Israelite Bay Telegraph Station - Ep 5
This is the fifth episode of Esperance Historic Homesteads, and features the Israelite Bay Telegraph Station and other relics at Israelite Bay. The telegraph station is a beautiful, isolated structure, still standing strong more than 120 years after it was first built. This station was on the East-West Telegraph Line, which first connected Western Australia to the other colonies in 1877. The telegraph line transformed Western Australia, providing a means of communication for the isolated settlers scattered throughout the huge expanse of the colony.
The first telegraph station built there was a tiny 4 room weatherboard cottage. It was replaced when the gold rush brought a huge influx of arrivals to Western Australia, and the East-West Line became busier than ever. By the 1890s, Israelite Bay was a busy little community, home to telegraph workers, pastoralists, shepherds, camel team drivers, and families. The stories of the families who lived here, including the Grahams, the Dimers, the Cooks, and the Brooks families, have become a much-loved part of this region’s history.
The new Trans-Australian telegraph line led to the eventual closure of the telegraph station in 1925. After this, the timer and iron was removed from the building. The stone walls are still standing strong, a reminder of the fascinating past of the Israelite Bay Telegraph Station.
A heartfelt thank you to the Shire of Esperance, the Heritage Council of Western Australia, and the Mt Burdett Foundation for their generous support in bringing this episode to life. Our gratitude also to the Esperance Museum and the Esperance Bay Historical Society and all the dedicated volunteers who have helped us uncover and celebrate this incredible piece of history.
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