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


Click on an icon above to listen to a track from THE SINGING WIRE by Ken Ferguson with Bloodwood
Connecting the Continent website contains content that requires the above plug-ins


Overland Telegraph Stories
Introduction | Special Dates | Centenary of Federation
Aboriginal Connections | Connecting the Kids | WebCams
Repeater Station (Chat Room and Forum)

The Tragedy at Strangways Springs
Mr Adrian Hewish of Milang sent this information regarding his great great grandparents.

Adrians grandparents, Albert and Mary lived and worked at Strangways Springs (102 miles north of Marree). One morning after returning from work, Albert found his wife, Mary, dying in her bed. He threw back the bed clothes to find a huge snake in her bed, which quickly slithered away and into the bush.

Mary was pregnant at this time and Albert was at his wits end. Albert knew there was a doctor at Marree, but knew the doctor would be unable to travel to them through miles of sand and drought striken land. Hastily he sent a telegram to the train superintendant at Quorn (300 miles away), he requested the hire of an engine and her crew to bring the doctor to his dying wife.

This was granted, the doctor was on his way. Sadly the doctor didn't make it on time Mary passed away before he arrived.

 
Connecting the Continent website contains content that requires the following plug-ins:
Quicktime and Flash - Designed and Produced by Complete JABA
© Centenary of Federation SA 2001