BEECHWORTH'S TELEGRAPH

The Telegraph championed by Samuel Morse arrived to an impatiently waiting Beechworth in January 1858. The Victorian Government in 1854 had commissioned former US Telegraphist Samuel McGowan, a protege of Morse, to establish contact with their many goldfields . Connections to adjoining States of New South Wales and South Australia and eventually the World. The story of this challenging undertaking and the lives of those involved is an interesting summation of Australia s first experience of electronics. 1835-1852 Located in the foothills of Victoria s snowfields, part of Ovens district. ABORIGINALS being evicted from their tribal lands, by greedy SQUATTERS is the scene of the future Town of Beechworth. GOLD was found; 14 lbs in a Teapot in a day. The Rush was on, Thousands from around the world. Came to get rich. 14,000 ounces was transferred to Melbourne Fortnightly for years. 1853 A Town was established with an instant population, commercial shops and 60 hotels. Akin to America s wild west, Outlaws, Claim jumpers, Water rights disputes, Racial altercations. A Town with little Law. The Government built up Police, developed Posts and Telegraphs. Etc. Creating Beechworth, the Administration Centre of the Whole Ovens District. Morse code ceased to be used for the Telegraph. Computers had arrived. Followed in mid 1970 s by the MORSECODIANS a group of former telegraphists taking up the challenge of keeping Morse code Telegrams alive with branches all over Australia and still operating today..