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The construction of the most northerly section of Overland Telegraph Line was split into two parties. Party B would build the line from Port Darwin around the coast to Southport and then up the Blackmore River to Tumbling Waters, a distance of about 65 kms.

Party A were taken round to Southport by boat in the Gulnare to Southport and then continued by boat to Tumbling Waters to build the section from there to the Adelaide River, about 73 kms south. The horses went by 'road' and they were all soon hard at work clearing the heavy terrain. But it was the end of the dry season and water and feed were hard to find. But at least the weather was fine and the bullocks found it easy going over the firm ground.

However, it was hot and humid and the axemen found their shirts flyblown and were soon full of small living creatures. If that wasn't enough, the axemens' worst nightmare was soon to become a harsh reality. White ants were irresistably drawn to the wooden poles. It seemed they would have to be replaced. So a shipment of Oppenheimer iron poles was ordered.