Current/Proposed Events
Anniversary Display at Kalamunda
2026 is the 150th anniversary of Alexander Graham Bell patenting the telephone ("invention" is stretching it a bit, there were many others who contributed to the technology both before and after Bell). It is also the 50th anniversary or the formation of the Australian Historic Telephone Society (AHTS), the parent club of our own WAHTS.
On behalf of the WAHTS, I have a created a little commemorative display at the Kalamunda History Village. The Village is among the best of its type in regional community museums in Western Australia. Arranged around the 1891 railway station, It largely comprises local buildings from the late 19th and early 20th century rescued and relocated to the site. More information about the village at:
https://www.kalamunda.wa.gov.au/.../kalamunda-history
The display is located in the 1921/22 Post Office. It only displays telephones pertinent to Kalamunda's telephone history. Moves to secure a telephone service to the town started in 1906 and by 1908 the (unofficial) post office at 63 Railway Rd and the Kalamunda Roads Board were connected. The first (magneto) exchange was installed in the post office in 1911. Upgraded in 1922 with the completion of the "new" post office at 39 Railway Rd, it remained a magneto system until Dec. 1955 when replaced by an SxS automatic exchange on the PO site. The exchange was replaced by ARF Crossbar across the road around 1971. That building still exists. The 1922 PO was replaced in 1972 and the old building donated and relocated to the Kalamunda History Village.
2026 is the 150th anniversary of Alexander Graham Bell patenting the telephone ("invention" is stretching it a bit, there were many others who contributed to the technology both before and after Bell). It is also the 50th anniversary or the formation of the Australian Historic Telephone Society (AHTS), the parent club of our own WAHTS.
On behalf of the WAHTS, I have a created a little commemorative display at the Kalamunda History Village. The Village is among the best of its type in regional community museums in Western Australia. Arranged around the 1891 railway station, It largely comprises local buildings from the late 19th and early 20th century rescued and relocated to the site. More information about the village at:
https://www.kalamunda.wa.gov.au/.../kalamunda-history
The display is located in the 1921/22 Post Office. It only displays telephones pertinent to Kalamunda's telephone history. Moves to secure a telephone service to the town started in 1906 and by 1908 the (unofficial) post office at 63 Railway Rd and the Kalamunda Roads Board were connected. The first (magneto) exchange was installed in the post office in 1911. Upgraded in 1922 with the completion of the "new" post office at 39 Railway Rd, it remained a magneto system until Dec. 1955 when replaced by an SxS automatic exchange on the PO site. The exchange was replaced by ARF Crossbar across the road around 1971. That building still exists. The 1922 PO was replaced in 1972 and the old building donated and relocated to the Kalamunda History Village.
Past Events
November 29 2025 End of year social function and AGM
Club lunch at Walters Cafe Point Walter WA followed by AGM. A good time had by all.
Club lunch at Walters Cafe Point Walter WA followed by AGM. A good time had by all.
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November 2023 School presentation
https://www.yourlocalexaminer.com.au/john-educates-youngsters-about-the-phones-of-old/
https://www.yourlocalexaminer.com.au/john-educates-youngsters-about-the-phones-of-old/
Wireless Hill "Number Please" exhibition. 26 March to 16 October 2022
Collaboration: WAHTS, Wireless Hill Museum and Creative Spaces and we won an Australian Museums and Galleries Association Museums & Galleries National Award 17 June 2022! Details here
Article: https://www.governmentnews.com.au/awards-celebrate-australias-museums-and-art-galleries/
Collaboration: WAHTS, Wireless Hill Museum and Creative Spaces and we won an Australian Museums and Galleries Association Museums & Galleries National Award 17 June 2022! Details here
Article: https://www.governmentnews.com.au/awards-celebrate-australias-museums-and-art-galleries/
Sat 27 Nov 2021 Xmas lunch and AGM. Lunch at Walters Cafe Point Walter.
