Manufactured in the 1960s, this mobile emergency telephone exchange was fitted into a caravan. Part of the Shepparton Division State Disaster Plan, the caravan could be towed to areas affected by disasters to enable communications to recommence. The caravan remained in service until approximately 1974.Mobile infrastructure plays an important role in Australian communications, owing to the often remote and hostile environments in which Australians live and work. Exchanges such as this facilitated phone calls in the aftermath of an emergency, particularly for hospitals, police and other emergency services. Today, Mobile Exchange on Wheels (MEOWs), Cell on Wheels (CoW) and Satellite Cell on Wheels (SatCOW) - which provide temporary landline and broadband services, mobile phone coverage and service in areas without communications infrastructure respectively - are a critical part of emergency response procedures for natural disasters such as fire and flood. Though technology has progressed, the need for rapid service in remote areas remains a present concern of the communications service providers in Australia. This mobile service infrastructure is historically significant as an early example of a service which has evolved over decades, yet is still needed today. The exchange, as a representative example of a vehicle which would provide early-response in a disaster, is socially significant as a facilitator of critical communications needs in devastated communities: access to emergency services and contact with family and friends. The exchange itself, intact from its period of use, provides an insight into technology of the 1970s.Mobile emergency exchange housed in a caravan trailer on 2 wheel base, duralin body, steel tow bar, Caravan divided into 3 sections; the exchange room; the relay room and the main frame room. The exchange room contains 3 switchboards, a folding table, cupboards, benches and switch rack (.1). table (.2), steel bar for attaching the table (.3), back boards of switchboards (.4-.6), switches (.7-.16), box of switches (.17). There is a wall phone magneto, 300 type handset on wall and 2 skylights with wire screens. .11? hat pegs and shelf; there are 2 fluorescent tubes for lighting, all in exchange section. The floor is covered with 2 tone grey tiles and there are wire mesh on outside of windows and a geometric curtain inside behind switch rack. There is a flywire screen door as well as exterior door. The relay room has a sectioned door so half can open at a time. Room contains a cupboard with folding bench top beneath a curtained window. The opposite wall has a bank of batteries and transmission condensers; there is a shelf above window, one fluorescent tube and fuse boxes. Tiles on floor also. The main frame room contains many metres of coiled black covered cable, a black covered magneto wall telephone with 300 type handset; grey plastic jumper cords, a rack of termination points and wire with wasp nests attached. There is a small iron step under door, a fluorescent tube on wall and 3 hat hooks. Roll of Paper Handtowels (.18), cord and handle (.19), red exchange cords and plugs (.20-.22), plastic aluminium runners (.23,.24), headset (.25,.26), logbook (.27), battery readings (.28), box containing papers circuit drawings etc (.29-.93), paper lists off wall (.94,.95). Books, record books etc (.96-.103). Manila folder (.104) containing circuit drawings (105-.124). Wooden drawer (.125), metal drawer containing subscribers master cards, record of faults cards, particular switchboards connected, Junction line cards (.126). Box of valves (.127), box of clamps (.128). Box of 2000 type rack fuses, red 1 1/2 AMPS, black 3 AMP, blue 1/2 AMP (.129). Box of sleeves for covering wire joints (.130), plastic beakers (.131,.132), soap (.133), box of white plastic squares (.134), time switch "Venner BF/43 time switch" Made in England (.135), box of bolts, knobs etc (.136), box of switchboard number indicators (.137), fuse (.138), fuse wire (.139), football card (.140). Box of cartridge fuse 6 AMP (.141). Envelope of drawing pins, rubber bands (.142), black plastic, paper tape centres (.143-.152), metal plug (.153), 2 signs "Beware of vehicles" (.154-.155). Paper listing Naringal East automatic conversion (.156). Green Commonwealth of Australia note pad (.157). Wiring plug for tail lights (.158). Black fuse plugs (.159,.160). Box of bolts (.161). 2 sections of blue plastic coated wires (.162,.163). Gloves used for working on batteries (.164-.167). Wasp nests (.168,.169). White fuse (.170). Photographs of van in use (.171,.172)..1 on front: "ANOTHER / MOBILETRAIL / PRODUCT" "MAX SPEED / 25MPH" "TRAILER BRAKES / --- / " On sides: "EMERGENCY TELEPHONE EXCHANGE" "NO 1" "PMG" "TCQ / GROSS 250 / TARE 182 / LOAD 162" "6" "COUNTRY BRANCH / NORTH REGION / [SHEPPARTON DIVISION]" "LAW'S SIGNS" "Telecom Australia" On back: "DANGER / LONG LOAD" "MQA 3787" .133: "FIR OIL" "AUSTRALIA"mobile telephone exchanges, mobile telecommunications trailers, trailers, transport, natural disaster, black saturday, bushfires, floods, emergency communications

