South Australia - Colonial: 1856 -1900.
The lines to and on Kangaroo Island.

The development of telegraphic facilities on Kangaroo Island required considerable planning. Todd needed to solve the shipping problem of ships entering Spencer's Gulf. He was weighing up two very different approaches to solving his problem:

  1. a line from Yankalilla/Cape Jervis to Kingscote;

    or

  2. a line from the Yorke Peninsula (Cape Spencer) across to Cape Bourda.

Other aspects discussed on this page are:

Kangaroo Island
Extracted from Todd's Map attached to his 1870 Report to the House of Assembly.

1. The line from Yankalilla to Kingscote.

As noted elsewhere, Todd wished to extend the telegraph line south from Adelaide via Normanville and Yankalilla to Cape Jervis and across the Backstairs Passage to Nepean Bay (Kingscote) at least. Todd therefore made an agreement in 1860 with Messrs. Brown and MacNaughton to provide some of the surplus leftover from the Tasmanian cable plus the use of the paying-out gear for the sum of two hundred pounds per mile.

Todd saw that, if such a cable were laid, there would unquestionably be a great saving to those on whom the present system entails a great tax. At the same time, it left the delicate question of the precedency of the messages in abeyance. Todd also insisted on any line to Kangaroo Island being made a double one during the first construction phase so as to avoid the extra expense later.

The South Australian Advertiser of 27 April 1860 reported that:

"the Government of South Australia have taken measures for connecting Nepean Bay with the mainland by  telegraph, and for erecting a lighthouse on Point Marsden. His Excellency on this subject will inform the Parliament that the Government in conceding these demands made by Great Britain, also stipulated that the existing route, via Kangaroo Island, shall not be abandoned".

Todd must have had a change of heart about using the Tasmanian cable, given the associated problems, because the Sydney Morning Herald of 2 June 1860 reported:

"The submarine cable to connect Kangaroo Island with the main land has been ordered in England. Mr. Latimer Clark and Mr. S. C. Walker have been requested to superintend the construction of the cable on behalf of the Government. These gentlemen have recommended that the cable, which will be about thirty miles in length, should not be of tighter make than five and a half tons to the mile. This is considerably heavier than the Tasmania cable and it is to be hoped it will wear better as it will be of very little use if it does not. A strong current runs through Backstairs Passage and the cable will probably have to stand a good deal of strain and chafing and this is doubtless the reason of the extra strength proposed.

When the cable is laid, it will accelerate the arrival of the English news all along the telegraph lines by about seven hours - the time the little steamer takes in getting up to Glenelg".

In June 1865 - two years after the Telegraph Offices at Yankalilla and Normanville had been opened, Todd was still unsure of the best way to proceed. He reported to the Commissioner of Public Works on suggested lines of telegraph to Kangaroo Island. The options were from Yankalilla to Kingscote or from Cape Jervis to Kingscote.

With reference to a line between Normanville and Kangaroo Island for purposes of coast defense as well as for shipping intelligence, a line to Cape Jervis was equally as useful as one to Cape Willoughby. The line from Normanville to the Cape Jervis, including instruments and batteries and providing square poles (which are the most durable) was estimated to cost about £1,200.

The Government resolved, after considering the best professional and scientific advice, to carry the cable, from Yankalilla to Kingscote in Nepean Bay. The suggestion of taking the cable from Cape Jervis was abandoned as the landing would have been difficult and the bottom was very rocky.

It appears that, in the second half of 1875, two lines were approved:

  1. a cable from Yankalilla/Normanville to Kingscote on Kangaroo Island;
  2. a line across Kangaroo Island to Cape Borda.

The distance from the mainland to the island, at the narrowest part of the Backstairs Passage was 11 miles. This distance compared with:

Todd and others finally resolved that it was better to incur the extra cost of the longer cable from Yankalilla than run the risk of breakages and all the attendant expense and annoyance.

In addition to the the bad landing and rocky bottom at Cape Jervis - as well as to Cape Willoughby - there is also a heavy current in that part of the Passage which would be desirable to avoid if possible.

