Thread: OK short quiz.

Yep Qantas used to refuel their Super Constellations there on the way to Singapore.

Ok, Beltana, Alice Springs, Barrow Creek, and Tennant Creek were all Overland Telegraph repeater stations. Barrow Creek had a great pub, with top meals, & comfy beds in the back , in the 80's. The publican had an old nullah, made from local wood, he kept as a " peacekeeper ". It was as heavy as ironbark, Bob.
Barrow Creek Telegraph Station | Northern Territory, Australia

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=b...w=1024&bih=622

Ok, we have established Stuart was a fractured hero, and there was an overland telegraph line, Adelaide to Darwin. Sir Charles Todd, was given a grant by the South Australian Parliament, to build that line. They had to put in a quote to the British Australia telegraph company, there were two quotes, one from Qld., S.A. got the job. There was a proviso, if Todds' line was not finished by the time the Brit. /Aus. company's underwater line from Java to Darwin was finished , compensation was payable to the Brit/ Aus. company. Question;


The line from Adelaide to Darwin still had 500 km's to go when the line from Java reached Darwin. How did Todd ensure telegraph messages were delivered from Adelaide to Darwin [ & vice versa], until the gap was closed?


In the end, the line from Java broke, giving Todd time to finish. Bob

Originally Posted by bob10

Question;


The line from Adelaide to Darwin still had 500 km's to go when the line from Java reached Darwin. How did Todd ensure telegraph messages were delivered from Adelaide to Darwin [ & vice versa], until the gap was closed?

Pony express I believe.

Originally Posted by bee utey

Pony express I believe.

Yep, spot on, Bob




2 Celebrating 140 Years of the Joining of the Overland Telegraph Line








21-23 August 2012






Representatives from the Friends of the North Australian Railway, Engineers Heritage Australia (NT, SA & VIC), the Historical Society of the NT, the Fannie Bay Historical Society, NT National Trust, the Motor Enthusiasts Club and Julian Todd, great grandson of Charles Todd, gathered at Dunmarra Roadhouse to celebrate the 140th anniversary.






In 1870, the SA Parliament passed a Bill to construct a single wire 3,178 km overland telegraph line between Adelaide and Darwin. The British and Australian Telegraph Company would lay a submarine cable from Java to Darwin which would then connect Australia with England. The responsibility for the construction of this grand and bold scheme was given to Charles Todd, SA Postmaster General. Todd’s diary covering the construction of the line is gut-wrenching, heroic, and well worth the read.


The construction of the line was divided into three sections, south, midway and north. Todd had to complete the Line by 1 January 1872 or else pay a hefty penalty of £100 for each day the line was late. Construction of the Line ended up being six months behind mainly due to the heavy and long wet season. By 1 January 1872, only the 421km section between Elsey to Tennant Creek remained incomplete. To avoid the fine, Todd organised a "pony express" to carry telegrams between the ends of the Line. The heat was off when the underwater cable between Java and Darwin failed. The reprieve allowed more time to complete the Line.


On 22 August 1872, Robert Patterson, the northern line contractor, joined the wires at Frew Ironstone Ponds.


Patterson wrote: "Half the party seized hold of me and the wire, and the other half of the other end, and stretched with all might and main to bring the two ends together. All our force could not do this. I then attached some binding wire to one end. The moment I brought it to the other end the current passed through my body from all the batteries on the line. I had to yell and let go. Next time I proceeded more cautiously, and used my handkerchief to seize the wire. In about five minutes I had the joint made complete, and Adelaide was in communication with Port Darwin. It would have been with England had not the [overseas] cable broken down".




The joining section is located on Hayfield station. Fifty two Oppenheimer telegraph poles with their wire remain in situ in an area of 9.8 hectares. (4.7km). A 1.5km corridor of the original line can be walked or driven under. We counted 20 poles on the route that we took.1






To celebrate this incredible feat, Engineers Heritage Australia organised a fabulous two day event.


It was kicked started with a celebratory dinner at Dunmarra Wayside Inn. The menu consisted of kangaroo, buffalo, rabbit and barramundi with buckets of atmosphere and a stunning sunset.


Toasts and speeches included the January 1872 SA Parliamentary Debate followed with messages from the OLT contractors – "William Harvey", "John Lewis", and "Robert Patterson" and ending with a victory speech from "Charles Todd". Steve Sawyer had us all "rebuilding" the OLT with miniature models. The evening concluded with Earl James’ account, (supported by a powerpoint presentation of digitised slides), from his 1984 survey of the OLT.

I'm asking too many questions, would some one else like to jump in , please? Bob

What is a monotreme?

What, if anything, is Central Mount Stuart the centre of?