After years of precursory surveying, debate and proposals the most ambitious civil engineering project of the day, the Overland Telegraph Line, began construction in September 1870. Superintendent of Telegraphs, Sir Charles Todd led the construction through “terra incognita,” guided by the precursory surveys of John McDowall Stuart and technologies such as his prismatic surveying compass. The unknown and hostile landscape claimed the lives of several men and scores of transport animals in the dogged pursuit of telegraphic connection to the rest of the world. Completed in August 1872, the Line connected Australia to the world via telegraph wires running 3,200 kilometres from Port Augusta in South Australia, to Darwin, then connecting via submarine cable to Java and beyond. The “earth [had been] girdled with a magic chain” according to the then Governor of New South Wales, Sir Hercules Robinson. How does it work? For use in surveying, the sight vane and prism are turned up on their hinge and the instrument is held horizontally either in the palm of one's hand or on a tripod. Two small discs of red and green glass attached to the prism can be flipped down over the sight line to reduce glare. The objective is to bring the subject into the sightline created by the prism, aligning with the thread of the sight-vane until the subject is bisected evenly. Once aligned, the division on the card may be read through the prism. This reading provides the magnetic azimuth, used for calculating the bearings of distant landmarks. Circular instrument mounted in a brass case with glass window and brass lid. The compass card face four black compass points printed on mint green paper; on the underside the magnetic needle would be affixed, all held in place by a brass knob at the centre. The arched labels of "Sawtell" and "Adelaide" and the Prince of Wales feathers appear to have been affixed with adhesive which has since yellowed in the areas of application on the compass card. The compass face is printed with numbers, every 10 degrees from 10 - 360, printed in reverse indicating this compass would have once held a mirror at the sighting bracket. On one side of the brass case is a brass hinged sighting-prism, possibly of ebonite. The sighting-prism is mounted in a hinged brass bracket on one edge of the brass case. It has two flip-type filter glasses (red and green) and folds down into a retracted travelling position. A hinged brass bracket on the opposite edge would have held the sighting bracket - carrying the sighting vane and mirror - which is now missing or removed. Under the hinge is a lever, possibly related to the movement of the bracket. Underneath the brass case is an indented circle with screw threads, possibly for attachment to a tripod, and indistinguishable marks scratched into the surface.Etched on to the centre of the lid, "Sawtell ADELAIDE / No 792." Affixed to the paper compass face, possibly from separate pieces of paper, "SAWTELL / ADELAIDE" with the Prince of Wales Feathers above "SAWTELL". Underneath on remains of white tape in red: "159."surveying, compass, charles todd, overland telegraph line, telegraph

