New South Wales - Colonial: 1854 -1900.
Original Documents including Annual Reports.


There are many original documents which are important to reference so as to obtain precise details of a wide variety of aspects related to the development of the Telegraph service in New South Wales.

The list below provides links to those Reports which have been accessed and uploaded to this site. Each Report is in PDF format. When it loads after clicking on the desired link, the second icon from the right is a small rectangle with very small up and down arrows:

 

The inquiry as to whether NSW should have a telegraph service and the issues surrounding it.

1856 (18 December) Report of the Select Committee on the Electric Telegraph.


Part 1: Report and cover (4 pages);
Part 2: Proceedings (2 pages).
Part 3: Minutes of Evidence for 2 December (11 pages)
Part 4: Minutes of Evidence for 10 December (8 pages).
Part 5: Minutes of Evidence for 18 December (5 pages).

 

Annual Reports.

  1. 1858 - Electric Telegraphs: Progress and Present State in the Colonies.
  2. 1863 (April) - Electric Telegraphs for the year ending Deceber 1862.
  3. 1863-1864 Superintendent's Report on progress (Extract).
  4. 1865 - Electric Telegraphs: Report for the year 1864.

 

Special purpose Reports - within Australia.

  1. 1868 (December) - Report on the Determination of the Boundary Line of the Colonies of South Australia and New South Wales by Charles Todd F.R.A.S.
  2. 1873 (April) Telegraph Cables:
    Discussion "on the conditions for the construction of a Telegraph Cable between New Zealand and New South Wales and one between Normanton in Queensland and Singapore.

 

NSW special purpose Reports - communications beyond Australia.

  1. 1858 (May) Submarine Electric Telegraph: Petition for formation of between Great Britain and Australia.
  2. 1861 (January) Telegraphic Communication with Europe. Corresponding Respecting - December 1859 to August 1860.
  3. 1873-74: Telegraph Cables - Papers relative to conditions for construction between New South Wales and New Zealand and between Normanton and Singapore.
    Executive Council, Sydney New South Wales.