Formation of OT-150 Committee
The OT-150 committee was formed as a result of 10 years or cooperative work by citizen historians with an interest in the work of South
Australia’s STEM pioneer, Sir Charles Todd. Todd is best known as the individual responsible for the conception and project management of
the Overland Telegraph Line.
A roundtable of interested organisations and individuals in S.A. met in late November 2021 to discuss OT sesquicentenary activities and
how a coordinated approach might benefit all. The meeting resulted in a master list of planned events and a commitment to create a focal
website. In February 2022 the coordinating Committee of the N.T. Sesquicentennary agreed to join the commitment to a common
coordination. It became evident that 2022 was not only an opportunity to commemorate the sesquicentenary but also a fertile opportunity
to create legacy historical material that would survive into the future.
As the South Austalian associations organised their event, the equivalent Northern Territory organisations joined the committee with Derek
Pugh joining the committee as the NT representative.
The Website - 4 environments:
EVENTS gives a brief overview of commemorative events
planned in S.A. and N.T., their schedule, venue and contact
details. As plans are firmed up, there may be greater detail
available on a second page.
GALLERY contains a collection of images that relate to the
OT story in terms of places, people, events and others that
are relevant. They are presented in no particular order and
exist to give the viewer a feeling of the historical context of
the OT Line.
LIBRARY is possibly the most fertile part of the website as it
contains useful historic and contemporary documents. The
contents of the library will grow considerably through the
year as research creates new material and investigations re-
discover existing important documents and web material. It
is the intention that most of the contents of the Library will
be integrated in book form and printed to be included in
national and state library collections for future reference and
free download.
DISCUSSION BOARD is a traditional online bulletin
board forum for those interested in the wide-ranging
issues associated with the OT sesquicentenary. Members
are self-nominated and must request to sign-on. It can be
accessed by clicking the symbol.
Committee Members are:
Mac Benoy (Coordinator)
Todd Researcher (meteorology)
Gavin Beinke
Todd and OTL Researcher
Stephen Gillam-Smith
Todd family UK genealogist
Susie Herzberg OAM
Urban and Environmental Planner
Derek Pugh OAM
Author (N.T. OT-150 Co-ordinator)
Richard Venus
Engineering Historian
Acknowledgements - Societies:
Adelaide River Museum
Northern Territory National Trust
Alice Springs Telegraph Station
NT Parks and Wildlife
Astronomical Society of S. A.
Philatelic Council of S.A.
Instit. of Engineering Technology
Royal Geographical Society of S.A.
John McDouall Stuart Society
History Trust of South Australia
Katherine Museum
South Australian Museum
Mates of the Murranji
The Pioneers Association of S.A.
N Territory Library and Archives
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Retired Group
Acknowledgements - Individuals:
Keith Conlon OAM
Chair, S.A. Heritage Council
Andrew Crouch
Author and Telecommunications Engineer
Dr. Rob Morrison OAM
Curiosity Show
Formation of S.A. OT-150 Committee
The OT-150 committee was formed as a result of 10 years of
cooperative work by citizen historians with an interest in the work of
South Australia’s STEM pioneer, Sir Charles Todd. Todd is best known as
the individual responsible for the conception and project management
of the Overland Telegraph Line.
A roundtable of interested organisations and individuals met in late
November 2021 to discuss OT sesquicentenary activities and how a
coordinated approach might benefit all. The meeting resulted in a
master list of planned events and a commitment to create a focal
website. It became evident that 2022 was not only an opportunity to
commemorate the sesquicentenary but also a fertile opportunity to
create legacy historical material that would survive into the future.
As the South Austalian associations organised their event, the
equivalent Northern Territory organisations joined the committee with
Derek Pugh joining the committee as the NT representative.
Committee Members are:
Mac Benoy (Coordinator)
Todd Researcher (meteorology)
Gavin Beinke
Todd and OTL Researcher
Susie Herzberg OAM
Todd family South Australia
Stephen-Gillam Smith
Todd family UK genealogist
Derek Pugh OAM
Author (N.T. OT-150)
Richard Venus
Engineering Historian
The Website - 4 environments:
EVENTS gives a brief overview of commemorative events planned in
S.A. and N.T., their schedule, venue and contact details. As plans are
firmed up, there may be greater detail available on a second page.
GALLERY contains a collection of images that relate to the OT story
in terms of places, people, events and others that are relevant. They
are presented in no particular order and exist to give the viewer a
feeling of the historical context of the OT Line.
LIBRARY is possibly the most fertile part of the website, contains
useful historic and contemporary documents. The contents of the
library will grow considerably through the year as research creates new
material and investigations re-discover existing important documents
and web material. It is the intention that most of the contents of the
Library will be integrated in book form and printed to be included in
national and state library collections for future reference and free
download.
DISCUSSION BOARD is a traditional online bulletin board forum
for those interested in the wide-ranging issues associated with the OT
sesquicentenary. Members are self-nominated and must request to
sign-on. It can be accessed by clicking the symbol
Acknowledgements - Societies:
Adelaide River Museum
Northern Territory National Trust
Alice Springs Telegraph Station
NT Parks and Wildlife
Astronomical Society of S. A.
Philatelic Council of S.A.
Instit. of Engineering Technology
Royal Geographical Society of S.A.
John McDouall Stuart Society
History Trust of South Australia
Katherine Museum
South Australian Museum
Mates of the Murranji
The Pioneers Association of S.A.
N Territory Library and Archives
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Retired Group
Acknowledgements - Individuals:
Keith Conlon OAM
Chair, S.A. Heritage Council
Andrew Crouch
Author and Telecommunications Engineer
Dr. Rob Morrison OAM
Curiosity Show