Until 1960 there were no telephones in Falls Creek. The only access to a phone was at Rocky Valley Camp where the State Electricity Commission (SEC) had an extensive network to Mount Beauty, Bogong and the other camps such as Clover power station and Howman's Gap. There were test points with a phone beside the road where contact could be made to the office in Mount Beauty. The SEC was unconcerned about Falls Creek, so no power was connected until 1960 when Tom Mitchell aired the matter in parliament. Tom was a keen skier. He applied to the Post Master General who was then responsible for telephones as well as mail. The PMG staff came up from Bright and installed an exchange in Diana Lodge. There were only about 15 lines to a post across the road uphill about 20 metres. It was from here that you could put a line from the building into a box where connections were possible. You had to buy a cable from the disposal store. It needed to have an alloy of copper and steel in the wire similar to what the army had used during the war. If the phone failed the owner would have to find the break in the wire, not an easy task in the heavy snow. Then came the telephone itself. Falls Creek was given old-fashioned sets with a hand wound magneto to ring the bell at the exchange. When the operator answered she could then plug a line into another phone line or the exchange in Bright. In the phone were two dry cell batteries that carried the spoken word to the other phone connected. Trunk lines were expensive then, so each trunk call was timed by the minute. The operator would disconnect you after a minute if you did not reply to her question "are you extending?". These telephones were donated by Julian Newton Brown. Julian's Lodge Arundel was known as Falls Creek 11.These telephones are significant because they illustrate the earliest form of technology available to connect Falls Creek Village to other areas.Telephones constructed of polished wood, brass bell, handles and cabling. Designed to operate through a telephone exchange. They operated on two dry cell batteries.Attached to front of telephone: Instructions on how to make or receive a call.falls creek village, falls creek communicaton

Framed black and white photograph of the interchange between cable and horse trams at Moreland Road and Sydney Road Brunswick for the Coburg horse tram line. Has two cable tram sets in the background. Horse Tram No. 4, with the now Moreland Hotel in the background. Date around 1900, prior to the introduction of bogie trailers. Frame - brown varnished timber frame, glazed with clear glass, white card backing with brown tape on rear, brass wire hanging wire with small eye hooks the side. Framed by Conroy-Moffatt Pty Ltd of 316 Kings St Melbourne. See Reg Item 2312i3 and 6353 for another similar view which provides a date of 1890.trams, tramways, cable trams, coburg, brunswick, moreland rd, horse trams, tram 4

See image 2085i4 for tender re brake blocks detailing the type of cast iron and the Brinell hardness.Demonstrates MMTB tender documents of 1923.Manila colour file marked "Specifications" containing 25 different specifications of the MMTB 1922 to 1925. Not all dated, generally foolscap sheets either pinned or stapled. Dated Tender No. For supply of: 30/6/1925 157 Steel castings Not dated Ballast Hopper trucks 1923 Steelwork for electric and cable tramway crossings Pamphlet Monier Pipes and box culverts Pamphlet Monier – septic tanks and aerators Not dated 229 Purchase of removal of cottages 101 to 107 Bouverie St Carlton Not dated Side tipping ballast trucks 18/7/1923 226 Brake shoes - see pdf file for a full scan 18/7/1923 222 Steel tramway tyres 18/7/1923 220 Concrete Mixing Plants Not dated 219 Dressed wooden poles 9/5/1923 215 Bricks 19/4/1923 214 Reinforced Concrete fencing posts 20/3/1923 213 Tramway steel wire ropes 28/3/1923 212 Painting exterior of 673 Bourke St Melbourne Not dated 210 Alterations to offices at Rathdowne St depot Not dated 202 80lb steel rails and fishplates 5/1/1923 198 GE201 Motors 6/12/1922 197 Hydraulic pit jacks 6/12/1922 195 Supply of Low tension feeder cable Not dated 194 Supply of high tension cable 4/12/1922 188 Supply of hard drawn trolley wire 6/11/1922 186 Dressed wooden poles 20/11/1922 182 Steel Poles 20/12/1922 171 Erection and completion of new car depot Glen Huntly Roadtrams, tramways, mmtb, tenders, specification, trackwork, motors, cables, poles, ballast wagons, glenhuntly tram depot, brake blocks

Photograph of Swanston St looking north from Flinders St. There is one cable tram set in the view along with many horse-drawn vehicles, bicycles, and many pedestrians. In the background is part of Young and Jackson's Princes Bridge Hotel, a sign for "New American system without pain Dentistry", Ayers Henry & Co. clothing, Stainer & Co., Keystone Elgin watches. Visible is an open wire telephone lines on poles. Photo c1900. Understood that the photo appears in the James Flood book of Melbourne photos.Yields information about Swanston St, c1900.Black and white photograph on paper.trams, tramways, swanston st, cable trams