On 1 January 1876, the South Australian Register reported that, in the previous month, "the Edinburgh, a vessel in the employ of the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company, has arrived with 45 miles of cable for South Australia and 204 miles for the New Zealand telegraph. The South Australian portion was being laid between Yankalilla and Kingscote, Kangaroo Island in December 1875, whence a land line will be carried to Cape Borda.

The telegraph line to connect us with Western Australia is progressing satisfactorily. The survey has been completed as far as Port Lincoln". It was a busy time in the cable/telegraph business in Australia!!!

In a separate report on 1 January 1876, the South Australian Register reported as follows:

THE KANGAROO ISLAND TELEGRAPH CABLE.
[From our Special Reporter.] Normanville, December 31.

"The work of laying the cable to connect Kangaroo Island with the mainland is completed. The steamer Edinburgh left the Yankalilla anchorage at 5 o'clock this morning and reached the cable buoy in Nepean Bay at half-past 11 o'clock when she picked up the Kingscote portion of the cable and spliced the two parts. This operation was completed at a quarter to 3 o'clock in the afternoon (Ed note: this on Christmas Day 1875) and the cable was then finally thrown overboard amidst great cheering.

Mr. Charles Todd, C.M.G. (Inspector of Telegraphs), Captain R. H. Ferguson (President of the Marine Board) and the Telegraph Construction Company's electricians then went to Kingscote in the steamer Governor Musgrave. The Edinburgh returned to Yankalilla, arriving there shortly before 8 p.m.

The testing shows that the cable is in good order".

The extension of the line from Kingscote was considerably delayed. The first indication of a start on construction was a small note in the South Australian Chronicle announcing that on 29 March 1879 "A surveyor and three men started from Adelaide on Monday morning, March 24, to survey a route for a telegraph line from Kingscote to Cape Willoughby, Kangaroo Island ... The money for this work was voted last session".

2. Construction on Kangaroo Island.

The distance across Kangaroo Island from Kingscote to  Cape Borda is about 52 miles. It is not however possible to follow a straight line because of the nature of the terrain. The final line to Cape Borda required 38½ miles of cable and 62 miles of new land wire.

The contract to construct the land line was awarded to Messrs. Hamilton & Haussen, at £49 10s. per mile. The Government would provide the wire and the insulators and the contractors provided everything else including freight and cartage. The contract required the contractors to clear the line of timber for 25 feet on each side and the whole work was to be completed within five months.

The construction party encountered great difficulty because of the roughness of the terrain, the denseness of the scrub and the extreme scarcity to total absence of food. Provisions for the working horses and bullocks had to be imported from Port Adelaide.

The poles were wooden and there was little trouble in getting them along or near the line of sufficient size asc|. sfcreightness. In the last week of December 1875, 35 miles of line had been surveyed. It followed the valley of the Cygnet to the tableland and then kept to the backbone of the island heading parallel to the coastline until it reached Cape Borda.

To make the undertaking complete, a wire should be carried to Cape Willoughby, the opposite extremity of the Island. The distance as a crow flies across Nepean Bay and land is 20 miles but a land line would have to be chosen and so that distance would be 35-40 miles.

The construction of this wire is less of a priority than the Cape Borda line but it must still be considered a priority in the medium term. Ships would be seen sooner from Cape Willoughby than from Cape Jervis, but in addition is the overarching objective to have telegraphic communication extended to all lighthouses.

Having allocated the expenses of the cable and of the line to Cape Borda, Todd did not wish to leave the network incomplete on account of the comparatively small cost of the short line along the eastern end of the island. The cost-benefit calculation was not an issue here. After the construction costs had been met, maintenance was a minor expenditure item as too were the operating costs and the staff salaries at the lighthouse telegraph stations. The income from the Kangaroo Island stations was close to nil but the work was undertaken upon the principle that the activity was justified through the social and non-economic advantages to be derived.

