Eucla was established in 1877 as a manual repeater station for the Overland
Telegraph. A jetty and 1km tram line was constructed for offloading supplies
to this remote area. At the time both the South and Western Australian
colonial administrations operated out of Eucla's telegraph station. Before
the invention of Morse Code South Australian staff employed what was known
as the "Victorian Alphabet", and Western Australian telegraphers
used what was known as the "Universal Code." Today Western Australian
and South Australian rivalries appear to be largely confined to the football
field. Come on Port Power!
Originally, Eucla's "Delisser Sandhills" were considerably
smaller than today. In the 1890's a rabbit plague passed through the area
eating dune vegetation which caused large sand drifts that repeatedly
covered and uncovered the telegraph station. Today the telegraph station
remains in ruin and the area is reportedly haunted by a ghost.
Photo credit: Richard Dale (Flight
Club) (Click on the photo to enlarge)
Photo credit: Richard Dale (Flight
Club) (Click on the photo to enlarge)
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