From the earliest colonial days, the vast distances of Australia, and its isolation from the rest of the world, have made communications difficult. When early governors of NSW requested instructions from England, it took a year to get a reply. Ships (and the letters they carried) were all-important events.
This book traces the developments in the way we communicate, from the origins of the postal and telegraph systems in colonial times, the building of the Overland Telegraph that put Australia in rapid communication with the rest of the world, and the development of the telephone system through to today's high tech satellites and optical fibres.
Along the way, fascinating aspects are covered, such as the history of airmail and the role of communications in the outback with the uniquely Australian pedal wireless and the School of the Air.