In December 1877, an incident involving the City of Adelaide requiring a tug was cited by the President of the Marine Board to call for the urgent completion of the line to Cape Willoughby. Later in the month, the Government announced it would include £2,500 in the forward estimates to cover the cost of completing this line.

Finally, the South Australian Chronicle of 29 March 1879 reported "A surveyor and three men started from Adelaide on Monday morning, March 24, to survey a route for a telegraph line from Kingscote to Cape Willoughby, Kangaroo Island. The money for this work was voted last session". The line was constructed in February-April 1880 and opened for transmitting messages in May 1880.  On leaving Kingscote, the wires are affixed to the same poles as for the Cape Borda line for about six miles at which point the two lines branch away in opposite directions. The telegraph poles are of iron throughout.

More details can be obtained elsewhere. Details of the opening and the exchange of congratulations were published in the South Australian Register of 17 August 1876.

After testing the line, Todd approved it for service on 16 August 1876. On that date, the telegraph offices at Cape Borda and Kingscote were opened. Vessels passing Cape Borda could be reported and they were able to signal that station for messages to agents and others, the charge on which was collected on delivery.

3. The line from the Yorke Peninsula across to Cape Bourda.

At the time of these discussions - about 1865 to 1870 - it must be noted that the telegraph line down the Yorke Peninsula only extended to Moonta.

The following report from Mr. Todd, dated 30 September, 1871, was laid before Parliament:

"The cost of a line of telegraph to Cape Borda will mainly depend upon the place selected after careful survey for landing the cable, which would be laid from Cape Jervis. As the wire should be extended to Cape Willoughby Lighthouse also, the neighborhood of the American River would seem to be the most eligible site, and in that case the cost would be about £11,000, or if Cape Willoughby is included, £11,800, viz:

In consequence of the strong tidal currents setting through Backstairs Passage, a strong shore end cable should be laid throughout".

Progress was slow and there was considerable discussion about the Cape Borda line - especially with its extensive dependence on the use of submarine cables. Some insight into the process and the thinking is given by the following:

Some of the documentation is now presented.

South Australian Register
11 June 1874.

TELEGRAPH TO INVESTIGATOR'S STRAITS.

The following documents were laid on the Assembly table by the Chief Secretary on June 10. Mr. Todd's report is in answer to a request forwarded to him on January 20 from Captain Ferguson in compliance with a similar request dated 5 June 1873. In making the latter, Mr. BIyth asks that the President of the Marine Board, in expressing an opinion as to the relative merits of Cape Borda and the Althorpes, should have regard to Ports Augusta, Pirie, and Wallaroo:

General Post Office, Adelaide, May 20, 1874. Sir — In compliance with your request, I have the honour to furnish the following report on the means of providing telegraphic communication with some point in Investigator's Straits for the purpose of signalling vessels from the westward and Spencer's Gulf, the want of which is becoming increasingly felt, especially now that the ocean mail steamers call at Glenelg. There are only two points available for the purpose desired, viz., Cape Borda, on Kangaroo Island, and the Althorpes, on the northern side of the Straits, within a few miles of Cape Spencer.

The charts compiled from Commander Hutchison's surveys show a tolerably uniform depth of about 14 fathoms without any sudden dips or inequalities indicative of danger to the life of the cable. I should, however, look for strong tidal currents, and provide a heavy shore-end cable.

A cable to Kangaroo Island would probably be laid from the neighbourhood of Cape Jervis to either Antechamber Bay (to connect Cape Willoughby) or to near the American River. The latter involves about nine or ten miles more cable, but would, I think, give a better line of soundings with weaker tidal currents. Across Backstairs Passage, in a direct line from the main land, to Antechamber Bay, the bottom is very uneven. In either case, however, careful soundings would have to be taken before the cable was laid.

