First published in The Age on April 10, 1962
Light-Hearted Talk Opens Coaxial Link
Canberra – The £5 million Sydney-Canberra-Melbourne coaxial cable – which will carry, simultaneously television programmes and hundreds of telephone conversation – was officially opened today.
State and Federal ministers listen to the first telephone call between Melbourne and Sydney on the coaxial cable system. Canberra, 1962.Credit:Staff photographer
The Prime Minister (Mr. Menzies) opened the cable for the first official telephone call by throwing a switch at a ceremonial luncheon at Canberra.
The Lord Mayors of Sydney and Melbourne, at similar luncheons in the two cities, were immediately connected for a light-hearted but historic conversation. More than 150 political, civic and business leaders who attended the luncheons "tapped" the line for the Lord Mayors' conversation.
Until the Prime Minister opened the coaxial cable, guests at each of the three luncheons heard proceedings at the other two functions relayed through loudspeakers connected to the old inter-State land-line.
All Listened
Then, when Mr. Menzies connected Cr. Nathan in Melbourne and Alderman Jensen in Sydney, each of the guests was able to listen in on a white handset telephone set before him on the luncheon table.
“In a tunnel beneath Castlereagh Street, a technician is installing the racks (top right of pic.) that will carry the £3 million coaxial cabel from the City South telephone exchange on the start of its 590 miles route to Melbourne. Other cables carry existing telephone lines. January 18, 1960.”Credit:Staff photographer
The complicated telecommunication exercise went off without a hitch.
The two Lord Mayors made the most of their opportunity to talk coaxially to each other, and to a captive audience which included Federal and State Cabinet Ministers, senior officials and representatives of the firms which helped construct the cable.
Alderman Jensen congratulated Cr. Nathan on the performance of his horse, Merabilly, at Caulfield on Saturday and asked how things were going at the Melbourne luncheon.
S.P. Set-up
Cr. Nathan, surveying the battery of telephones installed for guests, commented — "I could describe this as a first-class S.P. set-up, Harry."
“Coaxial cable entering O.T.C.’s Paddington terminal station for the land section to Bondi beach. December 2, 1963.”Credit:The Telecommunication Commission (Australia)
Alderman Jensen: "Tell me more about S.P., Maurie. I understand that in Melbourne you are quite advanced in that field."
Cr. Nathan, sombrely: "We were, but we've lost our lead."
P.M.G. officials at the Canberra luncheon grinned embarrassedly.
From Sydney, Alderman Jensen said he hoped the revenue from the new cable would enable the Commonwealth to pay municipal fates, at least on Post Office property.
The Prime Minister smiled at this reference to a long-standing municipal grievance, which the Lord Mayors discussed only last week at a meeting here with the Federal Treasurer (Mr. Holt).
Tullamarine
From Melbourne came Cr. Nathan's voice — "Harry, the thought does cross my mind that with your magnificent opera house, our cultural centre, the coaxial cable and the new standard gauge railway lining our two cities, I suppose you have no objection if we fight hard for an international airport at Tullamarine.
Alderman Jensen, suavely – “I think you should do anything to increase Melbourne’s stature.”
Cr. Nathan: “Well, unless something is done it is going to take the Prime Minister longer to get from the airport to the heart of the city, than to fly from Sydney to Melbourne.”
In Canberra, Mr. Menzies puffed enigmatically on an after-lunch cigar.
Before they hung up, the Lord Mayors arranged to meet in Melbourne on Friday – when Alderman Jensen is to travel from Sydney in the first standard gauge train.
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