The Greater Works of Sir Charles Todd

Sir Charles Todd

This year the National Science Week included a Sir Charles Todd symposium.
Now you may be thinking, what has Charles Todd got to do with science, particular science of today.  Wasn't he that bloke that put up those telegraph poles between Adelaide and Darwin 100 plus years ago?  And Yes, you are correct.

It's unfortunate that while the Overland Telegraph Line was a technological feat of its time (1872), it over shadowed Sir Charles Todd's other achievement which in their own right are each significant.  More so, his legacy which is continuing to assist scientist answer many of todays questions around global climate change.  In terms of current technology, as one speaker at the symposium put it, "Sir Charles should be credited with the first mobile communication device and SMS messaging as he carried around a pocket Morse code key to connected to any telegraph-line to communicate around the globe".  That last one is stretching it a bit!

The symposium grew from an idea of the Todd family descendants to celebrating the 140th anniversary of the Overland Telegraph Line completion.  It appears that the Wether Bureau was asked to brief the family on the meteorological works of Sir Charles Todd.  On reflection, Mac Benoy a volunteer for the Bureau of Meteorology claimed that "Sir Charles meteorological contribution was a result of his breadth of involvement in other fields including surveying, electrical, engineering, telegraphy, post and astronomy".   To provide completeness it would require others to showcase Sir Charles works.  So the symposium was formed.

The Saga at Charlotte Waters in Outback South Australia

Charlotte Waters or to some Bleak House

During the construction of the Overland Telegraph Line a waterhole was located in 1871 by two surveyors McMinn and Knuckey . A repeater station was established in 1872 along with a post office, general store and residence. 

Remains of Station's Building & Underground Water Tank

The Charlotte Waters Overland Telegraph Station was nicknamed Bleak House by the telegraphists as the area was a desolate gibber plain with no plants or trees. As technology improved some telegraph stations including Charlotte Waters were by-passed. The building was then used as police stations, but certain vital equipment and postal services were left, which the policeman and his wife maintained.
The small grave located at the rear of the ruins surrounded with some ironwork railings is that of a dog belonging to a Pat Byrne. (Blacksmith when the Telegraph station was in operation)

Fred Sharpe in his Camel Drawn Car

An old man had been living in the abandoned police station during 1939. Fred Sharpe (Assistant to Old Andado owners McDill) in the same year discovered the man dead body. Sharpe and a policeman buried the old man near the ruins just days before CT Madigan started his expedition.

The Kennetts

Now for the heart breaking saga, which critically affected an outback policeman, his family neighbours and friends, occurred in Central Australia in 1936. Police Constable Jack Kennett, his wife Isabel and their five children lived at the lonely Charlotte Waters Police Station.