The general feeling appears to be that the telegraph should be extended to Kangaroo Island to connect the lighthouses at Cape Borda and Cape Willoughby with the mainland; and as vessels from the westward, according to the present sailing directions, keep Kangaroo Island close on board and follow the south side of the Straits, Cape Borda would probably be the best point for signalling vessels from the westward, but it would be comparatively useless for vessels from Spencer's Gulf bound eastward or to Port Adelaide; and as these are by far the more numerous, it is well worth considering whether if a light were fixed on the larger Althorpe and the telegraph extended from Moonta to it, vessels from the westward would not stand further to the north so as to be signalled. If so, as the more economical course, I should certainly be disposed to recommend continuing the present line from Moonta down the Peninsula to Cape Spencer and lay a heavy cable to Althorpe Island. This line should connect Edithburgh by a loop, say from Weaner's Flat, and if thought desirable, a cable might be laid to the lighthouse on Troubridge Shoal.

It is of course a question more for a nautical man than myself to say whether the Althorpes would be available for vessels from the west ward; if not we should go to Cape Borda, and extend the Moonta line as far as Cape Spencer only for coasters. The difference in the cost of the two plans is considerable; at the same time it may be admitted that it would be desirable to connect Cape Borda and Cape Willoughby if the expense can be justified, bearing in mind that there will be little or no revenue in return for the outlay.

It may be well to consider that the line down the Peninsula would afford telegraphic facilities to the growing population in the southern areas, who are already urging that these facilities are now required; but whether this line would obviate the necessity for the more expensive one to Cape Borda must mainly depend upon whether vessels from the westward could be signalled from the Althorpes, and whether the Government intend to establish a lighthouse there. I may mention that in speaking to Captain Almond, of the P. & O. Co.'s steamer Baroda, on this subject he said that if there were a lighthouse and telegraph station on the Althorpes he should certainly stand in to be signalled.

I have, &c. CHARLES TODD,
Postmaster-General and Superintendent of Telegraphs.

There was a follow up to this letter from Todd to the President of the Marine Board:

General Post-Office, Adelaide, 29 May, 1874. Sir— Since writing you on the 20th instant, in reference to the proposed extension of the telegraph to Cape Borda and the Althorpes, I have been asked whether it would not be more economical to connect Cape Borda by a cable from the Althorpes. This, of course, would effect the object contemplated, and secure the prompt signalling of all vessels to and from the westward and Spencer's Gulf, but it would leave out Cape Willoughby, which, however, is not so important for purposes of signalling now that we have telegraphic communication with Cape Jervis.

A careful examination of the sea bottom should be made between Cape Spencer and Cape Borda, including the Althorpes, to secure the best line of soundings and suitable places for landing the cable. The cost would depend on the character of the cable required. I should recommend a heavy cable right through — the cost of which from the Althorpes to Kangaroo Island may be estimated at say £10,000; making the total cost of the extension from Moonta, providing a loop line from Weaner's Flat to Edithburgh, say £20,000 at least.

I have, &c, CHARLES TODD,
Postmaster-General and Superintendent of Telegraphs.

On the same day (29 May 1874), a reply from the President of the Marine Board was returned to the Hon. the Treasurer with his Report:

Respecting the relative merits of telegraphic communication between Cape Borda and the large Althorpe Island, I am of opinion that, in order to carry the service out efficiently and satisfactorily, it will be absolutely necessary to have communication with both positions — for the reason that sailing ships, as a rule, will follow authorized sailing directions and keep on the Kangaroo Island side of Investigator's Straits, and with unfavourable winds for reaching one station, they could always make the other if desirous of being reported. Ocean mail steamers could be telegraphed from either, according as the commander desired; and it would make very little difference to them (either way) which station was made.

I, however, beg to observe that Cape Borda is the nearest or first point of communication from the westward on arrival, likewise the last on departure. With telegraphic extension from Moonta to Althorpe Island, a sea cable thence to Cape Borda via Snug Cove, a distance of 18½ miles, and a land line of 13½ miles (as the crow flies) from the latter point to Cape Borda Lighthouse, would, I think, be a better route than from the Althorpes to Harvey's Return (the present landing-place for Cape Borda), having a distance of 24¼ miles of sea and four miles of land line. The landing-place at Harvey's Return during the winter is entirely destitute of sand and very rocky, while at Snug Cove there is a long sloping sandy beach.

