Barrow Creek Telegraph Station Historical Reserve

Definitely worth the stop to look at. Beautifully maintained and great this information sheet explaining the significance

Loved this place. Friendly, quirky and definitely one of a kind. Don't miss it.

Good knowledge of how the pioneers first relayed messages

Good simple reminder of how things used to be in this great country. Worth a quick stop to check it out.

Loved the place. Really great outback experience. Got to see the place inside and out. Owners are real outback people.

Historical building. Was closed when we were there.

Barrow Creek was named in 1860 by John McDouall Stuart after J H Barrow, a member of the South Australian Parliament.The site for the Telegraph Station was chosen in September 1871 by John Ross' Overland Telegraph exploring party, which was assessing Stuart's route to set up a telegraph line through Central Australia.The site was chosen due to the presence of surface water and for a well site of about 10 to 12 feet.By 1880 the station was very much in its present form with an elaborate stone fence, wagon shed, blacksmith's hut, cemetery and a verandah on the western side of the main building.A century later the microwave telecommunications link replaced the telephone carrier wave system making the Barrow Creek Telegraph Station redundant.The Telegraph Station was one of fifteen original stations, three of which are now managed by Parks and Wildlife as Historical Reserves, the other two being Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.

It wasn't open but it was fascinating to see that this was the first place that built a connection between Darwin and Adelaide. It is right next to a petrol station which has an old plane on site which you can take a photo with and toilets.

Telegraph station preservation is sensational.There is valuable on site historical imformation to read, see how bloody tough those isolated pioneers were,

Great piece of Australian History. Definately with the stop.