1. Life on the
Overland Telegraph Line

2. More Memories of Life on
the Overland Telegraph Line

3. The Railway Dream

4.Overview of A Picnic
with the Natives

5. A summary of the
Barrow Creek conflict
as told in An End to Silence
by Peter Taylor

6. Kaytetye Country:
An Aboriginal history of the
Barrow Creek Area

7. The Tragedy at
Strangways Springs

8. Northern Territory
Survey Expedition

9. Adelaide to Darwin
by foot


Review of Frederick Goss' "Never Never Telegraphist"

This description of service as a Telegraph Operator on the Northern Section of the Overland Telegraph, and covering the years 1878 to 1903, was published in serial form (10 parts) by TELECOM in 1978.

It is by far, the most accurate and detailed description of work and living conditions in the "Top end" of the Northern Territory that I have read. As such it is a most interesting and historically valuable document.

C Leonard AUGUST 1980


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More Memories of Life on the
Overland Telegraph Line - 1878-1903

It just happened that Fred Goss was stationed at Daly Waters when it occurred to him that, in nine years service 'on the line' he had not had sufficient leave to enable him to return to Adelaide, where his mother was once more living.

It was permissible to let several years of annual leave accumulate so that long leave of 'furlough', could then be taken to go 'home' to South Australia.

Fred's mother had been writing to him about her next-door neighbour's daughter, Charlotte Simons. Charlotte had been a mere schoolgirl, four years younger than Fred was, when he left home some nine years earlier. There were more than a few hints in those letters about Charlotte now being a young lady.

Fred applied for, and was granted, leave, but was given no indication of when it would be or who would be his replacement. It took time and trouble, as Station Masters and Assistant Station Masters would have to be shuffled about to provide a replacement, which could disrupt things in the Darwin office.

After considerable time waiting for any news from Darwin, Fred thought that maybe it had been sent by letter to the Katherine, which was the nearest Post Office to Daly Waters. He prevailed upon a native to go to the Katherine to collect the mail. It was a journey of about 370 miles, and on foot it could take several weeks. All it cost Fred was a generous supply of food, which would only last the courier a couple of days, along with a pipe and tobacco. On the 'boy's' return to Daly Waters, with or without any letters, he would be given a similar handout which he would share with his relations.

There was no letter for Fred, so he wired the OM to ask about it and received Mr Little's standard reply. "You will be advised in due course."

This happened twice more before Mr Goss 'lost his cool', as we would say. He wired his resignation and the date he wished it to take effect. The reply was a brief telegram stating that Mr Henderson would be there to relieve him on the date mentioned, and he was.

Quote from Fred's journal.

"I handed over and off I started, a bit depressed...

"On my arrival at The Katherine I was informed that Mr Little wished to speak to me, so I went into the office and made myself known to them and this was the conversation:

"'Good evening, Mr Goss, would you care to return to Daly Waters? If so I will permit you to withdraw your resignation.'

"'Good evening, Sir. Yes, I would be glad to return to Daly Waters, after taking my leave which I understood has been approved.'

"'Good day.'

"'Good day, sir.' Nothing more was said. It was clear that he wanted me to go back, but he would rather die than tell me this."

The whole of the above 'conversation' between two 'speakers', 200 miles apart, was conducted entirely in Morse Code.

My grandfather's final comment on the whole affair was brief.

"I arrived at Darwin to catch the steamer."

He had burnt several bridges behind himself and was all at sea.

I have a copy of the marriage certificate of Frederick Goss and Charlotte Agnes Simons, married at St Matthew's Church, Kensington, on 19 February 1887. Witnesses were WH Howard and Matilda Howard, who were, respectfully, the groom's stepfather and mother.

Fred, no longer an employee of the Telegraph Department, had felt free to marry without any qualms, but this was during the Depression of the 1880s. In Adelaide at that time, nobody had any use for an unemployed Telegraph Operator, so Fred decided to head by boat for Perth along with his brother-in-law. Unemployment was rife there, too, and the pair of them returned to Adelaide practically penniless.

Charlotte was by then pregnant and the father-to-be had no job, little money and no home. Fred made another decision; he would go to the top management of the Adelaide Headquarters of the Telegraph Department, superintendent, Charles Todd. Mr Todd was unavailable, but his Deputy, a Mr Waddy, was no friend of Mr Little in Darwin.

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