast of Perth. ... Motto: Cygnis Insignis (Distinguished by its swans) Nickname: Wildflower State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Governor Premier Const. ... The term Java can refer to: In geography: Java (island), the most populous island in Indonesia Javanese language, a language widely spoken on the island of Java Java coffee, a variety of coffee plant which originated on the island of Java, or a slang word for coffee Java Trench, a... Darwin is the territorial capital and most populous city of the Northern Territory. ... Motto: Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Nickname: Sunshine State/Smart State Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Governor Premier Const. ...

Competition between the colonies to develop the North to South was fierce. Victoria organised and expedition lead by Burke and Wills to cross the continent from Broken Hill to the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1860. This expedition was a failure and resulted in the loss of life. The South Australian Government recognised the economic benefits in becoming the centre of the telegraph network. The South Australian Government offered a reward of £2,000 to encourage an expedition to find a route between South Australia and Darwin. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Robert OHara Burke Artists depiction of Burkes death Robert OHara Burke (1821-June 1861) was an Australian explorer. ... William John Wills William John Wills (1834-1861) was born in Totnes in Devon and migrated to Victoria in 1853. ... Dymaxion map by Buckminster Fuller shows land mass with minimal distortion as only one continuous continent A continent (Latin continere, to hold together) is a large continuous land mass. ... Broken Hill Post Office Royal Exchange Hotel, Broken Hill Broken Hill street, with the Indian Pacific and the actual broken hill visible in the background Broken Hill Broken Hill (31°57′S 141°27′E) is an isolated mining city and Local Government Area in the far west of outback... The Gulf of Carpentaria viewed from orbit. ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... The form of the Government of South Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then. ... Telegraphy (from the Greek words tele = far away and grapho = write) is the long distance transmission of written messages without physical transport of letters, originally over wire. ... The form of the Government of South Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then. ... Motto: United for the Common Wealth Nickname: Festival State Other Australian states and territories Capital Adelaide Government Governor Premier Const. ... Darwin is the territorial capital and most populous city of the Northern Territory. ...

John McDouall Stuart attracted by the reward set out with Captain Charles Sturt on his 1844 expedition to Central Australia. Following the 1844 expedition Stuart made two unsucessful attempts to cross the continent, both times falling just short of his goal. On December, 1861 Stuart set out on his third expedition to reach the North coast of Australia. On July 24th 1862, seven months later Stuart's expedition reached the North coast at a place they named Chambers Bay, after a sponsor of their expeditions. John McDouall Stuart (7 September 1815 – 5 June 1866) was the most accomplished and most famous of all Australias inland explorers and led the first expedition to successfully traverse the continent from south to north. ... Captain is both a nautical term and a military rank. ... Charles Sturt c. ... 1844 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1844 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... John McDouall Stuart (7 September 1815 – 5 June 1866) was the most accomplished and most famous of all Australias inland explorers and led the first expedition to successfully traverse the continent from south to north. ... Look up December in Wiktionary, the free dictionary December is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1861 is a common year starting on Tuesday. ... John McDouall Stuart (7 September 1815 – 5 June 1866) was the most accomplished and most famous of all Australias inland explorers and led the first expedition to successfully traverse the continent from south to north. ... July 24 is the 205th day (206th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 160 days remaining. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... John McDouall Stuart (7 September 1815 – 5 June 1866) was the most accomplished and most famous of all Australias inland explorers and led the first expedition to successfully traverse the continent from south to north. ...

South Australia again strengthened its position for the telegraph line in 1870 with the South Australian Parliament authorising the construction of a telegraph line between Adelaide and Port Auguata, 300km to the North. The provocative move by South Australia caused outrage in Queensland who considered the route between Darwin to Burketown a more attractive option. 1870 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... For other uses, see Adelaide (disambiguation). ... Port Augusta (32°29′ S 137°46′ E, population 15,250) is a town in South Australia. ... Motto: United for the Common Wealth Nickname: Festival State Other Australian states and territories Capital Adelaide Government Governor Premier Const. ... Motto: Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Governor HE Ms Quentin Bryce Premier Peter Beattie (ALP) Area 1,852,642 km² (2st)  - Land 1,730,648 km²  - Water 121,994 km² (6. ... Darwin is the territorial capital and most populous city of the Northern Territory. ...

The Construction of the Overland Telegraph Line was on a strict schedule. The cable from Java was to reach Darwin on the 31st December 1871 and severe pemalties would apply if there was no land link to connect to. There would be 18 months to construct 3,200 km of line, telegraph stations and residences. The term Java can refer to: In geography: Java (island), the most populous island in Indonesia Javanese language, a language widely spoken on the island of Java Java coffee, a variety of coffee plant which originated on the island of Java, or a slang word for coffee Java Trench, a... Darwin is the territorial capital and most populous city of the Northern Territory. ... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1871 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Construction

Charles Todd as head of the project devised a timetable to complete the immense project on schedule. Todd divided the route into three regions; the northern and southern sections which would be handled by private contractors and the central section which would be constructed by his own department. The telegraph line would comprise of 3,000 steels postseach 6 metres (no less than 20 per mile), insulators, batteries, wire and other equiptment, these were ordered from England. Sir Charles Todd (born 7 July 1826 in London, died Adelaide 29 January 1910) worked at the Royal Greenwich Observatory 1841-1847 and the Cambridge University observatory from 1847-1854. ... Sir Charles Todd (born 7 July 1826 in London, died Adelaide 29 January 1910) worked at the Royal Greenwich Observatory 1841-1847 and the Cambridge University observatory from 1847-1854. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: England Travel guide to England from Wikitravel English language English law English (people) List of monarchs of England – Kings of England family tree List of English people Angeln (region in northern Germany, presumably the origin of the Angles for whom England is named) UK...