This, however, is a matter for the telegraphic engineers. I hardly see the necessity of extending telegraphic communication to Cape Willoughby, as frequent opportunities occur of getting to Cape Jervis Station, distant under fourteen miles. A land line of iron poles from Cape Willoughby or Point Marsden to Cape Borda would be very expensive, and the returns almost nil. No doubt it is desirable to have telegraphic communication with all the lighthouses, but the question of expense must be considered.

R. H. FERGUSON,
President Marine Board.

Legislative action commenced almost immediately. The Proceedings of the House of 3 June 1874 were reported as follows: "The Hon. J. FISHER moved

  1. That in the opinion of this House it is desirable that telegraphic communication with Cape Borda should be established forthwith.
  2. That an address be presented to His Excellency the Governor, praying His Excellency to take the necessary steps for carrying out the foregoing resolution.

It would be in the recollection of Hon. members that the Council carried a similar motion to the first part of this resolution last session and he regretted that there should be any necessity to reintroduce the subject. But, although the motion was carried unanimously in the Council last year, it did not seem to have attracted the attention of the Government; therefore he deemed it necessary to bring it on again.

In doing so it was not his intention to repeat all the arguments in favour of the work which he used on the former occasion. He would simply remind Hon. members that, in that instance, he called attention to the desirableness of having telegraphic communication with Cape Borda as the first point of arrival for incoming and the last point of departure for outgoing vessels. He also called attention to the expediency of having all lighthouses in telegraphic connection with the capital and he further called attention to the convenience the establishment of a telegraph to Cape Borda would be by affording the earliest information of the arrival of the mail steamers under the new system. He would not again amplify these arguments, but he must affirm that every month which had elapsed since he brought this subject before the Council added to the urgency of its construction.

The calling of the steamer at Glenelg was one of the greatest boons ever conferred upon the colony, but unless they set to work to give every possible facility to the service, they would lose it as they had done before. (Hear, hear.) He was confident that they could do nothing that would give greater satisfaction to the P. & O. Company, and to the neighbouring colonies, than the carrying out of the work his motion referred to. They did not now know within 48 hours when the mail steamer would arrive. (Hear, hear.) In that respect they were completely behind the age and they would never be up to the mark until the Government awoke to the imperative necessity of constructing this work.

It was only the mail before last that the incoming steamer went on its way without the intercolonial mails and therefore information of her arrival had not reached many intending passengers. Such occurrences could only irritate the other colonies and, in his opinion, it might lead to their losing the concession they had obtained. Earlier in the session he had the honour of presenting a petition in favour of this work signed by nearly every influential banker, merchant and shipowner and he hoped that would have due weight in the consideration of the Council. He had also received a letter from London from the captain of a vessel, who said: 'l am very pleased to see that you have mooted the question of a telegraph cable to Cape Borda. That is a most essential thing for strangers to the port and would often facilitate our arrival in the matter of steam as a few miles towage at times would save us two or three days'.

He need not go further into arguments showing the importance of this work, but he would add that if a wreck were to occur on Kangaroo Island — and there was no telling how soon one might take place — he should hold himself criminal were he in the position of the Government if, through the neglect of having this line made, any loss of life ensued. A fearful wreck had been made known to them by telegraph a few days since, which had occurred off King's Island, and if such a catastrophe were to happen at Kangaroo Island, and loss of life were to follow through the absence of means for communicating with the mainland, he, were he in the Government, should feel he was criminal in the matter.

He believed that in the wreck of the Admella, much of the loss of life resulted from there being no telegraph to the lighthouse at Port MacDonnelL It was well known that for 48 hours after the wreck took place, there was calm weather; but stormy weather set in and by the time a steamer got round, she could not approach the disabled ship. A similar result might follow involving equal loss of life if they delayed to carry out the work the motion referred to.

