Telegraph and Communications, Published 15 February 2026
A little blast from Queensland’s communication past!
On 13 April 1861, Queensland fired off its very first telegram from the upper floor of the old Commissariat Stores in Brisbane, zipping its way to the Police Magistrate in Ipswich with a proud message celebrating the dawn of telegraphic communication. It was the 19th‑century equivalent of hitting “send” on your very first text.
Fast‑forward more than a century, and the era of tapping out messages on a telegraph key slowly faded. Australia’s publicly provided telegraph services finally wrapped up in 1993, marking the symbolic end of telegrams in Queensland too. After 132 years, the iconic click‑clack of the telegraph officially signed off.
From Brisbane’s early buzz of electric excitement to the quiet final shutdown, telegrams helped shape how Queensland connected with the world. They carried news, love, business, gossip, and history, one dot and dash at a time.
So here’s to the telegram: the original instant message. A reminder that even before Wi‑Fi, Queenslanders were already wired for connection!
Telegrams:
(1). Engagement Telegram 1962
(2). Business Telegram 1949
(3). Wedding Telegram 1927
(4). War Telegram 1942
All telegrams & equipment can be viewed in person at the Queensland Communications Museum - https://www.telemuseum.org
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