Todd put together a team comprising of men from all walks of life; surveyors, linesman, carpenters, labourers and cooks left Adelaide with horses, bullocks and carts loaded with provisions and equipment for many weeks. The Central section of the line would be surveyed by the explorer John Ross. William Dalwood and Joseph Derwent arrived in Darwin onboard the SS Omeo with 80 men and the equipment required to construct the Northern section of the line from Darwin to Tennant Creek. The southern section from Port Augusta to Alberga Creek was contracted to Edward Meade Bagot. Sir Charles Todd (born 7 July 1826 in London, died Adelaide 29 January 1910) worked at the Royal Greenwich Observatory 1841-1847 and the Cambridge University observatory from 1847-1854. ... John Ross was the name of: John Ross (naval officer) (18th C.), admiral of the British Royal Navy John Ross (politician) (1770-1834), a U.S. representative from Pennsylvania John Ross (Arctic explorer) (1777-1856), British naval officer and Arctic explorer John Ross (Cherokee chief) (1790-1866), leader of the... Darwin is the territorial capital and most populous city of the Northern Territory. ... Darwin is the territorial capital and most populous city of the Northern Territory. ... Tennant Creek is a town located in the Northern Territory of Australia. ... Port Augusta (32°29′ S 137°46′ E, population 15,250) is a town in South Australia. ...

The North line was progressing well untill the onset of the wet season in November 1870. Heavy rain up to 10 inches a day water-logged the ground and made it impossible for any work to progress. Worsening conditions including rancid food and mosquitoes spread disease the men went on strike on the 7th March 1871. Weeks later the overseer, McMinn decided to recind the contract for the North section of the line. The Government was now forced to construct the central and Northern sections of the line, this placed considerable pressure on the South Australian Governmentand the govenrnment teams. The government teams would now have to build an extra 700km of line. It was another six months before fresh teams arrived in Darwin, these new men were lead by engineer Robert Patterson. The wet season and the rainy season are terms used to describe seasons in which the average rainfall in a region is significantly increased. ... For other uses, see November (disambiguation). ... 1870 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... March 7 is the 66th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (67th in Leap years). ... 1871 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The form of the Government of South Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then. ... Darwin is the territorial capital and most populous city of the Northern Territory. ... Robert Patterson ( January 12, 1792- August 7, 1881) was an Irish immigrant and a noted soldier and businessman from Pennsylvania. ...

With the central and Southern sections were nearing completion, this lead Patterson into taking a different strategy in the construction of the Northern section. The section would be divided into 4 sub-sections with the majority of the men starting on the most northerly section. If the construction deadline was missed the gap could be filled by using a pony express. During the same time the cable from Java reached Darwin on the 18th November 1871 and was connected the next day. Robert Patterson ( January 12, 1792- August 7, 1881) was an Irish immigrant and a noted soldier and businessman from Pennsylvania. ... The Utah portion of the Pony Express Trail. ... The term Java can refer to: In geography: Java (island), the most populous island in Indonesia Javanese language, a language widely spoken on the island of Java Java coffee, a variety of coffee plant which originated on the island of Java, or a slang word for coffee Java Trench, a... Darwin is the territorial capital and most populous city of the Northern Territory. ... (Redirected from 18th November) November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years), with 43 remaining. ... 1871 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

The construction problems still facing the northern section the Queensland government called for the abandonment of the project. This was dismissed. On the due date there will still over 300km of line to erect. During this time Todd began visiting workers along the line, his intentions were to relieve their spirits. 22nd May 1872 Todd sent a message along the incomplete line, the message took 9 days to reach Adelaide. Sir Charles Todd (born 7 July 1826 in London, died Adelaide 29 January 1910) worked at the Royal Greenwich Observatory 1841-1847 and the Cambridge University observatory from 1847-1854. ... (Redirected from 22nd May) May 22 is the 142nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (143rd in leap years). ... 1872 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Sir Charles Todd (born 7 July 1826 in London, died Adelaide 29 January 1910) worked at the Royal Greenwich Observatory 1841-1847 and the Cambridge University observatory from 1847-1854. ... For other uses, see Adelaide (disambiguation). ...

The Overland Telegraph Line was overdue and talk of compensation began. The cable between Java and Darwin failed on its fist test, this ended any further talk of compensation. On the 22nd August 1872 the line was joined at Frew's Ponds. Todd was given the honour of sending the first message along the completed line. Darwin is the territorial capital and most populous city of the Northern Territory. ... (Redirected from 22nd August) August 22 is the 234th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (235th in leap years), with 131 days remaining. ... 1872 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Sir Charles Todd (born 7 July 1826 in London, died Adelaide 29 January 1910) worked at the Royal Greenwich Observatory 1841-1847 and the Cambridge University observatory from 1847-1854. ...

"WE HAVE THIS DAY, WITHIN TWO YEARS, COMPLETED A LINE OF COMMUNICATIONS TWO THOUSAND MILES LONG THROUGH THE VERY CENTRE OF AUSTRALIA, UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO A TERRA INCOGNITA BELIEVED TO BE A DESERT +++"

In 1877 an additional section of line was completed, linking the people of Western Australia to the rest of the world. 1877 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Motto: Cygnis Insignis (Distinguished by its swans) Nickname: Wildflower State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Governor Premier Const. ...