Overland Telegraph Joining Point, Adelaide-Darwin
The 3,178 kilometre line was built in less than two years and joined on 22 August 1872. It linked Australia to an undersea cable from Indonesia that came ashore at Port Darwin. The project was under the direction of Sir Charles Todd, KCMG, MA, FRS, FRAS, FRMS, FSTE, Superintendent of Posts and Telegraphs. Communication between Australia and the rest of the world could now happen in hours rather than weeks.
The first telegraph messages from overseas were received near this site on 22 October 1872 via the undersea cable brought ashore on 7 November 1871.
SA and NT: Markers at Parliament House, Darwin; Telegraph Station, Alice Springs; GPO Adelaide
On 22 August 1872 a group of workers on the Overland Telegraph Line made the final connection between the wires from the south (in the direction of Adelaide) and the wires from the north (in the direction of Darwin and ultimately, via undersea cables, London) at a remote place called Frews Ponds, between Newcastle Waters and Daly Waters in the Northern (NT) Territory of Australia.
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Engineering Heritage Recognition Program
| Marker Type | Heritage Engineering National Marker (HENM) |
| Award Date | 22 August 2012 |
| Heritage Significance | |
| Nomination Document | Available here. |
| Ceremony Booklet Ceremony Report |
Available here. |
| Plaque/Interpretation Panel Image | Available here. |
References:
Northern Territory of Australia, Overland Telegraph Joining Point - Survey Plans, May 2012.
