Photograph of early switchboard used in Mt Beauty. It is a record of old communication methods used in the area.Provides a look into the history of communications in Mt Beauty. Mr Bill Sutton is a past employee of SECV and an active member of various community organisations within the Kiewa Valley.Colour photograph of Mr Bill Sutton and unidentified man taken at Mt Beauty switchboardHandwritten on back of photograph: Pics 5 85%mt beauty switchboard, secv, communications, switchboard

In rural Australia phone calls were made through the switchboard usually situated at the local post office. This book lists the residents of Kergunyah and their phone numbers. If you want to talk to a neighbour for example, you ask for that person or give the operator their number. The switchboard operator 'puts the caller through'. However some people shared a number and were therefore on a party line eg. in this book 6 people share number 3. The operator would then ring the individual's code, like morse code, eg. 1 long 2 short. Also ref. KVHS 0897 Mt Beauty SwitchboardThis book is a list of residents living at Kergunyah who have a phone and lists their phone numbers. Kergunyah is in the Kiewa Valley. The book also notes some problems with the line eg. 'suspect sheath damage'. Stiff beige cardboard cover bound by black tape "Subscribers' M.D.F. / Record" printed on centre of cover. 7 pages but only written on pages 2 and 3 with residents' names and phone numbers in columns."Kergunyah" on front coverkergunyah, telephone, kiewa valley, switchboard

This book includes "Guide to the Telephone Exchange". As the State Electricity Commission of Victoria had a telephone exchange on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme at Mt Beauty, this book is of interest. The first telephone exchange was established in the U.S.A. in 1877. In 1912 most civilised countries had one. Improvements continued as outlined in the book explaining how they work.The State Electricity Commission of Victoria constructed the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme and communicated using a switchboard based in Mt Beauty. This book belonged Roy F. Leibig, the grandfather of a local electrician.Black hard cover book with gold embossing of title, author and emblem "The Specialists Series" on the front cover. 630 pages with some black and white diagramsInside: "W. Kerr Newmann / 89 Moreland Grove / Coburg" written in pencil "S. Dunkerton / 8 Horne St / E. Brunswick / Oct. 7th 1913" crossed out with pencil (over handwriting with pen) "R.F. Leibig / "Orama" / Stafford St / West Preston" written in inkinstructional book; technical; telephones; switchboards; telephone exchange; state electricity commission of victoria

The switchboard was located in the office of the switchyard. This switchboard was used by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme in Mt Beauty. Employees living in the towns and in the Kiewa Valley who had telephones were connected to the switchboard and were able to speak after dialling a number and then being connected by an operator working at the switchboard. This connection pre dated automatic connections. This switchboard was used by the S.E.C.V. for their employees on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme and is an example of communications used in the 1940s and 1950s using telephones and operators prior to automatic 'stations'. To prevent operators from listening to conversations, a tone was introduced so that those on the phone became aware of someone listening in to their conversation.switchboard. mt beauty. state electricity commission of victoria. kiewa hydro electric scheme. telephones. communication.

Telephones were mounted on the wall and were operated by turning a small handle situated in the middle of the phone. This connected the speaker to the switch board where they were 'put through' to the other end (speaker).Wall phones were used by State Electricity Commission of Victoria workers and their families on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme. The SECV had a switchboard located at Mt Beauty. Also refer to article in "This Week" Newsletter 30th June 2023 and attached to KVHS 0050Black bakelite wall mounted telephone with handset connected by black spiral plastic cord. The round dial in the centre has a small handle with knob for turning. The base is silver steel with screws to attach it to the wall. The handset has a circular end with 4 small holes for the ear and the other end, the speaker end has 3 rings of small holes and a curved protective mouth piece to direct speech into the holes.On white circle in centre of dial: "To call turn handle and lift hand set. / When finished replace handset and turn handle" Handset embossed on inner side: 164 55wall mounted telephone; state electricity commission of victoria; kiewa hydro electric scheme; telecommunications; switchboard

Radio Telephone was minuted during the war. It was approved in 1944 for State Electricity Commission of Victoria use only. It was completed by the end of 1946. Used by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria at Bogong during the construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme to connect with head office in Melbourne. It allows one conversation at a time using traffic controls in an unusual system of radio telephone providing communication. At the time it was unique in Australia and installed by the S.E.C.V. technicians. It provided an unattended shortwave radio link between two ordinary telephone switchboards, connecting any of the S.E.C.V.'s internal lines with the telephone system at Bogong and the construction camps beyond. From Bogong, radio phones connect to the outpost stations on the High Plains far above the snow-line. In operation, the service is similar to a normal telephone system but dispenses with the physical connection of wires and poles between the main terminals. Historical: This type of headphone was recommended for amateurs. It may have been used by operators on the Switchboard at Bogong or one of the construction camps on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme. The S.E.C.V installed this unique system of communication to operate their branches especially at Bogong and beyond where the distance was great and often limited by the terrain and weather.Used for a transmitter radio or Radio Telephone as installed by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria 2 round ear pieces. Outside of ear piece has the brand inscribed and 3 points where wires are attached. On opposite edges of the earpieces a metal piece with handle is attached from which the 2 earpieces are connected with curved wire covered by leather to fit on top of the head. Each earpiece has a cord hanging from the middle attachment (on the outside) which joins and then continues as one to 2 metal pins that would fit into holes in the switchboard. On outside of each earpiece - 'Brunet & Co. / Paris' in oval 'Type f' underneathradio telephone. ear phones. head phones.communications.state electricity commission of victoria. kiewa hydro electric scheme. bogong. switchboards.

