Welcome to Strangways
Introduction | Special Dates | Centenary of Federation
Aboriginal Connections | Connecting the Kids

Strangways Springs, a set of mound springs, was discovered in 1858 by the Warburton Expedition and the remains of woolsheds, yards, homesteads, water tanks and the cemetary dating from the 1860s are still evident.

Strangways Springs was the first meeting place of Charles Todd, the man responsible for the building of the Overland Telegraph Line, and John Ross, the man who went ahead of the construction parties to survey a route for the line.

Todd had left Adelaide on October 4, 1870 by steamer for Port Augusta and then proceeded overland, arriving on October 24. Ross, travelling down from the north, had arrived within 2 hours of Todd. A fitting reflection on how well this stage of the line had been progressing. At least up until then.

It was an important meeting as Ross was able to give Todd a valuable first hand account of his journey and his recommendations for the route to be followed. The first part seemed easy enough, they could move to the camp at Alice Well. But after that, Ross was yet to find a way across the MacDonnell Ranges. And until he did, the northerly parties couldn't reach their starting ground.

(Months later, on March 11, 1871, a way through was forged and a dry riverbed was found with waterholes and springs, the main spring named Alice Springs, in honour of Mrs Todd.)

Strangways Springs was chosen as a site of a repeater station because of the permanent water supply from this remarkable mound springs system. While the water would have made life in this harsh terrain a little easier, there are so many stories of unsung heroes who performed amazing feats as part of their everyday routine of keeping the line open.

In 1895 rain washed out the line just north of Strangways Springs. The stationmaster wired to Charles Todd; 'Tried to get wire across but, when the black boy was nearly over, the binding wire broke and he was washed down stream and lost the wire. I was unable to do anything till the binding wire arrived by special train from Hergott Springs.

'This afternoon I got the assistance of a good swimmer and we worked hard till evening. The wire proved too heavy to swim with, so we passed over a strong wire with the binding wire attached. The line was finally joined on the other side in complete darkness. When we hauled the wire with blocks and tackle, and got it almost out of the water, it caught on a snag in the middle of the stream. If it doesn't break we will have it joined after daylight.'