Introduction

At two locations in the Port Stephens area, several historic metal telegraph poles are found in the landscape.

This paper explores these locations:

1. On the telegraph line to the Port Stephens Lighthouse – (1862)

This telegraph line from the mainland across the Fingal Spit to the Point Stephens Lighthouse on Fingal Island was constructed to the Lighthouse and would been operational until 1898, when it was severed permanently by the Maitland Gale.

From 1917, a telephone line connected the Lighthouse with the mainland.

Further details of the Maitland Gale which washed away the land spit from the mainland are published at this link on the website.

Two disused metal telegraph poles with the Fingal Spit in the background – circa 1955

The following photographs are of the remaining metal telegraph poles on Fingal Island, not far from the Lighthouse, and were taken by the author circa 2017.

Metal Telegraph Pole – Fingal Island [Author Photo 2017]

Metal Telegraph Pole – Fingal Island [Author Photo 2017]

Metal Telegraph Pole – Fingal Island [Author Photo 2017]

Metal Telegraph Pole – Fingal Island [Author Photo 2017]

2. A metal telegraph pole situated mid-way up to the summit of Mount Tomaree.

This pole may have been part of the military communication network on the site of the former Tomaree Battey in the Second World War.

The following photos were taken by the author in 2013. The pole appears to be no longer in this position.

Metal Telegraph Pole – Mount Tomaree [Author Photo 2013]

Metal Telegraph Pole – Mount Tomaree [Author Photo 2013]

Addendum

There is a similar metal telegraph pole near the Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse, at Seal Rocks, which was constructed in 1875. It would be of a similar age to those at the Point Stephens Lighthouse.

Metal Telegraph Pole at Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse – Seal Rocks [Author photo 2024]

Researched and compiled by Kevin McGuinness

March 2025