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1830
Joseph Henry constructs the first long distance telegraphic device, by sending electronic currents across over a mile of wire, subsequently activating an electromagnet, causing a bell to ring.
1835
Samuel Morse builds the first American telegraph (which is also being developed independently in Europe).
1837
Samuel Morse patents a working telegraph machine, using a dots and spaces code in place of the letters of the alphabet.
1838
Samuel Morse successfully sends up to 10 words per minute through his new system.
1842
Alexander Bain invents the first facsimile machine, capable of receiving signals from a telegraph wire and translating them into images on paper.
He uses a clock mechanism to transfer an image from one sheet of electrically conductive paper to another.
1850
Samuel Morse and his assistant evolve the simple code of dots and dashes, now internationally known as 'Morse code'.
1858
The first inter-colony telegraph links are built between Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Three years later, Brisbane is linked with Sydney.
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1861
The Sydney-Brisbane telegraph line is inaugurated.
1869
The first successful submarine telegraphic cable linking Tasmania to the mainland is laid.
1872
The 2000 mile Overland Telegraphic Cable line is completed under the direction of South Australian Post-Master General Charles Todd. At Darwin it later connects with a submarine cable in Java, putting Australia in touch with the rest of the world.
1876
At the age of 29 Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone.
1877
The Perth-Adelaide telegraph line opens. South Australia becomes the first Australian colony to join the International Telegraph Union later to become the Telecommunication Union.
1878
Following the invention of the telephone, several long-distance transmission experiments are successfully conducted in Australia, at distances of up to 400 km.
1880
Only two years after the first exchange in the world is built, Australia's first telephone exchanges open in Melbourne and Brisbane, followed by Sydney in 1881.
1883
Exchanges open in Adelaide and Hobart, the Perth exchange opens in 1887.
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1893
The first public telephone is opened at Sydney GPO.
1898
The Overland Telegraph Line, also known as the Magic Chain, is made from a single strand of iron wire. A second copper wire is added to the telegraphic connection with Europe and it remains a vital link for decades.
1900
30,000 telephone services are operating in Australia.
1901
The newly formed Commonwealth Government takes over all phone, telegraph and postal services.
1902
Dr Arthur Korn invents and improves a practical facsimile machine: the photoelectric system.
1907
The Sydney-Melbourne trunk telephone line opens.
1912
The first public automated exchange is introduced in Geelong, Victoria.
1912
Automated telephone switching came into place.
1914
The first automatic exchange opens in New South Wales, in the suburb of Newtown.
1914
Edouard Belin establishes the concept for remote fax photo/news reporting.
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1922
The Sydney-Brisbane telephone trunk line opens following the introduction of thermionic repeaters.
1923
The first Australian radio broadcasting stations, 2BL and 2FC, open in Sydney. The conversion is made from Morse to machine operation on main telegraph routes.
1925
Australia's first telephone carrier system (with three channels) is installed between Melbourne and Sydney enabling one wire to carry more than one conversation.
1930
The Australia-UK beam wireless service starts and a year later international manual exchanges open in various Australian States.
1934
The first wireless beam picturegram service opens between England and Australia.
1936
A submarine cable is laid between Tasmania and mainland Australia, and at this time it is the longest in the world.
1946
The Commonwealth Government establishes the Overseas Telecommunications Commission which becomes a monopoly provider of all forms of telecommunications linking Australia and the rest of the world.
1948
A telephone service to ships at sea is established and the same year a direct radio telephone service links Australia and the Antarctic expedition stations at Heard Island and Macquarie Island.
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1952
Temporary services are established between Australia and Finland for the duration of the Helsinki Olympic Games. Permanent services are to follow.
1953
Perth becomes the first capital city to have an all automatic telephone network. By 1957, 98% of telephones in capital cities are automatic.
1954
Australia's first teleprinter exchange service opens in Melbourne and Sydney with 80 customers.
1956
The Melbourne Olympic Games proves a starting point for all forms of telecommunications growth in Australia with the Overseas Telecommunications Commission developing many resources and facilities to cater for the unprecedented demand. A new radio telephone exchange is established linking Perth to London.
