Construction on the Sydney Melbourne coaxial cable began in 1960 and was one of Australia's biggest and most important telecommunications projects of the 20th century. The laying of a coaxial cable between Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, allowed people to direct dial long distance phone calls (rather than operator assisted), and supported simultaneous television broadcasts for the first time. It was officially opened on 9 April 1962 by the then Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies. This souvenir coaxial cable was presented to Mr Roy Kerr on his retirement. Mr Kerr was the Assistant Chief Engineer, Headquarters Customer Networks Branch, Telecom Australia.This cable has strong historic significance as part of the historic and technologically important Sydney-Melbourne coaxial cable. The cable represents not only a feat of technology but a shift in social engagement with telecommunication technologies, as it allowed people to direct dial long distance phone calls (rather than operator assisted), and supported simultaneous television broadcasts for the first time; it put the power of connection directly into the hands of the Australian public. This souvenir length of cable is well provenanced, and the details of the cables use and significance is inscribed on the steel casing. A 6 tube copper coaxial cable with lead sheath, quad 20lbs conductor cable (paper insulated), and a presentation metal collar and base. Inscriptions around the top of the metal collar and the base. "OLYMPIC CABLES PTY. LTD / AUSTRALIA" "6 TUBE COAXIAL CABLE / WITH 32 PAIRS 20LBS/MILE UNARMOURED / SYDNEY MELBOURNE 1960"coaxial cable, cable, sydney-melbourne coaxial cable, telstra, postmaster general's department (pmg), telecommunications, subscriber trunk dialling (std), television, telephone

Early History of Carlton 1897-1958 by Hugh Buggy & Harry Bell. At the time of writing Carlton FC had won 8 VFL premierships. The book is significant because of information on players to 1958 and the foreword is written by Robert Menzies the then Prime Minister of Australia and the introduction is written by L R Kerr whose family are great supporters of Carlton, family members also played Carlton.265 Page Navy Blue hard cover bookInside cover signature of Ken Hands (Carlton great).

A small publication in a bound blue cover with black text. This report by the Murray Valley Resources Survey Committee is a detailed analysis of Importance and future the Murray River Valley and Basin for the economic development of Australia. It includes a lengthy Foreword written by Prime Minister, Robert Menzies. A map of Australia with the Murray Valley River and Basin shaded in green, and a fold-out detailed map of the Murray River are featured.murray river development, murray basin, murray river resources

A document that includes part of a speech given by ex-Prime Minister Robert Menzies to Melbourne Legacy. It continues to outline the work of Legacy and is perhaps a draft of a document to be produced to promote Legacy. The text is used in a press release in 1975. The notation H63/1 in blue pen shows that it was part of the archive project that was trying to capture the history of Legacy. A record of document being written to promote Legacy using a speech by a prominent Australian given at a Legacy function.White foolscap paper with black type x 4 pages about the work of Legacy and referring to Robert Menzies being a guest speaker.history, speech, robert menzies

A press release from Melbourne Legacy in 1975 which relates a story of how Legacy works. The information was intended to be used by press and magazines etc. The title 'Finding some one who's better off . . . who had a better run' and discusses mateship being important to Australians. It starts with a quote from Sir Robert Menzies, former prime minister of Australia. 'Legacy is not an organisation designed to organise people into a body to pursue their rights or into a body to defend their mutual interests. If anybody were to trace out what's been done by Legacy since Stan Savige first had this great idea he would find himself going into most of the nooks and crannies of Australian life and finding somebody who is better off, who had a better run, who had done something because of the individual responsibility accepted by members of Legacy. They have contributed to the best elements in our national life and they have done it because it's all been based on active personal responsibility'. The article goes on to describe the origins of Legacy and the work done. "Each member of Legacy is responsible for helping about five families. He gives of his time unstintingly; his only reward is to see these families secure, receiving all the advantages to which they are entitled. He sees, with pride, the family grow and for the widow there are social activities organised so that she, too, feels herself to be a useful member of the community. As she grows older, her care is assured as Legacy maintains gradually increasing hostel and/or Nursing Home type accomodation for frail, aged widows in its care.'A record of how Legacy promoted their work in the 1970s.Blue foolscap page x 3 with black type of a press release in 1975.Title 'Finding some one who's better off . . . who had a better run'press release, promotion, robert menzies