An interim report by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB) concerning the replacement of cable tramways in Melbourne, whose capacity was predicted to be incapable of coping with future demand. In light of some opposition to electrification via overhead wires, several schemes were outlined, including a conduit system, surface contact system, battery cars, petrol cars, petrol-electric cards, motor buses, and trolleybuses. In the conclusion, the MMTB asserted that all schemes other than overhead electrification are not optimal to serving the city, and remained committed to use overhead wires.A document that clearly shows the commitment of the now-superceded public transport agency (MMTB) to electrify the Melbourne tram network.Interim Report - MMTB - Upon the General Scheme for the future development of Tramways in Melbourne and Suburbspublic transport, mmtb, tramways, electrification, electricity

Radio Transcript or script, 7 foolscap typed pages, double spaced titled "Wireless Talk -- Mr. J. D. Barton Staff Officer MMTB - Melbourne Street Transport No. 2". Report looks at the history of horse bus routes in Melbourne, building of the cable trams, the Parliamentary Bills for the cable trams, constructing the lines, Mr. G. Duncan, Mr. Clapp, construction difficulties, the Melbourne Tramway Trust, MTOC, drainage issues, bridges, alterations to the Act, Patent issues with a London company, opening dates and comments about wire rope. Could be a few pages missing given the way it ends, no thank you or formal ending. Item noted dated, presumed late 1920's.Has pencil notation in top left hand corner "6 copies"trams, tramways, public transport, radio stations, horse buses, mto co, melbourne, cable trams, mtt

Photograph of a cable tram grip car No. 448 after arrival in Sydney for Museum of Technology (Ultimo) at their Alexandria store. Keith notes that it was acquired from the ground of Monash University. The Sydney Tram Museum has since rebuilt the tramcar - see Trolley Wire.. Printed in the Daily Telegraph Sydney 18/12/1962.Yields infomation about a Sydney cable tram grip car.Photograph - Black and white and newspaper clipping. Two prints heldIn ink on the rear: "Sydney - Melbourne cable tram grip car No. 448 after arrival in Sydney for Museum of Technology (Ultimo) at their Alexandria store. Acquired from the ground of Monash University. Daily Telegraph Sydney 18/12/1962" and Australian Consolidated press Copyright photo stamp. KSK print number FS1 trams, tramways, cable trams, sydney, sydney tram museum, tram 448

Set of 12 Victorian Railways prints of drawings of overhead arrangements at locations where trams and trains crossed in Melbourne. .1 - L6866 - wood break section insulator for tramway intersections, earthed section - has Merz McLellan stamp, originally prepared by the British Insulated and Helsby Cables - 1920. .2 - L5564 - Tramway intersection wood break section insulator - 5/49 .3 - L687 - Tramway and Railway Intersection fittings details - has reference to original 1920 drawings, Rev C 9/56. .4 - L6514 - Tramway and Railway Intersection Nicholson St North Fitzroy - 5/49 .5 - L652D - Tramway and Railway Intersection fittings details - has reference to original 1920 drawings, Rev D 8/48. .6 - L6656 - Tramway and Railway intersection fittings assembly - 6/56 .7 - L6511 - Tramway and railway intersection fittings assembly - for trams fitted with carbon skids - 4/55 .8 - L7025 - Tramway and railway intersection Glenhuntly Road GA - pencil drawings 6/59 .9 - L8106 - GA for tramway crossing Lygon St originally prepared by the British Insulated and Helsby Cables - 1920. .10 - L1749 -GA for tramway crossing Burke Road, originally prepared by the British Insulated and Helsby Cables - 1920. .11 - L1757 - blue print - fittings for tramway and railway contact wires at level crossings originally prepared by the British Insulated and Helsby Cables - 1920. .12 - L3506 - GA of tramway crossing St Georges Road. 6/30trams, tramways, railways, tramways, overhead, glenhuntly rd

