The 1871 Ballarat Post and Telegraph Office
"The new electric Telegraph Office in connection with the Post Office, Ballarat, which was opened to-day for business, is thus described by The Star:
The old Telegraph Office has been found far too small and very ... occupation of the new building will be a source of satisfaction to the officials and the public.
The public room of the new office is reached from the Post Office colonnade and in this room is the receiving window through which telegrams are passed to the receiving clerk into the operating-room. This is a fine apartment, the dimensions of which we have already given in a description of the new building. In this room the four recording instruments are placed. They are constructed on the American principle and the message is printed by electricity on a ribbon of paper which passes through the recorder in cipher characters. Over each recorder is a lightning arrester, which conducts the lightning to the earth and prevents it damaging the instruments, while all communication on any particular line can be immediately out off by the simple turning of a small catch or "switch." Each of the recording instruments is worked by a small battery, independent of those used in the transmission of messages.
In another room are the four batteries, working the four Melbourne wires, the four going to Beaufort, Creswick, Lintons, and Buninyong and one used by the Railway Department. Each of those batteries consist of thirty cells or glass jars filled with sulphuric acid and water into each of which hangs a piece of zinc and platinum. These are connected with the wires. The batteries are taken down and renewed or cleaned once a month.
The messengers now have a room to themselves and the messages are only seen by the despatch clerk, a great improvement on the former system.
The portions of the new building to be used for a sub-Treasury and Land Office will be occupied as soon as furniture is procured".