After the successful introduction of telegraphic communication to Tasmania in 1857, it soon became apparent that the key to future growth in Tasmanian trade and commerce was a connection to other Colonial capitals in Australia. Such a connection could only be made by a submarine cable.
The system for dealing with telegrams to be sent to places on the mainland which evolved after the introduction of telegraphic communication in Tasmania was that such telegrams would be collected at Hobart or at Launceston. They were then placed on a suitable boat and taken to an appropriate destination - mainly Melbourne. The Launceston Examiner of 11 February 1858 describes such an arrangement:
"Electric Telegraph: To enable Merchants and others to transmit the latest advices to their agents and friends in the other colonies, the Telegraph Office will, on occasions of the mail for Melbourne closing in Launceston, be kept open till the time of such closing, for the reception of messages for Melbourne, Sydney and other parts, which messages will be posted in Launceston on payment of the postage money in the H. Town Office".
The technology required to lay undersea cables was, at that stage, in its infancy. Many of the cables laid in the 1850s had failed but technology and methodology continued to improve. For example:
During these years in the development of underwater cable technology, discussions were initiated between the Victorian and Tasmanian Governments to determine the nature of any joint venture to lay a submarine cable between the two Colonies. Finally, on 10 February 1859, the two Governments agreed to share the costs of a cable linking Tasmania to the mainland. The construction contract was signed with three private individuals:
The final contract cost to be shared by the two Governments was £53,000.
Prior to the laying of the cable, considerable preparatory work had to be completed both in Victoria and in Tasmania. An example of some of the work is provided in the Second Report of Samuel McGowan (Superintendent of Electric Telegraphs, Victoria) and tabled in the Victorian Parliament. It vividly describes the difficult and perilous work conducted during an investigation in September/October 1858.
Tasmanian telecommunications.
In July 1857, the Tasmanian telegraph line ran from south of Hobart to Launceston. In March 1858, the line to George Town was opened and the line to Low Head was opened in the following October.
The first plans for the cable were to run it from Low Head along the coast to Stanley (Circular Head) and then west to Cape Grim. From there, the cable could be laid north via Three Hummock Island to King Island and on to Parke's River near Cape Otway in Victoria.
For many reasons, the overland route was abandoned and a submarine cable was laid from Low Head to Stanley and thence to Three Hummock Island.
On 22 April 1858, the Hobart Mercury reported "it is intended to remove the station from George Town to the Tamar Heads and this will be accomplished as soon as the necessary buildings have been erected. No doubt the lighthouse is the proper place, where the station master can see with his own eyes the circumstances he wants to record. At present every signal has to pass through two stations before it reaches the Telegraph Office at George Town, and for all practical purposes the station on Mount Direction might as well have been selected as the terminal point. We hope that the alteration referred to will soon be effected".
The Cable ships.
Two cable ships had to be used to lay the cable across Bass Strait.
The timing was opportune because, at that time, a ship had been constructed in England for work in South Australia. Hence, as the cable also had to transported to Australia, the first construction stage involved using that ship to carry the cable to Tasmania. The Argus of 8 February 1859 reported that:
"In a few days, the screw steamer Omeo will sail for Australia with the telegraph cable which is to connect Victoria with Tasmania. The cable is a single conductor of 240 miles in length and is to be laid from Cape Otway, Victoria to King's Island, and then continue to the mouth of the River Mersey in Tasmania, whence a land line will be carried to Launceston. Captain Macmillan, the Commander of the Omeo, is under contract to lay the cable on his arrival in Australia".
The Omeo was owned by a Mr. White and was to be used, after delivering the cable, between Adelaide and Port Phillip. She arrived in Adelaide on 9 July 1859.
The second ship was the cable ship H.M.C.S. Victoria.