Congee Telephone Exchange site

Statement of Significance

The site is important for its association with telephone communications in the district.

Physical Description

The property is located on the east side of Oxley Road and is about 2kms south of the Bullock Hills Hall site.

History

A number of small exchanges were located through the country districts of WA (this was one of four such facilities in the Shire). The number of subscribers was often between 10 and 20 with a number being on party lines (ie several subscribers using the same line). These subscribers would have the same number but with a different prefix et 13U, 13K etc. Each would have a distinguishing telephone ring consisting of a combination of three digits (short and long) eg 2 shorts and 1 long or 2 longs, 1 short etc. Hours of operation were limited - sometimes 8am - 9pm weekdays (break 12 noon - lpm) Saturdays 9am - 12 noon, Sundays (9am-10am) etc. The operator could charge an opening fee outside of these hours. The Sunter family ran the exchange from their home for many years. The name 'Congee' is taken from the adjoining property pioneered by Tracy Cornelius - later sold to Bruce Fewson in 1926. The original selector of the Sunter property was Gil Filmer in 1905. In 1916 he enlisted and sold the farm to Peek (Filmer was later killed in action). In turn it was sold to Manser before WH Sunter purchased it in 1927. Sunter married a Mrs Jenkins and continued farming the property until about 1970, when they retired. During this time, Sunter was a member of the Woodanilling Road Board from 1940 to 1954 being Chairman for a period (1916-1949). After the sale of the property to the Riseborough family the new owners continued to operate the exchange for some years. The new automatic exchange is situated on the SE corner of the junction of Sand Plain and Oxley Roads.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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