Overland Telegraph Station ??

Submitted: Saturday, Jul 10, 2010 at 17:38

ThreadID: 79975 Views:4602 Replies:7 FollowUps:9

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True Blue

Why do I feel as though I should know the answer to this question?

Does anyone know the location of one of the original overland telegraph stations
between Adelaide and Perth along the Eyre Hwy. In particular the one that is disappearing beneath sand dunes? Is it near Ceduna, SA ??

I don't have anymore info. hence the question.

True Blue.

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Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Saturday, Jul 10, 2010 at 17:45

Saturday, Jul 10, 2010 at 17:45

Hi True Blue
One important one is Eucla

Cheers

Stephen

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Follow Up By: True Blue - Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 13:46

Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 13:46

Thanks once again Stephen.

Whenever I ask a question regarding your state, I can just about guarantee yours is the first response and believe me I take it all in.

Many, many thanks.

Wayne.

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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 13:57

Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 13:57

Hi Wayne
Thanks for the compliment, it is what we are all here for, to help each other out.

Cheers

Stephen

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Reply By: Hairy (NT) - Saturday, Jul 10, 2010 at 17:57

Saturday, Jul 10, 2010 at 17:57

Eucla....Near the Wa and SA border

Image Could Not Be Found

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Reply By: equinox - Saturday, Jul 10, 2010 at 18:37

Saturday, Jul 10, 2010 at 18:37

Eyre is the best preserved station I've seen.

It is used as a bird observatory now!!

Cheers
Alan.

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In whatever comes our way.

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Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Saturday, Jul 10, 2010 at 18:57

Saturday, Jul 10, 2010 at 18:57

Hairy's pic is actually the ruin of the station masters residence.
The actual telegraph station building was quite a lot bigger and was another 50m south. Some small remnants remain, but most of the building was demolished and moved to the top of the escarpment by the Gurneys when the buildings there were constructed.
I saw the original buildings in 1954 as a kid. They were still complete, with their roofs but had been abandoned at that point in time.

The tree at the station masters residence has survived.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome

AnswerID: 423594

Follow Up By: Member - joc45 (WA) - Saturday, Jul 10, 2010 at 20:10

Saturday, Jul 10, 2010 at 20:10

Amazing, Peter, a colour photo of the old station!
Yes, you're right, the actual telegraph hall was being inundated with sand by the 1950s, and it was demolished and used to build the main structure of the Eucla Pass motel right at the top of the old pass (not the Amber Motel nearby, built in the late 60s).
cheers,
Gerry

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Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Saturday, Jul 10, 2010 at 21:06

Saturday, Jul 10, 2010 at 21:06

Nothing amazing about this picture. I was only using coloured film in those days, mostly slides.

PeterD
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Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 06:21

Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 06:21

That pic was from a slide taken on an EXA SLR.

Cheers,
Peter
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Follow Up By: Member - joc45 (WA) - Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 11:45

Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 11:45

Yeh, I guess lots of people were using colour film in the 50s, but this is the first usefully-historic pic of Eucla I've seen in colour!
Here's a couple of pics from Eucla and Eyre around 1970:

Image Could Not Be Found

Image Could Not Be Found

cheers
Gerry

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Reply By: Member - Doug T (NT) - Saturday, Jul 10, 2010 at 20:32

Saturday, Jul 10, 2010 at 20:32

Here's a photo from 1901

Image Could Not Be Found

.

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Follow Up By: Hairy (NT) - Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 14:48

Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 14:48

Gday Doug,
Did you take that yourself?

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Reply By: True Blue - Saturday, Jul 10, 2010 at 20:57

Saturday, Jul 10, 2010 at 20:57

thanks for all the responses boys.

Very much appreciated.

True Blue.

AnswerID: 423602

Reply By: Member - Megan and Kevin D (AC - Saturday, Jul 10, 2010 at 21:31

Saturday, Jul 10, 2010 at 21:31

Hi
These photos are of Israelite Bay Overland Telegraph Station taken in May this year. It is well south of the Eyre Hwy being on the coast east of Esperance and not covered in sand, but I thought it worth posting for all to see!

It was a fabulous building, once upon a time - as you can see.

Megan
Image Could Not Be FoundImage Could Not Be Found

AnswerID: 423606

Follow Up By: True Blue - Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 13:45

Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 13:45

Thanks Megan.

I knew the instant that I thanked the 'boy's' that I would get a response from a lady.

What prompted this thread was a member of our party that is travelling from Melb to Ceduna in the coming October asked if there were any old telegraph stations in the area to check out.

I didn't know anything about them hence the question.

Unfortunately we won't have the time to proceed that far across the Nullabor but I'm sure we will have a wonderful time in any case. I have had terrific responses from all regarding our trip to Goog's track and as usual it is a pleasure to deal with fellow travellers on this forum.

This country is so vast I still struggle to get my head around it even after travelling 1,000's and 1,000s of ks. We need a full life time I think and a full bank balance to see it all.

I'll continue to dream about seeing all of these wonderful places and enjoy the few that I can.

Thanks again Megan and happy travels to you.

Wayne.

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Follow Up By: Member - joc45 (WA) - Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 15:02

Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 15:02

My grandfather's first workplace in WA (in 1896)!
Good to see that it's been stabilised - a few years back it was crumbling badly, but a lot of great work (from Esperance people, I believe) has been done to get it back in shape, including the buried water tank and the cellar. Now a new roof would be nice to keep it that way!
Gerry

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