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Barrow Creek Telegraph Station
22235 Stuart Hwy, Davenport
General
Significance
Description
History
Gallery
Resources
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Status
Permanent Declaration
Type
Place
Nominated
22/FEB/94
Nomination Accepted
11/APR/94
Assessment Report Considered
22/FEB/95
Signed By Minister
07/JUN/02
Gazetted
03/JUL/02
Publish Notice Of Declaration
19/OCT/02
LGA
Barkly Shire
Statement Of Heritage Value
Barrow Creek Telegraph Station is of historical, architectural and social significance. The construction of the Overland Telegraph Line from Port Augusta to Darwin in the early 1870s not only provided Australia with an international communication link, it also led to the establishment of Barrow Creek as an important regional centre at a time when Central Australia was largely uninhabited by Europeans. Later, it assisted in the regional development of the pastoral and mining industries.
Initially the Station was a relatively self-sufficient community consisting of stone buildings constructed in 1872. From 1930 it functioned as a Police Station and during WWII played an important role in telephonic communications. The existing buildings are testimony to a particular way of life and also the impact of changes in communications technology. From 1950 the area was used as a line depot and later, was home to Tom Roberts, a line foreman whose contribution to the Territory was recognised by his admittance to the Order of Australia. The site also has some archaeological potential to shed light on the nature of early European occupation and interaction with local Aboriginal groups.
Barrow Creek Telegraph Station became a point of exchange between two cultures. Paradoxically, both cultural conflict and understanding characterised the relationship between local Aboriginal groups and Europeans. The positive aspects of the anthropological research undertaken by Spencer and Gillen at the turn of the 20th Century are in contrast to the Aboriginal attack on the Station that occurred on 22 February 1874. This event is the only know planned attack on staff and property in the history of the Overland Telegraph Line and it remains important to local Aboriginal groups as well as non-Aboriginal Australians.
Value
Historic & Indigenous
Description
This group of structures includes the old telegraph station, stables and connecting stone walls, blacksmiths shop and graves. The telegraph station building consists of eight rooms arranged in a 'U' shape around a central courtyard.
Construction Materials
Stone / Masonry
Associations
Overland Telegraph Line
Instrument
Additional Information