Sat 19 June 2021 Kalamunda History Village
Members visited the Kalamunda History Village and Stirk's Cottage Kalamunda in the morning followed by BBQ lunch and meeting at Secretary's home nearby. For information about the History Village visit:
https://www.kalamundahistoricalsociety.com/history-village
Sun 18 April 2021 Shannon's Classic Car Show
https://www.shannons.com.au/club/events/shannons-classic-car-show-2021/
WAHTS in conjunction with the Vintage Wireless and Gramophone Club had a display at this event. Had quite a few visitors stop by our display and have a chat. A great day out with lots of cars to see.
https://www.shannons.com.au/club/events/shannons-classic-car-show-2021/
WAHTS in conjunction with the Vintage Wireless and Gramophone Club had a display at this event. Had quite a few visitors stop by our display and have a chat. A great day out with lots of cars to see.
Our display
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Some visitors. Kids were intrigued by Morse keys and telephone dials
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Corvettes galore
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1962 R series Valiant
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November 2020 was a busy month for the WAHTS.
On 10th November we participated in the “Man Cave” community event organised by the Melville City Council at their “Blue Gum” Centre in the suburb of Brentwood. Clubs and other community groups put on displays aimed at attracting men into recreational activities.
Saturday 28th November saw our Christmas lunch at the riverside Point Walter Café followed by sweets, coffee and the general and annual general meetings at our President’s home
Mancave 2020
18 Aug 2020 U3A talk
WAHTS Secretary delivered a talk on historic telephony to the Lesmurdie WA University of the 3rd Age (U3A) group on the 18th of August. Very well received.
WAHTS Secretary delivered a talk on historic telephony to the Lesmurdie WA University of the 3rd Age (U3A) group on the 18th of August. Very well received.
Shannons Classic Car Show Ascot Racecourse WA
Sunday 8 March 2020 The WA Historic Telecommunications Society in collaboration with the Vintage Wireless and Gramophone Club put on another public display at this event.
Sunday 8 March 2020 The WA Historic Telecommunications Society in collaboration with the Vintage Wireless and Gramophone Club put on another public display at this event.
Glen Forrest WA Primary School Fete
Sat. 30 March 2019 The WA Historic Telecommunications Society put on a public display of vintage telephones at this event.
Sat. 30 March 2019 The WA Historic Telecommunications Society put on a public display of vintage telephones at this event.
Shannons Classic Car Show Ascot Racecourse WA
Sunday 24 March 2019 The WA Historic Telecommunications Society in collaboration with the Vintage Wireless and Gramophone Club put on a public display at this event.
Sunday 24 March 2019 The WA Historic Telecommunications Society in collaboration with the Vintage Wireless and Gramophone Club put on a public display at this event.
Science event Wireless Hill Museum McCallum Cres, Ardross WA
20 August 2017
"How science helps us communicate". The WAHTS, Vintage Wireless and Gramophone Club and others displayed vintage equipment.
20 August 2017
"How science helps us communicate". The WAHTS, Vintage Wireless and Gramophone Club and others displayed vintage equipment.
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Guildford Heritage Festival
26 March 2017: The WAHTS and many other heritage groups put on displays as part of this celebration. Further information can be found at this Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/guildfordheritagefestival/
The Society shared a display at this event with the Vintage Wireless and Gramophone Club (http://vwgc.org.au/)
Fremantle Heritage Festival - Arthur Grady Day
28 May 2016: This is the second year that the society has put on a public display during Arthur Grady Day in Fremantle. The display went well with quite a few visitors showing interest in our vintage telephone display and working model of a step by step exchange. The kids were fascinated with our working copy of an A.G. Bell 1877 cased telephone system.
John showing off a copy of an 1877 Bell phone
Further information about the Fremantle Festival can be found at this Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/fremantleheritagefestival/
https://www.facebook.com/fremantleheritagefestival/
Guildford Heritage Festival
3 April 2016: The Society shared a display at this event with the Vintage Wireless and Gramophone Club (http://vwgc.org.au/)
Further information can be found at this Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/guildfordheritagefestival/
Colin describing some telephones to visitors at our Guildford Festival display
Have a Go day
Wed 11 November 2015: The sub-branch put on a display at the Have a Go Day event at Burswood Park. Further information about the event can be found at:
http://www.srcwa.asn.au/have-a-go-day.html
AHTS WA members at HAGD
Railfest 2015
Sunday 11 October 2015: Located at the Railway Museum, 136 Railway Parade Bassendean,
Activities, displays, swapmeet etc, etc. A great day out for rail and related history buffs! Our sub-branch put on a display of telephone memorabilia.