Black and white negative from Wal Jack collection of W 259 or W2 during track reconstruction work on its way to North Coburg. The tram has not been fitted with a route number box. A number of workmen in the view "leaning on their shovels" as the tram goes past. Photo could be between Moreland Road and Bell St or in Lygon St before the end of the cable trams in Sydney Road Coburg. OR - in Moreland Road itself, having just left Nicholson St - note heavy wires at the rear of the tram. Photo can be dated from the date a route number box was fitted. Tram was converted to a W2 in Oct. 1931. Photo c1930. Photo may not be by Wal Jack as a size that he did not use.trams, tramways, w2 class, w class, north coburg, sydney road, lygon st, trackwork, tram 259

Document - full title "Met Tram Overhead appreciation for Met Tram Officers & Tram Drivers" Gives a detailed inforamation on the structure of the tram overhead, its parts, poles, such as frog pans, crossing pans, points, contactors ,broken trolley wire, pantograph operation and feeder cables. Has notes on the SCADA system and Carlton Electrical control system. Written at the time when trolley poles remained in operation.Yields information about the Melbourne tramway overhead system.Document 47 A4 pages, clear plastic cover, with card covers comb bound along top edge.tramways, tramcars, equipment, overhead, electrical engineering, trolley wire

Provides information in the form of a letter to Parliamentary members about the reasons why the electrification of Collins St should proceed from the MMTB viewpoint, though it was not part of the 1923 General Scheme. The City of Melbourne initially wanted a conduit system, main issue was overhead wires, looks at other possibilities. Has a statement to the Press regarding the Board's decision to convert Collins St - options, Bourke St, Flinders St, traffic issues, and passenger / business development along Collins St. There was a lot of opposition to the proposal from the Doctors in the street.Yields information about the replacement of the Collins St cable tramways with electric trams and the reasons why.Set of six duplicated foolscap sheets secured by a foldable brass clip in top left hand corner.trams, tramways, parliament, mr strangward, collins st, cable trams, tram replacement, electrification

The photograph shows a cable tram in Lonsdale St crossing William St. Alf Twentyman in his notes has identified it as West Melbourne trailer 364. In the background is the Supreme Court building and a tangle of telephone wires.Yields information about cable trams in the 1890s.Photograph, black and white, with notes on the rear.On rear in blue ink "West Melbourne 364 probably early 1890s, later became North Melburne No. 4"trams, tramways, cable tram, tram 364, lonsdale st, william st, supreme court

Wall Calendar - wire spiral bound along top edge with hanger, gloss paper, with cover and each month featuring various transport related photographs. Includes photo of Flinders St station, cable tram in Bridge Road and horse drawn vehicles delivering cable from the port to Brunswick, including a number of railway photographs. Titled "Victorian Ministry of Transport - Transport Calendar - 1984", featuring photographs from the VR heritage collection. Two copies held.trams, tramways, railways, tramways, cable trams, flinders st station, calendar

"The passing of the Melbourne Cable Tramways", featuring photographs of first cable tram, Fitzroy power house, cable trams in the street, Nicholson St, the No. 1 tram entering the National Museum, some historic notes on the construction of the system, its operations, MMTB takeover, a drawing of the grip and of the badges and buttons used and an image of the cable used. Notes that it was compiled by A. R. Turnbull with co-operation of F. King, K.L.Mackenzie and H. G de Mamiel. Original poster prepared by the MMTB and presented to the State Library or the Museum of Victoria at the time of closure. See Reg Item 6367 for another photograph and 6368 for another poster of the time - Melbourne tramways past and present posterYields information about the Melbourne cable tram system and its history. Frame - wooden outside painted white, glazed with clear glass, off white card backing with brown paper on rear, brass wire hanging wire with small eye hooks the side., containing a photo titled "The passing of the Melbourne Cable Tramways"tramways, cable trams, melbourne, tramcars, closure, museums

Image shows a centre of the road pole used to extend the electric tram in Swanston St from Queensberry St to Little Lonsdale St. Was proposed to be used in the conversion of cable to electric trams in St Kilda Road, but was not adopted. William St had a similar type of pole but these were removed when they became a traffic hazard.Shows design of centre poles that support overhead electric wires. Swanston Street electric trams centre poles - Newspaper photo. MMTB Swanston Street looking south from Little Lonsdale Street Melbourne, about 1923-24.tramways, trams, swanston street, centre poles, st kilda road