Radio Telephone: Minuted during the war. It was approved in 1944 for State Electricity Commission of Victoria use only. It was completed by the end of 1946. Used by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria at Bogong during the construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme to connect with head office in Melbourne. It allows one conversation at a time using traffic controls in an unusual system of radio telephone providing communication. At the time it was unique in Australia and installed by the S.E.C.V. technicians. It provided an unattended shortwave radio link between two ordinary telephone switchboards, connecting any of the S.E.C.V.'s internal lines with the telephone system at Bogong and the construction camps beyond. From Bogong, radio phones connect to the outpost stations on the High Plains far above the snow-line. In operation, the service is similar to a normal telephone system but dispenses with the physical connection of wires and poles between the main terminals.Historical: This type of headphone was used by operators on the switchboards at Bogong, Mt Beauty or on one of the construction camps on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme. The S.E.C.V. installed this unique system of communication to operate their branches especially at Bogong and beyond where the distance was great and often limited by the weather and terrain.Used for a transmitter radio or Radio Telephone as installed by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria 2 round ear pieces. Outside of each ear piece has the brand inscribed, 4 screws and 1 small piece of metal. The metal has 2 screws attaching the the cord that goes to the 'switchboard'. On opposite edges of the earpieces is a thick metal piece that curves up to which the curved metal headpiece is attached and therefore connecting the earpieces. Each earpiece has a cord hanging from the small metal piece of earphone. This cord joins and then continues as one to the end where there are 2 metal pins coming out of the soft cover.'C-LR ST & C of Sydney'radio telephone. ear phones. headphones. communications. state electricity commission of victoria. kiewa hydro electric scheme. bogong. switchboards.

Radio Telephone was minuted during the war. it was approved in 1944 for the State Electricity Commission of Victoria's use only. it was completed by the end of 1946. used by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria at Bogong during the construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme to connect with head office in Melbourne. It allows one conversation at a time using traffic controls in an unusual system of radio telephone providing communication. At the time it was unique in Australia and installed by the S.E.C.V. technicians. It provided unattended shortwave radio link between two ordinary telephone switchboards, connecting any of the S.E.C.V.'s internal lines with the telephone system at Bogong and the construction camps beyond. From Bogong, radio phones connected to the outpost stations on the High Plains far above the snow-line. In operation, the service was similar to a normal telephone system but dispensed with the physical connection of wires and poles between the main terminals.Historical: This headphone set superseded headphones with two earpieces and those without a microphone. This one may have been used by operators on the switchboard at Bogong or Mt Beauty or one of the construction camps on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme. The S.E.C.V. installed this unique system of communication to operate their branches especially at Bogong and beyond where the distance was great and often limited by the terrain and weather.Radio Telephone for SECV switchboard. Black plastic earpiece with microphone. Ear side circular with inscription on outer side then formed into elongated shape narrowing to the curved speaker piece at the narrow end. On top of the narrow end a long rubber cord is attached to a thick brass pin. On top of the wider end a thin stiff wire is attached to curve around the head to a blank rubber earpiece. This head piece has a piece of rectangular rubber attached at the top for comfort.'4408A IW61 / 1'radio telephone, ear phones, head phones. head set. communications, state electricity commission of victoria. kiewa hydro electric scheme. bogong. switchboards

The State Electricity Commission produced a Telephone directory for each of its construction sites during the construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme during the 1950s to early 1960s. The telephones were linked via the Switchboard. The booklet includes instructions for operating.The SECV constructed the KHES during the 1950s. It included construction sites on the Bogong High Plains and the townships of Bogong and Mt Beauty. It also connected the Scheme with the outside world and was operated through the switchboard which was located in Mt Beauty. This booklet also gives names of staff and some workmen - their occupation and their whereabouts of work at the time. Cardboard cover with pages inside bound by metal clasp. Pages divided with tabbed headings:- Bogong, Mt Beauty, West Kiewa, McKay Creek Howmans, Rocky Valley Langford's Gaptelephone directory kiewa hydro electric scheme, kiewa hydro electric scheme telephones

This phone was used at the Mt Beauty Primary School.Historical: The SEC used a switchboard to connect people in Mt Beauty and their workers stationed throughout the Kiewa Hydro Scheme. This phone enabled the Mt Beauty Primary School to ring parents etc. and for them to ring the school. Also refer to article in "This Week" Newsletter 30th June 2023 and attached to KVHS 0050Black bakelite telephone used to sit on a bench or table. Hand piece attached by a coiled wire coated with rubber. Front of telephone, in the centre, is a small handle that can be turned around in a clock wise direction - used to connect with the switchboard or, in some areas, used to connect with others by way of morse code eg. 1 big wind and 2 short winds.telephone. communications. mount beauty primary school.

This handset appeared via Australia Post Office and was to some degree manufactured in Britain just prior to 1939. During and after World War II these handsets were made in Australia. The handset belonged to the SEC Victoria and later the Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme. As this unit has a winder arm (to notify the switchboard) it would have resided in a workshop/machine shop and not in an office. The durability of the bakelite covering gave good protection in any environment. In years later the bakelite came in colours. This type of handset being able to endure rough handling was ideal for the surroundings of the alpine terrain. It would have been at the various outside outposts or foreman posts as swift communications was essential and communications with all sectors of work in the Hydro Electricity Scheme was mandatory, not only for safety reasons but also for efficient operational day to day progress. Also refer to article in "This Week" Newsletter 30th June 2023. Article attached to paper copy.This Australian Post Office 184 black coloured bakelite wall mounted phone was initially developed by Ericsson Telephones Ltd Britain. It was used by the SEC Office based at Mount Beauty and therefore has a winder (for power and notification to the switchboard. The hand piece (large ear and voice receptors)is placed vertically above the dial up winder.On the winder plate in hand writing is" turn handle lift handset" and below the handle "when finished replace handset turn handle"sec communications, wall telephone, internal communications kiewa hydro electricity scheme