Arthur Grady Day
Sat. 9 May 2015: Veteran & Vintage Motor Cycle Event. "In 1924 Fremantle bicycle maker Arthur Grady became the first person to ride a motorcycle around Australia. Every year Fremantle vintage enthusiasts get together for a huge vintage display to celebrate Arthur’s feat. " This event was part of the Fremantle Festival and attracted numerous exhibits from a range of vintage and collectable organisations. AHTS WA members put on a display of telephone history and artefacts in the Fremantle Town Hall.
Sunday 11 October 2015: Located at the Railway Museum, 136 Railway Parade Bassendean,
Activities, displays, swapmeet etc, etc. A great day out for rail and related history buffs! Our sub-branch put on a display of telephone memorabilia.
Arthur Grady Day
Sat. 9 May 2015: Veteran & Vintage Motor Cycle Event. "In 1924 Fremantle bicycle maker Arthur Grady became the first person to ride a motorcycle around Australia. Every year Fremantle vintage enthusiasts get together for a huge vintage display to celebrate Arthur’s feat. " This event was part of the Fremantle Festival and attracted numerous exhibits from a range of vintage and collectable organisations. AHTS WA members put on a display of telephone history and artefacts in the Fremantle Town Hall.
Step by Step telephone switching demo.
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Ray and Ross with a display of vintage and antique phones
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2014:
100th anniversary of the first automatic telephone exchange in Perth
The WA sub-branch of the Australian Historic Telephone Society (AHTS) was involved in several projects during September, October and November 2014 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of dial telephony in WA. The projects were:
Telstra display
The Telstra display (assembled by AHTS members) of telephone artefacts to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the cutting over of Central Exchange went well. Central was the first automatic exchange in Perth in 1914. The display was located in the Hay St Mall Telstra Shop and opened on Friday 26 September, exactly 100 years to the day after Central was cut over on that date in 1914. It remained on display until Wed 1st October.
Perth Heritage Days weekend
Following the Telstra display The AHTS sub-branch operated a display during the Perth Heritage Days weekend on 18 and 19 October in the old GPO building in Forrest Chase. There were vintage telephones and other objects on show and the centre-piece was a model step by step telephone exchange recently refurbished by one of our club members. Volunteers attended the display to show off the items and answer questions about our club. The venue was well attended with one estimate of around 600 members of the public viewing the displays over the two days. Other organisations also displayed at this venue. They were the Vintage Wireless and Gramophone Club, the Morsecodians and the Red Cross who were celebrating the 100th anniversary of their service in WW1. Further information about the event can be found at:
http://heritageperth.com.au/
Have a Go Day
Wed 12 November: The sub-branch put on a small but effective display at the Have a Go Day event at Burswood Park. Further information about the event can be found at:
http://www.srcwa.asn.au/have-a-go-day.html
100th anniversary of the first automatic telephone exchange in Perth
The WA sub-branch of the Australian Historic Telephone Society (AHTS) was involved in several projects during September, October and November 2014 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of dial telephony in WA. The projects were:
Telstra display
The Telstra display (assembled by AHTS members) of telephone artefacts to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the cutting over of Central Exchange went well. Central was the first automatic exchange in Perth in 1914. The display was located in the Hay St Mall Telstra Shop and opened on Friday 26 September, exactly 100 years to the day after Central was cut over on that date in 1914. It remained on display until Wed 1st October.
Perth Heritage Days weekend
Following the Telstra display The AHTS sub-branch operated a display during the Perth Heritage Days weekend on 18 and 19 October in the old GPO building in Forrest Chase. There were vintage telephones and other objects on show and the centre-piece was a model step by step telephone exchange recently refurbished by one of our club members. Volunteers attended the display to show off the items and answer questions about our club. The venue was well attended with one estimate of around 600 members of the public viewing the displays over the two days. Other organisations also displayed at this venue. They were the Vintage Wireless and Gramophone Club, the Morsecodians and the Red Cross who were celebrating the 100th anniversary of their service in WW1. Further information about the event can be found at:
http://heritageperth.com.au/
Have a Go Day
Wed 12 November: The sub-branch put on a small but effective display at the Have a Go Day event at Burswood Park. Further information about the event can be found at:
http://www.srcwa.asn.au/have-a-go-day.html