He was aware that it was suggested to supplant the scheme for making a telegraph to Cape Borda by constructing a lighthouse with a telegraph to it upon Althorpe Island. He was not opposed to that proposal— (Hear, hear) — but he would submit that it had nothing to do with the question before the House. The two things were no more related than if, supposing a railway to the North West Bend were asked for, the Government were to reply, 'We will give you a survey for a canal through the Murray mouth'. The proposal for a lighthouse at the Althorpes did not meet the point at all, for it would not satisfy the necessity he had shown to exist of being in communication with the nearest point of arrival and departure, of being in communication with the lighthouse on the island and of providing rapid intelligence of wrecks that might take place there. In fact, the scheme did not in any shape or way meet the present case. Nothing had transpired since he brought this motion forward before to do away with the necessity for a telegraph to Cape Borda; but, on the other hand, its urgency had become still more evident than ever. (Hear, hear)".

The following week (on June 10), a paper prepared by Charles Todd was laid on the Assembly Table by the Chief Secretary.

There were technical problems with the construction. For example, one local observed noted:

TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION WITH CAPE BORDA.
South Australian Register, 6 July 1874.

"Sir — I see there is some idea of a telegraphic line from Edithburg across to Cape Borda. I am no judge of telegraph cable myself but I should think the strong current that runs between the Althorpe Island and Cape Borda would be a great disadvantage to the cable and the landing place on the north side of Kangaroo Island is fearful, especially in the winter time. No cable could stand the heavy sea in that locality for it even washed the Fide's anchor on top of the rocks.

I should think the best route would be from Edithburg across to Point Marsden, then overland to Cape Borda. Iron poles would have to be used on account of bush fires. At Point Marsden the two tides meet, so there is very little current to interfere with the cable. The landing place that I would recommend is short - round to the south-east of the point on a fine sandy beach.

The line would be of the greatest advantage, as I suppose it would be necessary to have a lighthouse on Point Marsden. The line would be of the greatest advantage to the settlers, also to ships running ashore as they frequently do. The ship City of Shanghai went ashore at the head of Western Cove. The captain would have given anything in reason to have been able to telegraph for a steamer. Kangaroo Island was a mail station, and may be so again. Consequently it should have a line that would serve many useful purposes".

I am, Sir, &c,
A COLONIST OF 37 YEARS.
Weaner's Flat, Yorke's Peninsula,
June 29, 1874,

4.Construction to Kangaroo Island from Cape Spencer.

The major construction work commenced on 11 March 1886. Governor Musgrave, with barge and cable, arrived at Cape Spencer soon after daybreak. The weather was calm and operations proceeded all the morning. The shore end of the cable was landed from the barge lying half a mile away but the rocky bottom of the coast caused some delays. During the afternoon, the shore end was made secure and it was anticipated that Althorpe Island would be reached the following day.

The South Australian Advertiser of 15 March 1886, reported that temporary communication had been established on 13 March between the Althorpe Lighthouse and Cape Spencer. The construction party would then move to the Cape to complete the connections.

In a review of lighthouses in 1889, Cape Borda is listed as having one telegraph operator but none is listed for Althorpe Island.

About 1898, the telegraphic connection broke and it was not repaired. Finally the implications of this break were discussed in the Adelaide Advertiser of 8 January 1904:

A NEGLECTED PRECAUTION.

"At this time,when war is expected between Russia and Japan, in which it is not altogether impossible that Great Britain may become embroiled, it behoves the defence authorities to consider whether reasonable precautions have been taken in regard to the safety of South Australian ports.

One glaring case of a neglected precaution is in regard to the cable to Althorpe Island. In 1886, when there was danger of a war with Russia, the Government awoke to the necessity of establishing a signal station on Althorpe Island and carried a telegraph line from Warooka to the point of Cape Spencer on Yorke Peninsula, 39½ miles, and thence by submarine cable to the lighthouse on Althorpe Island, an additional distance of 5½ miles.

