Telecommunications in Australia
Telecommunications in Australia refers to communication in Australia through electronic means, using devices such as telephone, television, radio or computer, and services such as the telephony and broadband networks. Telecommunications have always been important in Australia given the "tyranny of distance" with a dispersed population. Governments have driven telecommunication development and have a key role in its regulation.
A memorial at Narrandera to the "J" trunk route linking the Australian cities and towns on the east coast
An old bakelite ash tray showing an example of a single digit phone number used in the early days of telecommunication.
Fibre-optic cable in a Telstra pit, 2010
Internet enabled payphone, 2012
Postmaster-General's Department
The Postmaster-General's Department (PMG) was a department of the Australian federal government, established at Federation in 1901, whose responsibilities included the provision of postal and telegraphic services throughout Australia. It was abolished in December 1975 and replaced by the Postal and Telecommunications Department. Two separate legal entities had been established in July 1975 to take over the department's operations: Telecom Australia and Australia Post.
Manual telephone, c. 1950. The phone and lines remained the property of the PMG.
The "PMG" stamp can still be found on many manhole covers, such as this one in central Perth.
Image: John Forrest Greenham and Evans (cropped)
Image: Portrait of James George Drake, ca. 1900 (cropped)
