Wireless Hill Turns 100

Plans are now underway to celebrate the impressive 100 year anniversary of Wireless Hill in 2012.

A series of commemorative events and activities are currently being planned by a working party which includes the City’s officers, the Centenary Reference Group and local volunteers, all bringing a wide variety of skills, knowledge and interest to the project.

The month-long calendar of events will run across September and October 2012 and will feature open day celebrations, an outdoor film event, the launch of a photographic book and oral history project, school holiday activities, the annual City of Melville Sculpture Walk and a photo history display, a radio display, Morse code demonstrations and the Wireless Institute of WA transmitting live signals from the museum.

In 1912, the Federal Government built one of Australia’s first telecommunication stations at the site in Applecross where Morse code was used to communicate with ships off the Australian coast via a large mast that was 112 metres tall.

The site became known as the Perth Wireless Station and played an important role in both World Wars, relaying messages from ship to shore. Today, the site is a public reserve and owned by the City of Melville and is considered to be of international significance, listed on the Register of the National Estate and the State Register of Heritage Places.