East Melbourne in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia — Oceania

Coaxial Cable - Sydney to Melbourne

Commonwealth of Australia - Postmaster-General's Department

Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, May 11, 2026

1. Coaxial Cable - Sydney to Melbourne Marker

Inscription. To mark the finish of laying a coaxial cable from Sydney to Melbourne by Post Office lines staff, this stone was unveiled on 10th November 1961 by the Hon. G.W. Davidson, O.B.E., M.P., Postmaster General.

The two cities were first linked by telegraph in 1858, and by telephone in 1907.

Each pair of tubes of the 6-tube coaxial cable makes possible over 1,000 simultaneous telephone and telegraph connections, or transmission of two television programmes

The two inch cable was buried at a depth of 4 feet at an average rate of 1.2 miles per day

Erected 1961 by Commonwealth of Australia.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Communications. A significant historical year for this entry is 1961.

Location. 37° 48.726′ S, 144° 58.458′ E. Marker is in East Melbourne, Victoria, in Melbourne. It is on Macarthur Street 0.1 kilometers south of Saint Andrews Place. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Spring Street, East Melbourne VIC 3002, Australia. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Oceania,

in Australasia,

in the Pacific Ocean,

in South Pacific,

on the Pacific

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Rim,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Stanford Fountain (within shouting distance of this marker); Adam Lindsay Gordon 1932 (within shouting distance of this marker); Charles George Gordon (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Scotch College (about 90 meters away); Great Petition Sculpture (about 90 meters away); Great Petition (about 90 meters away); The Windsor Hotel (about 90 meters away); The Old Treasury Building (about 120 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in East Melbourne.

Also see . . . From the Archives: Three capitals now linked by coaxial cable. The Sydney Morning Herald

It was a telecommunications breakthrough for Australia, described by Sir Robert Menzies as "a remarkable task of teamwork" - a coaxial cable linking Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.

First published in the Sydney Morning Herald on April 10, 1962

The biggest single telecommunications project in Australia, a coaxial cable linking Sydney,

Coaxial Cable Marker in the Gardens image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, May 11, 2026

2. Coaxial Cable Marker in the Gardens

Canberra and Melbourne, was opened by the Prime Minister, Mr Menzies, in Canberra yesterday.

The 599-mile cable, with "repeater" stations every six miles, will substantially increase communication channels between the three centres.

It took two years to install.

The cable contains three pairs of copper tubes, each capable of carrying up to 1,260 simultaneous telephone conversations.

Alternatively, each pair is capable of carrying a television program between Sydney and Melbourne.

Mr Menzies said the cable was the culmination of a remarkable task of teamwork.

He said: "We live in such turbulent, or hurried, times, that we occasionally forget that history is still being made, even though it is being made a little more hastily than it used to.
(Submitted on May 27, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 27, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. This page has been viewed 16 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 27, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.