International communication with Australia.
List of relevant Reports.


A number of reports were prepared by various Governments and Agencies to assist in the planning and evaluation of the many activities underlying the cable construction and later the Wireless connections with Australia. A number of these Reports are included in this site.

Each report can be accessed through the lists below. Each Report is in PDF format. When it loads after clicking on the desired link, the second icon from the right is a small rectangle with very small up and down arrows:

 

The Reports related to international communication included in this site are grouped into five categories:

 

Reports on the Cables from England.

  1. 1856: Submarine Electric Telegraph between Great Britain and Her Majesty's Australasian Colonies - PETITION.
  2. 1858 (18 May) Submarine Electric Telegraph - Great Britain to the Australasian Colonies.
  3. 1859: Correspondence relative to Telegraphic Communication between Great Britain and Australia via Singapore and Java (5 pages - Victoria).
  4. 1859-60: Telegraphic Communication between Great Britain and Australia.
    Correspondence and Papers relative to Telegraphic Communication between Great Britain and Australia via Singapore and Java (16 pages - Victoria).
  5. 1859-60: Telegraphic Communication between Great Britain and Australia.
    Additional Correspondence (5 pages - Victoria).
  6. 1861 (January) Telegraphic Communication with Europe. Correspondence Respecting - December 1859 to August 1860. (NSW).
  7. 1873 Papers and Correspondence relating to Telegraphic Communication with Europe via Norman Mouth and Java - Part 1 (Queensland -- pages 1 to 17).
  8. 1873 Papers and Correspondence relating to Telegraphic Communication with Europe via Norman Mouth and Java - Part 2 (Queensland - pages 18 to 33).
  9. 1874 (June) Report from the Superintendent of Electric Telegraphs on the condition of his Department (in 1873) - Queensland - tabled 12 June 1874.
    Has discussion on:
    the newly opened "South Australian Overland Line between Adelaide and Port Darwin" on page 3;.
    an update on the cable to New Zealand (page 6);
    a map of the "Telegraph lines Constructed and Proposed between Europe and Australia 1874".

  10. 1877 Cable Conference held in Sydney in January-February 1877 - Minutes of the Proceedings.
    Summary.
    Minutes of the Proceedings.
    Conference on Cable Duplication.
    Minutes of Evidence.
    Map of Adelaide and Port Darwin Telegraph line.

  11. 1878: Proceedings of the Conference respecting The Duplication of the Telegraph Lines between Australasia and Europe:
    Part 1: The Report (5 pages).
    Part 2: Minutes of Evidence. (20 pages)
      Especially interesting are the sections reporting on routes, interruptions, costa and maintenance given by:
      E.C. Cracknell (Queensland) - paragraphs 166 - 219;
      Samuel W. McGowan (Victoria) - paragraphs 220 - 265;;
      W. J. Cracknell (New South Wales)- paragraphs 267 - 327;
      Charles Todd (South Australia) - paragraphs 328 - 431.

    Part 3: Map of the Cardwell to Gulf of Carpentaria Telegraph Line.

  12. 1878: Telegraphic Communication via Java - includes a map of Java (with 2 more detailed views). (Victoria).

 

Reports on the Cables from Singapore/Java to the Australian Colonies.

  1. 1870: Proposed Submarine and Land Telegraph between Singapore and the Australian Colonies.

    Further Correspondence Respecting - May. (3 pages).
    Further Correspondence Respecting - June. (11 pages).
    Further Correspondence Respecting - August. (4 pages).

  2. 1873-74: Telegraph Cables - Papers relative to conditions for construction between New South Wales and New Zealand and between Normanton and Singapore.
    Executive Council, Sydney New South Wales.
  3. 1875: Construction of the Telegraphic Cable between New Zealand and New South Wales and between Normanton and Singapore (Papers and Correspondence reflecting).
  4. 1877: Appendices of Proceedings of 1877 Intercolonial Conference on the Duplication of the Electric Telegraph between Australia and Europe.

Reports on the Pacific Cable.

  1. 1886: Establishment of Telegraphic Communication between Australia and Great Britain (via United States and Canada) - also the annexed Map.
  2. All correspondence with the Secretary of State for the Colonies with the Government of Canada and with the other Australian Colonies relative to the laying of a Telegraphic Cable between Canada and Australia or to a preliminary Marine Survey having that object in view.
      (a) Abstract (4 pages).
      (b) Correspondence (10 pages)
      (c) The Pacific Telegraph Cable Company (20 pages).
      (d) Appendix I: Contents of a pamphlet enclosed in Mr. Stanford Flemings's letter of 4 November 1886 (8 pages).
      (e) Appendix II: Contents of a pamphlet enclosed in Mr. Stanford Flemings's letter of 8 November 1886 (7 pages).
      (f) Appendix III: Confidential note seeking £100,000 per year for 5 years to lay and maintain a Pacific Cable.
      (g) Appendix 4: Telegraphic communication to India and Australasia by the Canadian route.
      (h) Supplement Abstract (5 pages).

Reports on a number of cables involving Australia and its former Colonies.

  1. 1883: Postal Conference - Proceedings of the Conference in Sydney May 1883.
    Notes the need for the Australian Colonies to join the UPU and issues surrounding the use of the Port Darwin and New Zealand cables.

Australian (Post Federation) Reports.

  1. 1907 (13 June) Wireless Telegraphy: Report of a Conference to the Senate.