Backward Glance: Operator please – I need to make a trunk call

Over the past 50 years communication systems on the Sunshine Coast have changed significantly.

Gone are the telephone exchanges where calls were manually connected by the telephonist asking “What number please?” or “Do you want to extend your call for another three minutes?”.

Calls were timed and trunk calls to Brisbane and long distance areas were considered a luxury by many households and used sparingly on important and special occasions.

It was often a long wait, holding the telephone handset while a trunk call was placed and connected for you by the switchboard operator.

Today subscriptions to land lines have declined and mobile phones and smart phones can do what early inventors of communication could only dream about.

The history of early communication systems date back to about 1830 when American Joseph Henry constructed the first long distance telegraphic device, sending an electronic current for a distance of approximately two kilometres via wire and electromagnet to ring a bell.

In 1835, Samuel Morse built the first American telegraph which was also being developed in Europe at that time.

The first commercial electrical telegraph was created in England for Great Western Railway of Britain.

Australia wasn’t too far behind and quickly adopted the wondrous invention.

Queensland’s first telegraph line was introduced in 1861 and connected to Sydney in the same year.

Telegrams provided a fast means of communication and were sent from PMG Post Offices in Australia with a charge per word.

Telegraph boys rode their bicycle to your home and delivered the typed message.

Telegraph lines were soon to become a very necessary instrument of communication.

The telephone came about because of ongoing improvements and developments to the telegraph system.

In August 1876, Scottish-born Alexander Graham Bell had advanced communication methods to the point where he was able to transmit sounds.

Using only the existing telegraph lines, Bell was able to conduct the world's first phone call in front of an audience of amazed onlookers.

Australia’s first Postmaster-General Department was created in 1901 and was known as the PMG.

The PMG became responsible for managing all domestic telephone, telegraph and postal services.

Nambour's first PMG Manual Telephone Exchange was established in 1910 in the town's first Post Office building in Currie Street.

The first recorded mail service near Nambour had commenced in 1885.

Telephone Exchanges were busy places and a new Common Battery Exchange was opened in Nambour in 1953, by which time it was one of the largest switching centres in Queensland.

A reunion for the telephone exchange workers in Nambour highlighted just how busy it was: “Five girls working seven switchboards, plugs flying in all directions, bells ringing everywhere and girls operating madly, the Postmaster and the Supervisor stood back and watched dumbfounded”.

In 1951 there were 600 telephone subscribers connected to the exchange and by 1965, there were 1200 subscribers.

Nambour was the centre of the network of smaller automatic exchanges.

The first stage, laying co-axial cable between Brisbane, Nambour and Gympie, began in 1966.

Telephone operators were available 24 hours per day and worked in shifts.

On June 6, 1969, the then Post Master-General, the Honourable Alan Hulme, officially opened a two-storey Automatic Telephone Exchange at the rear of the Nambour Post Office.

Each subscriber was given a “how to dial card” which explained the new altered method of using the telephone.

By September 1969, the Automatic Trunk Switching exchange gave subscribers in Nambour, Palmwoods, Maroochydore and Buderim trunk dialling facilities to more than 500 centres throughout Australia.

Nambour operators telephoned subscribers to check that the change over from the manual system was operating satisfactorily.

The switch over was the first phase of a $1,500,000 telecommunications project for Nambour and Caloundra, which were jointly serving over 2500 subscribers at the time.

Subscriber trunk dialling was provided initially on a limited basis as well as direct dialling to Brisbane, Ipswich and Redcliffe.

In June 1972, the old Nambour exchange building was moved approximately 30 metres to permit a $700,000 four-storey extension to the main exchange building which opened in 1973.

In 1975, a major restructure took place in the PMG Department and Australia Post and Telecom emerged as separate entities.

Telegram usage had declined by 1975 and in 1993, Australia Post discontinued its letter-gram service, which consisted of postage delivery telegrams.

By 1980 many of the manual exchanges in small towns had closed and operators drove to work in Nambour from Caloundra, Pomona and other areas.

Dress rules had relaxed by the 1980s, but during the early 1970s the ladies operating the switchboards made representation to their manager campaigning for permission to wear slack suits to work.

Permission was given, but strict dress code restrictions were not uncommon for women in many work places throughout Australia at that time.

The old Eumundi manual telephone exchange has recently been restored by Eumundi’s Heritage and Visitor Centre with the assistance of a Sunshine Coast Council grant.

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Naming of the Sunshine Coast, the telephone exchange and other heritage items are on display until August 19 at the USC Art Gallery’s exhibition From the Mountains to the Sea.

The changes to communication systems over the past 50 years are monumental and have changed the way we live.

Thanks to Sunshine Coast Council’s Heritage Library Officers for the words and Picture Sunshine Coast for the images.

In 2017 we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Naming of the Sunshine Coast. For more information on this milestone anniversary visit www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/fifty

Image captions

Hero image: M738673 Manual assistance operators at work in the PMG Nambour Telephone Exchange, 1966.

Carousel images:

Image 1: M191747 Telephone gang in the Sims brothers’ truck driven by Ernest Sims at Kenilworth ca 1927.

Image 2: M603279 PMG Post Office and manual telephone exchange, Currie Street, Nambour, 1910.

Image 3: M734602 Currie Street Nambour looking south from Station Square, 1940s.Telephone booth (centre).

Image 4: M839076 Operators supervised by Norma Carige at work following the switch over to an automatic telephone exchange, Nambour, 25 May 1969.

Image 5: M863704 Fay Muller in front of her families Mooloolah Shop and Post Office ca 1936.

Image 6: M868152 Telegram sent during World War II from Military Post Office Caloundra on 13 March, 1940.