Unfortunately the cable was laid in a direct line to the island and, as part of the sea-bottom at the point was covered with sharp rocks, the constant action of the sea caused it to break. It was repaired once or twice but since the last failure, it has been left untouched and is not now available for signalling purposes. As a consequence it would be easy for the ships of an attacking force by keeping close to Althorpe Island, to enter St. Vincent's Gulf unknown to the authorities in Adelaide and before the Military or naval commanders could be apprised of the approach of an attacking force, Port Adelaide, the forts at Largs, and even Adelaide itself, could be bombarded.

An additional argument for repairing the line lies in the fact that a great many vessels which are not recognised at the Cape Borda signal station pass within an easy distance of Althorpe Island; in fact those steamers who wish their arrival to be signalled have at present to shape a course farther south than usual if they desire to be seen by the look-out at Cape Borda. In this way the cable, if repaired, would also prove a great boon to shipmasters and the commercial community generally.

It has also been pointed out the cable could be taken up and relaid in such a position that the shore terminus would be a few miles west of Cape Spencer. The jagged rocks would then be avoided, and there would not be the constant necessity for repairs".

A representative of The Advertiser interviewed Sir Charles Todd (Deputy Postmaster-General) on this matter on Thursday, and was informed that "Sir Charles had that day asked Captain Clare (the Naval Commandant) to confer with him on the subject; and it was highly probable that early action would be taken. Sir Charles Todd did not expect that the work would cost more than a few hundred pounds, but that would greatly depend on the present state of the cable. A suggestion has been made that South Neptune Island, which commands both Investigator Strait and Spencer's Gulf, should be connected with the mainland by cable, but there is a general feeling that the work in connection with the Althorpe cable should take precedence".

In early 1911, reliable telegraphic communication had still not been established with Althorpe Island and it was again planned to try to resume telegraphic operations. By that time, the option of wireless telegraph was an option.

Another option was the homing pigeon:

5. WINGED MESSENGERS.

The Register
1 February 1911.

"The effectiveness of the homing pigeon as a means of communication was proved in connection with the poisoning cases at Althorpe Island. The Lifesaving Department has a pigeon loft at the Glanville depot and it is the intention of the department to breed birds at stations not connected with either telephone or telegraph - such as Althorpe and Neptune Islands. When the steamer Governor Musgrave left Port Adelaide on Saturday morning, a hamper of birds was dispatched to test their homing instincts and speed. On arrival at Althorpe Island, Capt. Weir was informed that several workmen employed by the Engineer-in-Chief's department had been poisoned through eating contaminated mutton. The patients were conveyed on board, but before the steamer left for Port Adelaide, four pigeons to which messages had been attached were released. All of these homed long before the Governor Musgrave reached the Semaphore anchorage".

6. Subsequent attempts to repair the cable.

An attempt to connect the old cable was made in May 1911.

"The Marine Board steamer Governor Musgrave, which left Port Adelaide on Monday evening to pick up the Althorpe Island cable, returned early on Thursday morning. The task set Capt. Weir proved even more exacting than had been anticipated, owing to the exceedingly worn condition of the old cable. Operations were begun on Tuesday morning at the Althorpe Island end.

The cable was grappled close to the jetty. Twice it broke short while it was being hauled inboard but the ends were again secured and a stretch of half a mile was brought up from the ocean bed. Then it broke again in 17 fathoms of water, being too frail in places to carry its own weight. The absence of proper grappling appliances made it compulsory for Capt. Weir to abandon the work there and he next concentrated his efforts at the mainland end of the cable at Cable Bay.

There the steamer's motor boat was brought into requisition to work in shallow water. About 200 yards was recovered in three pieces but, in 8 ft. of water, the end was lost and could not be recovered owing to the rocky bottom. Capt. Weir brought back samples of the cable, which he believes indicate its general condition. In parts the armour has been chafed through until it is almost threadbare. Capt. Weir abandoned the half-mile of material recovered at the Althorpe Island end because of its uselessness. He is of opinion that it will be necessary to lay new cable over the whole of the route selected. Capt. Weir was assisted in the work of recovery by Mr. P. O. Moore, electrician of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, and Mr. Rodman, jointer".

