Historical information

This item is a magneto wall telephone, common in Australia from the 1890s to the 1930s, particularly in rural homes, post offices, and businesses. The user would turn the side crank to generate a signal to ring the local exchange or another subscriber. The mouthpiece was fixed to the unit, and the receiver would have been held to the ear while speaking. These phones were part of early manual switchboard networks, often serviced by local telephone operators.
This example is representative of early communication technology in regional Victoria, possibly used in Natimuk or surrounding areas before the advent of automatic telephone exchanges.

Physical description

A wall-mounted wooden telephone, characteristic of early 20th-century manual telephone systems. The upper section features two prominent metal bells for the ringer, with a receiver hook and a rotary or crank handle on the side for generating signal current. The centre has a mouthpiece (transmitter) fixed in place, and the lower portion contains a hinged writing or message shelf with a key lock, likely housing the internal components or a compartment for note-taking or message slips.
The body is made of stained timber with carved decorative elements at the top, including a small finial or crest. The piece exhibits wear consistent with age and use.