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Subsea Telegraph Cables Landing Site, Darwin
Permanent Declaration
Place
These cables are the physical remains of the subsea telegraph lines that ran from Darwin to the Banjoewangi cable station in Java.The subsea telegraph cables between Darwin and Java were part of the international infrastructure network that connected Australia with the world.
The subsea telegraph cables are the remnant of the telegraph cables that connected Port Darwin with the island of Java, specifically the east coast township of Banyoewangi (now Banyuwangi). From Java another subsea cable connected to Singapore, providing Darwin and Australia telegraphic communication with the world. Installed and operating by 1871, the Port Darwin service connected Australia for the first time with the international telegraph system, transforming Australia’s communications and commerce. The decision to land the cable at Port Darwin was a key factor in the township’s establishment. The subsea telegraph was a bold and innovative example of 19th century engineering, with it culminating in a network of subsea cables, working in conjunction with land based telegraph lines, to provide rapid communication across the world. The cable service was operational until 1942 when the Japanese bombed the cable station and the island of Java was invaded.

Three cables connected Java with Port Darwin. These were the initial cable (1871), a second (backup) cable (1880) and a third cable installed to replace the initial cable (1884). The remains of two cables lie parallel to each other in the mudflats just below Parliament House in Darwin. Each cable is a few hundred metres in length.

These two cables have a distinct ability to demonstrate the nature and design of the telegraph cable and are singular in showing the cable making landfall. Other sections of the cables are located in deep-water and therefore not visible to the general public. Lengths of these deeper sections have been disturbed, damaged and in some cases removed. Therefore the historic cables located in Darwin harbour are discontinuous and under some threat, making the cables in the mudflats important representative samples.
07/03/2014
07/03/2014
18/10/2019
06/09/2019
Comment sought
18/06/2020
18/06/2020
18/06/2020
HE2014/0003
Historic
Photo
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewSLSA PRG-742-5-84.jpegTelegraph at landfall Darwin Harbour 14/JUL/15
ViewSubsea telegraph cable on seafloor.jpgSubsea cable on the seafloor21/JUL/20
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Scan
   
no data found
Further Information
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
Viewinstrument signed with definition of site.pdf - 23/FEB/21
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Approximate Location
   
LAIS KeyStreet NumberStreet NameSuburbLocation CodeLot NumberLTO PlanPartTenure
200 10881 0 DARWIN CITY20010881 - - Freehold
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