The Australian Overland Telegraph Line was a 3200 km telegraph line that connected Darwin with Port Augusta in South Australia. Completed in 1872 the Overland Telegraph Line allowed fast communication between Australia and the rest of the world. An additional section was added in 1877 with the completion of the Western Australian section of the line. It was one of the great engineering feats of 19th century Australia and probably the most significant milestone in Australia's telegraphic history.© Wikipedia
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Contact detailsBattery Hill Mining and Visitor CentreE: info@barklytourism.com.auP: 1800 500 879
North of the town of Tennant Creek you will find the Tennant Creek Telegraph Sttion along the Stuart Highway. A repeater station for the Overland Telegraph line was bult here in 1872 and became a major stopping point for drovers, travellers and those prospecting for gold in the area - and of course the men sent to repair the telegraph lines. This is one of the several historic Telegraph Stations that were built between Adelaide and Darwin.
We found it quite fascinating how some of the building were surprisingly cool when the weather outside was very hot (about 38-40 degrees). They built a Cellar which was used to store fruit and vegetables, a smoke house for curing meat, main building with kitchen, telegraph office, blacksmiths building and another building which is labelled the Butcher. These are beautiful stone buildings with large covered verandahs.
This site is well sign posted with information sheets in the box at the entrance If you want to see inside these buildings you can collect a key from the Visitor Information Centre ($20 deposit) and then return it after your visit. I understand that guided tours can be organised with the Visitor Information Centre or through Parks and Wildlife.