Event Description

David Dufty will be in conversation with Lish Fejer discussing his latest book - Charles Todd's Magnificent Obsession
The epic race to connect Australia to the world. The construction of the Overland Telegraph in 1870 was an extraordinary feat of engineering and a wild gamble that nearly went terribly wrong!

About the Book

It was the greatest feat of engineering in nineteenth-century Australia, but it very nearly collapsed in the face of monumental obstacles.

The year was 1870, and mail took six weeks to get to England by sea. Australians hungered for the speedy communication a telegraph connection would bring. Engineer Charles Todd promised that he could string up wires on poles from Adelaide over 3,000 kilometres to an undersea cable in Darwin harbour in just eighteen months. It was a wild gamble that became an epic race against time.

This is the extraordinary story of the building of the Overland Telegraph. Three teams of workers crossed deserts, mountains, and rivers in flood, following the rough maps that John McDouall Stuart had brought back from his final expedition. They encountered Aboriginal people who had never seen a European, and battled crocodiles, mosquitoes, mysterious illnesses and starvation. Drawing on original letters and journals, historian David Dufty has uncovered never-before-published details about this ground-breaking project.

This is a tale of obsession and heroism, violence and tragedy, and above all, it's a totally compelling yarn.

'A gripping story' - David Hill
'A tale of endeavor and perseverance' - Roland Perry
'Meticulous research and Dufty's monster writing skills shape a cracking retelling of Charles Todd's race to stretch a single strand of telegraph wire across 3000km of remote Australia from Port Augusta to Darwin' - Glenn Morrison
'A good read, and speaks of the man and his team, illustrating the talents of a rare achiever' - Mac Benoy

About David Dufty

David Dufty is an historian and researcher. He is the author of Nabbing Ned Kelly; The Secret Code Breakers of Central Bureau, winner of the 2017 Nib Military History Prize; and of Radio Girl, winner of the Best Non-fiction, 2020 ACT Notable Awards.

About Lish Fejer

Lish Fejer is a digital storyteller in the ABC Canberra bureau.
She was previously a broadcaster for ABC Radio Canberra, where she most recently presented Mornings, and was a co-presenter of ABC TV's eco home reno show Carbon Cops.

About the Event

Books will be available for purchase and signing at the event.
Registration is required for this event.
Accessible parking spaces directly below the Harry Hartog ANU Bookshop are available should you require them. Kambri ANU / Parking
If you do not feel well, please refrain from attending this event.
Disability Access available - please ask in-store.