Western Australia: 1861-1917.
Overview of telegraph line construction.

 

WA Map To describe the ways in which telegraph lines were constructed in Western Australia, the Colony has been divided into the main regions presently used to describe Western Australia.

The Southern Region has however been extended, because of the nature of telegraph line development south of Perth, to include:

  • the Peel region;
  • the South West region;
  • the Wheatbelt South sub-region;
  • the Great Southern region.

In addition, there are:

  • the first lines constructed to about 1871;
  • the separate and very major undertaking to construct the line to link with South Australia.

The table below facilitates access to information about the Telegraph lines and the Telegraph Offices within each Region.

A comprehensive list of all Telegraph Offices throughout Western Australia from 1869 can be accessed by using the Telegraph Offices link.

Perth Post & Telegraph Office   The Office.
First lines Telegraph lines  
Kimberley Region Telegraph lines Telegraph Offices
Pilbara Region Telegraph lines Telegraph Offices
Gascoyne Region Telegraph lines Telegraph Offices
Mid West Region Telegraph lines Telegraph Offices
Goldfields Region Overview Telegraph Offices
Southern Cross to Coolgardie Telegraph lines
Coolgardie-Menzies-Wiluna Telegraph lines
Inter-regional to Mid-West. Telegraph lines
Kalgoorlie-Kurnalpi-Dundas Telegraph lines
Wheatbelt Region Telegraph lines Telegraph Offices
Southern Region Telegraph lines Telegraph Offices
Bannister - Williams - Albany line Telegraph line Telegraph Offices
Perth Suburban   Telegraph Offices
WA - SA intercolonial lines. 1877 line. W.A. Telegraph Offices.
  1896 line. Eucla Telegraph Office.
  1926 line. S.A. Telegraph Offices.

The international cables leading to Western Australia.

  1. the third cable to Australia - Java to Broome.

  2. the Fremantle via Cocos Island to Durban cable.