A photo from The Age on 6 September 1960 shows that the Prime Minister Robert Menzies spoke at the launch of Legacy Week. The article was cut from the newspaper and pasted into a scrap book of press clippings. For many years Legacy kept scrap books of press clippings that related to their work and publicity. Sir Robert Menzies spoke multiple times at Legacy functions, two speeches are recorded in the archive.A record that prominent Australians helped launch Legacy WeekNewspaper article with a photo of Robert Menzies pasted to brown page of a scrap book .legacy week, speakers, robert menzies

These letters are part of communication which took place between Sir Robert Menzies and Mr. G. R. Coulthard, President of the Australian Institute of Dairy Factory Managers and Secretaries Inc. (Victorian Branch) in 1965 and 1966. The Butter Factories’ Managers Association was formed in the 1890s and held its first annual conference in 1893. This organisation became the Australian Dairy Institute and then was incorporated with the Australian Society of Dairy Technology on 24 March 1986 to become the Dairy Industry Association of Australia. Ross Coulthard was a former manager of the Tallangatta dairy factory and later manager of the North Eastern Dairy Company at Kiewa. He had gained experience at several dairies across Victoria and was a qualified Butter Maker, Milk and Cream Grader and Tester and later a Cheesemaker. He took over as manager at Tallangatta in 1954 and later became Manager of the North Eastern Dairy Company at Kiewa after a merger with the Tallangatta Butter Company. He served as Victorian President of the Dairy Industry Association in 1966 and 1976 and was the Australian National President in 1980. These letters are significant because they are linked to Australia's longest serving Prime Minister and the Victorian Dairy Industry.2 letters from Robert G. Menzies and Private Secretary to Mr. G. R, Coulthard printed on Commonwealth of Australia Government letterhead.robert g menzies, australian institute of dairy factory managers, dairy industry victoria

Kew, in Melbourne, Victoria, was declared a Borough in 1859, following which the first Council was elected in 1860. Kew became a Town in 1910, and a City in 1921. It was amalgamated into a new City of Boroondara in 1994. The centenary celebrations of 1860 marked 100 since the first Kew Council was established.This reel-to-reel tape, now digitised, is both rare (ie unique) and historically significant. While the recording clearly has local significance, it is also of national and international significance due to the content of the Prime Minister's address. The focus of his speech is the nature of Australian democracy and its strengths, deriving from universal suffrage and the acceptance of democratic values by the Australian population, gained through historic participation in democracy at local, state and federal levels. RG Menzies mounts a strong case for each level of government having value in the development of Australian democracy. He also describes the emerging democracies of Africa in the period following decolonisation, and suggests that the success of these countries is dependent on democratic institutions not being imposed from above by colonial powers. City of Kew Centenary 1860-1960 Speeches by The Hon RG Menzies, MHR for Kew, and Cr WHS Dickinson, Mayor of Kew. Recorded on 13th December 1960 at the Kew City Hall 34 minutes 29 seconds From the archives of the Kew Historical Society Inc Copyright Kew Historical Society Inc Timings 00.14-17.00 The Right Hon RG Menzies MHR 17.07-32.33 Cr. WHS Dickinson 32.38-33.10 The Right Hon RG Menzies MHR 33.30-33.50 Cr. WHS Dickinson 33.51-34.25 Song - 'For He's a Jolly Good Fellow'Label on original boxcity of kew, centenary of kew 1860-1960, robert gordon menzies, william henry shorey dickinson, bill burrell, mayors of kew, town clerks of kew, australian prime ministers, australian democracy, democracy