On 9 June, the Register reported: "The Marine Board steamer Governor Musgrave left Port Adelaide on Thursday morning to begin the work of relaying the cable between Althorpe Island and the mainland at Yorke's Peninsula. Capt. P. Weir is in charge, and will be assisted in the task by Messrs. Moore and Rodman, of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company. Seven and one-eighth miles of new cable have been taken on board and it is proposed to lay this from the Althorpe Island end. Subsequently an effort will be made to lift the old cable, which now lands at Cable Bay and utilize as much as possible of it to complete the new route which terminates near to Rhino Head. Should the old cable be found to be useless for the purpose, the Governor Musgrave will be compelled to return to Port Adelaide for an additional length".

Finally telegraphic communications were re-established with Althorpe Island. The Register of 22 September 1911 reported:

"The newly laid cable between Althorpe Island and the mainland on Yorke's Peninsula is being utilized for the transmission of shipping information. The cable was installed by the State Government at a cost of about £3.000 and handed over to the Commonwealth Post and Telegraph Department. The lighthouse keepers have been instructed to report vessels passing the island at any hour of the day or night, but the full measure of reward of the enterprise of the State Government rests entirely with the Commonwealth service. Unless the messages received at Yorketown are transmitted immediately, their usefulness will be deleted entirely".

Unfortunately the cable connection appeared not to achieve its objectives:

In The Register of 9 October 1911:

SILENT ALTHORPE ISLAND.

"The utter absurdity of the present arrangements regarding the telegraphing of shipping information from Althorpe Island Lighthouse was instanced in the case of the R.M..S. Orsova on Saturday. Neither Cape Borda nor Althorpe Island reported the liner as having passed inwards, and at 8.41 a.m. the Orient Company's agents telegraphed to the latter station to ascertain whether the ship had been seen. A reply message was prepaid.

At 10 o'clock Althorpes advised that Orsova had passed in at 5.55 a.m., and "had signalled the station.". Why such important information should have been withheld for so long passes all comprehension. The new cable connecting Althorpe Island and the mainland was laid at the cost of the State, and handed over to the Commonwealth Government, but now, apparently, the Post and Telegraph Department is adverse to supplying shipping information free of cost. This is a matter that does not concern the agents or owners of the shipping companies alone, but the general public. Intelligence regarding the hour of arrival of mail and other steamers is of vital importance to all classes of the community".

The Register of 20 August 1912 reported "On Monday morning (19th) the Telegraph Department notified the Marine Board that telegraphic communication with Althorpe Island Lighthouse could not be established. The land line between Yorketown and Rhino Head, from which point the cable crosses Investigator Strait to Althorpe Island, was in good working order and it was presumed that the cable itself had been interrupted.

The President of the Marine Board made arrangements to send the steamer Governor Musgrave to investigate the trouble but during the afternoon communication was restored. There had been a break in the cable just where it lands at Rhino Head and the head keeper of Althorpe Island Lighthouse had been fortunate enough to effect temporary repairs. The Governor Musgrave will be passing the place in a day or two and will land a telegraphic expert to make a thorough examination of the cable end".

The mysteries of Althorpe Island continued in January 1912 according to The Advertiser of 22 January 1912:

7. MYSTERIOUS SHIPPING MESSAGE.

"At 11 p.m. on Thursday (18 January) the lightkeepers at Althorpe Island reported that two steamers were passing in "with something in tow." This message was posted on the shipping board at the Port Adelaide telegraph office on Friday morning, and naturally created a good deal of speculation as to what it portended. All day the signalmen at the Semaphore were on the alert to pick up the expected vessels and when they had not arrived in sight on Saturday, the Secretary of the Marine Board (Mr. J. Darby) telegraphed to the head keeper at Althorpe Island for confirmation and explanation of the mystery. The official replied that his original message was correct in fact, but that he was unable to give any description of the vessels because it was very dark at the time they passed the island. Despite the lighthouse-keeper's assurance, nautical opinion is against him. Vessels that pass in the night take on all sorts of curious shapes, and as "the two steamers with something in tow" have not arrived, it is argued that the lighthouse officer was mistaken".