1959
Growing telegram traffic makes the APO apply a message switching system called Teleprinter Reperforator Exchange Switching System (TRESS). It was an innovation which hastened the end of morse telegraphy.
1964
Australia becomes a founding member of International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation (INTELSAT).
1964
The first major installation of coaxial cable opens and links Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. It has a potential capacity of thousands of simultaneous phone calls, with the added possibility of relaying television programs.
1966
The telex service is converted to fully automatic. It is linked to 100 overseas countries and about 4000 customers throughout Australia.
1966
The first international satellite broadcast between Australia and the UK takes place.
1967
First direct satellite broadcast from North America to Australia. Australia is one of the first 22 countries to participate in a world-wide live television link-up via satellite during the 'Our World' program.
1969
NASA's moon landing is seen on Australian television through joint participation of Overseas Telecommunications Commission and the PMG.
1970
Transistors enable most coaxial cable equipment to be placed in small underground containers, accessible through a manhole.
1970
Optical fibres are commercially produced for the first time.
1974
Videotex links three already well-established technologies of television, computer and telephone into a new tool, an interactive system that includes the possibility of purchasing goods, booking travel, sending messages and transferring money at the touch of a button.
1975
On 12 June, the Australian Telecommunications Commission was established, trading as Telecom Australia - separating the Australian Postal Commission and the Australian Telecommunications Commission.
1976
Automated direct dialing is introduced in Australia, giving access to 13 countries. Its popularity is such that by the end of the decade its use has grown eightfold. This international dialing is now called IDD and has universal acceptance.
1977
$222 million is spent on telecommunications materials in this year alone.
1978
Push button dialing is introduced to Australia.
1979
The first major solar powered trunk system in the world opens between Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.
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1980
The internet makes its appearance: an electronic code that enables computers across the world to communicate with each other via a phone line.
1981
The first fully computerised telephone exchange opens in Victoria.
1981
Telecom launches the mobile phone, a significant development in communication for travelling workers.
1983
The conference phone is introduced to the public, a phone that can store numbers, have abbreviated dialling and call-back facilities.
1985
Computerised customer billing starts.
1987
Cardphone payphones which accept major credit cards are introduced.
1988
The Electronic White Pages are introduced to provide direct access to a constantly updated national White Pages database.
1989
The first data network phase of the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) launches.
1990
Phonecards are introduced with cards available in $2, $5, $10 and $20 denominations.
1992
On February 1st, Telecom and the Overseas Telecommunications Corporation (OTC) are merged to become the Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation.
1993
Telecom changes its trading name for trading overseas to Telstra Corporation Limited in April.
1993
The last mail-delivered lettergram was sent in Melbourne by Australia Post on 1st October at 5pm EST.
1995
On 1st July 1995 Telecom changes it's trading name to Telstra for domestic trading.
1996
High speed broadband is available to the public through Telstra's Cable service.
1996
Telstra launches BigPond (internet provider service) in November.
1997
The first Telstra shares are sold to the Australian public by the Commonwealth, Telstra is listed on the Australian stock exchange for the first time.
2000
BigPond introduces ADSL, which is to become the most popular broadband service in the country.
2000
Optical fibres are installed into the domestic network. High Definition TV (HDTV) and multi-media equipment become cost-effective for domestic use.
2004
BigPond Movies and BigPond Music are launched.
2004
Broadband becomes available at dial-up prices enabling wider consumer access.
2004
Telstra launches an Australian first with its Talking Text messaging to fixed lines.
2006
Australia's first online movies download service launches in February.
2006
In September of this year 3G850 Wireless Network is rolled out across Australia.
2006
Telstra's Next G™ network is launched in October providing the world's fastest 3G mobile network.
2007
Telstra launches its Next IP™ network - the largest fully integrated wireline and wireless national Internet Protocol (IP) network in the world.
2008
Telstra Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Hugh Bradlow demonstrates the first hologram transmission beamed live from Melbourne to Adelaide.
Watch the video at nowwearetalking.
Watch the video at nowwearetalking.
