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Difference between revisions of "Mallala Telephone Exchange"

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{{Building
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{{Place
 +
|Places category=Building
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|Site type=
 
|Street name=Wasleys Rd. also at Red Banks Rd.
 
|Street name=Wasleys Rd. also at Red Banks Rd.
 
|Town or Locality=Mallala
 
|Town or Locality=Mallala
|Geocoordinates=34.439115658234° S, 138.51171970367° E
+
|Geocoordinates=-34.439115658234, 138.51171970367
 
|Date constructed=1913/01/01
 
|Date constructed=1913/01/01
 +
|Date approximate=No
 
|Used for=Telephone Exchange
 
|Used for=Telephone Exchange
 
}}
 
}}
==  ==
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The first manual telephone switchboard was installed at the Mallala Post Office in 1913 and the female telephonists worked shifts during the day. A young man slept on the premises from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. to answer any calls, but no one would phone during those hours unless in an emergency. The first subscriber in 1913 was East Bros & Co Pty Ltd. their number being Mallala 1. The manual switchboard was later used in the Mallala Telephone Exchange which was situated at 4 Red Banks Rd.  
 
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The first manual telephone switchboard was at the Mallala Post Office and the female telephonists worked shifts during the day. A young man slept on the premises from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. to answer any calls, but no one would phone during those hours unless in an emergency. The first subscriber in 1913 was East Bros & Co Pty Ltd. their number being Mallala 1. The manual switchboard was later used in the Mallala Telephone Exchange which was situated at 4 Red Banks Rd.  
+
  
 
In the early days a network of telephone lines spread out to connecting points, from which farmers would rig up their own lines to their properties.Often a single line to a property was shared by several neighbouring properties. Known as "the party line" the recipient of the call was alerted by their own individual ring tone.  The party line meant that no conversation could be kept private and news of births, marriages, deaths and disasters often spread quickly through the local community. Despite any disadvantages, for families remote from one another, the telephone eased the burden of isolation and was invaluable in times of emergency.  
 
In the early days a network of telephone lines spread out to connecting points, from which farmers would rig up their own lines to their properties.Often a single line to a property was shared by several neighbouring properties. Known as "the party line" the recipient of the call was alerted by their own individual ring tone.  The party line meant that no conversation could be kept private and news of births, marriages, deaths and disasters often spread quickly through the local community. Despite any disadvantages, for families remote from one another, the telephone eased the burden of isolation and was invaluable in times of emergency.  
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The Mallala exchange was converted to automatic computer operation on 18th June 1980.  
 
The Mallala exchange was converted to automatic computer operation on 18th June 1980.  
  
The manual switchboard is now an exhibit in the Mallala Museum.  
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The manual switchboard is now an exhibit in the Mallala Museum.
 
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{{Info
==Related Articles==
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|External Links=Mallala Postal Services,Merva East
 
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|Sources=Mallala Museum records
*
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|FlickrID=4010631497,4010631145
 
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== External Links ==
+
 
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*[[Mallala Postal Services|Mallala Post Office]]
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*[[Merva East|Merva East]]
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== Sources ==
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*Mallala Museum records
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{{Flickr
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|FlickrID=<flickr>4010631497</flickr>
+
}}
+
{{Flickr
+
|FlickrID=<flickr>4010631145</flickr>
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}}
 
}}
 +
{{MemoryHeader}}
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{{MemoryFooter}}

Latest revision as of 05:16, 14 March 2012

Fast Facts
Address: Wasleys Rd. also at Red Banks Rd.
Town or Locality: Mallala
Year constructed: 1913/01/01
Used for: Telephone Exchange
Loading map...

The first manual telephone switchboard was installed at the Mallala Post Office in 1913 and the female telephonists worked shifts during the day. A young man slept on the premises from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. to answer any calls, but no one would phone during those hours unless in an emergency. The first subscriber in 1913 was East Bros & Co Pty Ltd. their number being Mallala 1. The manual switchboard was later used in the Mallala Telephone Exchange which was situated at 4 Red Banks Rd.

In the early days a network of telephone lines spread out to connecting points, from which farmers would rig up their own lines to their properties.Often a single line to a property was shared by several neighbouring properties. Known as "the party line" the recipient of the call was alerted by their own individual ring tone.  The party line meant that no conversation could be kept private and news of births, marriages, deaths and disasters often spread quickly through the local community. Despite any disadvantages, for families remote from one another, the telephone eased the burden of isolation and was invaluable in times of emergency.

The girls working the exchange played a valuable role as they could communicate with the subscriber and offer assistance in an emergency.

The Mallala exchange was converted to automatic computer operation on 18th June 1980.

The manual switchboard is now an exhibit in the Mallala Museum.

External Links

Sources

  • Mallala Museum records
Mallala Exchange
Mallala Exchange
Mallala Switch Board
Mallala Switch Board


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