This week marked 145 years since the Overland Telegraph Line was completed, connecting Adelaide to Port Darwin, and Australia with the world. After countless challenges, the last piece of line was installed at Frew's Pond near Dunmarra. Charles Todd (second from the right) did the honours, sending this first-ever message along the singing wire, and the Territory was changed forever: "WE HAVE THIS DAY, WITHIN TWO YEARS, COMPLETED A LINE OF COMMUNICATIONS TWO THOUSAND MILES LONG THROUGH THE VERY CENTRE OF AUSTRALIA, UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO A TERRA INCOGNITA BELIEVED TO BE A DESERT +++" He's pictured here with John A.G. Little, R.C. Patterson and A.J. Mitchell.

Published: 27 August 2017

Picture: B 4639, State Library of South Australia