Summaries are provided below for:
To access copies of original documents, including Annual Reports, etc, see theĀ list elsewhere.
21 June 1869 | First line in W.A. - from Perth to Fremantle. |
17 January 1872 | Line from Perth through Guildford, Newcastle and Northam to York completed. |
26 December 1872 | Line to Albany completed. |
8 December 1877 | The line from Albany to Eucla to the line from Port Augusta, South Australia to Eucla became operational. |
1889. | First international cable (Broome to Java) operational. |
1901. | First cable to Cocos Island, Mauritius and Durban operational. |
Listing of construction of telegraph lines and Telegraph Offices.
Administration and Legislation.
1869 | The Western Australia Telegraph Company constructs the Perth-Fremantle telegraph line. |
1871-72 | The Electro-Magnetic Telegraph Company constructs the Perth to York line. |
1871 | The status of various Post Offices was changed to Post and Telegraph Offices. |
1872 | The Electro-Magnetic Telegraph Company constructs the Perth to Albany line. |
1873 | Western Australia Post and Telegraph Department became the sole owner of the Colony's telegraph system. |
1874 | Telegraphic Messages Act amended to define the legal status of a telegram and its transmission. |
1877 | Telegraphic Messages Act amended to enable the Governor to call an election by issuing the writ by telegram. |
Earliest recorded forms: | |
Transmission form: | 2 December 1889 (WC-TO-3). |
Delivery form: | 17 June 1881 (WC-DO-3). |
Earliest use of a Telegraph date stamp: | 28 May 1910 at Perth. |
Earliest use of an Telegraph oval date stamp: | 17 January 1897 at Cue. |
Stamps not used to pre-pay telegram charges until after Federation. |
Listing of all Western Australian telegraphic stationery.
After telegraphic connection was made to complete the line from Adelaide to Europe, the demand for the international service grew steadily - despite the high rates charged.
The graph shows a constant rise in demand especially after both the 10s 6d. per word rate was introduced in 1876 and the South Australia-Western Australia link had been competed in 1877. The data on which the graph is based are included elsewhere. |