Built in 1858, the Telegraph Station was the region's communications hub, transmitting messages between Melbourne, Sydney and beyond using Morse Code. News travelled at unprecedented speed, including reports relating to Ned Kelly, the Kelly Gang and the siege at Glenrowan. Today, the building offers a fascinating insight into the technology that transformed communication in colonial Australia.
Explore original telegraph equipment, discover the work of the surveyors who helped design Beechworth and surrounding towns, and learn how messages were sent across vast distances with a series of clicks and taps. The station is also home to an Oral History Room, where recordings from local residents provide first-hand accounts of life in Beechworth, and exhibitions that explore the town's rich transport and railway history.
What makes the Telegraph Station particularly unique is that it remains an active part of the international Morse Code community. With the help of dedicated volunteers, visitors can still send Morse Code messages to other telegraph stations across Australia and around the world.
Located opposite the Beechworth Visitor Information Centre and Town Hall, the Telegraph Station offers a hands-on way to discover the people, technology and innovations that helped shape life in regional Australia.