JULY 3: Burnside Uniting Church, Cnr Fisher & Portrush Roads.
MORE TO TODD THAN A TELEGRAPH LINE
Presented by Richard Venus
Sir Charles Todd’s 200th birthday will be on July 7 this year. Most people would associate him with the Overland Telegraph Line, arguably Australia’s greatest infrastructure project. But this only accounted for three of Todd’s 63 years of public service – from his employment at Greenwich Observatory in 1841 to his retirement in South Australia in 1904.
He was appointed Astronomical and Meteorological Observer and Head of the Electric Telegraphs Department. By observing the heavens, he became the colony’s timekeeper. He trained his telegraphists as weather observers and developed an understanding of weather patterns, including the Southern Oscillation Index, an indicator of El Niño/La Nina events. He advised the government on scientific matters including electric lighting. Following his controversial appointment as Postmaster General, he proved an able administrator of the postal service.
Richard Venus has served as chairman of Engineering Heritage SA; deputy chair of the national body Engineering Heritage Australia; and Vice President of the History Council of SA. Creator of the popular Adelaide tourist guide, Engineering A City, he has also been instrumental in awarding national heritage plaques for the Overland Telegraph and the East-West Telegraph. In 2016 he was awarded Engineers Australia’s John Monash Medal which recognises outstanding contributions to engineering heritage over a significant period.