Motorola introduced the Bag Phone in 1988. These phones offered more durability and higher power output (up to 3 watts) than more conventional mobile phones of the time. Bag Phones were expensive to purchase and operate. They became available within the Department in the early 1990s but their use was very restricted to staff like fire communications duty officers. Senior regional managers also had bag phones. Bag Phones were also bulky and heavy and were often known as "The Brick". The 12 volt sealed lead-acid rechargeable battery provided up to 2.5 hours of talk time and 48 hours of standby time. They were replaced from the mid 1990s by smaller, analogue flip-phones with lighter Nicad batteries manufactured by companies like Nokia. The mobile phone network was patchy in country Victoria where two main telecommunications companies operated - Telstra and Optus.Motorola Bag Phone with handsetOptus 018 594 510 No battery Includes handset, aerial and 12 volt car-charger jack in vinyl bagforests commission victoria (fcv), communications

This photo of the Telecom Tower was one of a series of photos taken of landmarks and houses of the area by Ken Hall in c1980. The PMG / Telecom / Telstra tower was built in 1961-1963 as a relay station to support television and radio links between city and regional broadcasting stations. The tower itself was 45 m in height with a 2 storey building for equipment and staff surrounded by garden. From the beginning it was opposed by local residents. In response to a Telstra application to replace it with a 40m slimline monopole, the City of Whitehorse controversially sought to have the structure heritage-listed, a move which caused much debate. In May 2015 Council ultimately rescinded its decision and gave permission for demolition, however Telstra deemed the permit conditions to be too restrictive and decided to continue to use the tower. The permit (to replace the tower) expired in September 2017. A black and white photo of local landmark visible from many vantage points in Surrey Hills and surrounding area, as it was built on the high point of the area.telecommunications tower, city of whitehorse, heritage overlay, heritage study, development, pmg tower, telstra, telecom, harding street, canterbury road

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