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Archiver > AUS-VIC-GEELONG-DISTRICT > 2003-02 > 1044477776


From: "Norman W. Long" <>
Subject: Re: [GEELONG] Forgotten Miracle "The Electric Telegraph" Research
Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2003 07:50:03 +1100


Hi,
My ggggrandfather, William Hill James, was Station Master at the Geelong
Electric Telegraph office from 21 September 1854 until he died at work on 11
March 1861. I believe he was involved in laying the first telegraph line
from Victoria to Tasmania, but do not have any details. Other members of
the family also worked in Post Offices and Telegraph offices in Victoria and
Tasmania, including his son from his first marriage (from which I am not
descended), Thomas Reynolds James, who was Assistant Postmaster General of
Victoria.
I am willing to share any info which I have that you may be interested in,
but unfortunately, at the moment it is not a lot in relation to their actual
work at these offices. Another relative may have a bit more if you let me
know what you want.
I was also hoping that you may have some info that would be useful to me
about William and his family, or could point me in the right direction.
Kind regards,
Sharon Long,
Melton, Vic.

-----Original Message-----
From: nelsonpe <>
To:
<>
Date: Wednesday, 5 February 2003 21:53
Subject: [GEELONG] Forgotten Miracle "The Electric Telegraph" Research


>Many people were employed by the Victorian Government, constructing and
then operating this system through our post offices.
>Was a member or friend of your family involved?
>I have much information as to the system but I want to give faces and
perhaps personalities to names on post office employee lists.
>Particularly I would like to know about some of the pre 1920
>operators, linemen etc.who made the network operate.
>It began in Melbourne in 1854 and then spread like a spider's web
throughout the state.
>Can you help? I hope to be able to publish an account of the development of
Australia's first telegraph system later this year.
>
>
>==== AUS-VIC-GEELONG-DISTRICT Mailing List ====
>Geelong & District Mailing List Information :
>http://www.zades.com.au/geelong/gdmail.htm
>

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