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