Alice on the Line

by Doris Blackwell, Douglas Lockwood

The town of Alice was a telegraph station when Doris Blackwell went there as a young girl in 1899.

Mrs Blackwells father, Thomas Bradshaw, was officer-in-charge of Alice Springs telegraph station from 1899 to 1908. He took his young family from Oodnadatta, the railhead, on buggy ride of more than 30 miles.
In this book, with the collaboration of Territory Author Gouglas Lockwood, she has recaptured the atmosphere of those early days - only thirty years after the construction of the O.T. Line and 40 years after John McDouall Stuart first crossed the continent from south to north.

This personal story of life at The Alice at the turn of the century is not only a book of great historical interest; it reflects a deep love for the country and its people.

Genres: Australia, Nonfiction, History

204 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Tricia Voss]

What a delightful book even with the harsh realities of life in the outback. Having recently visited the telegraph station it really Brought home to me how amazing and resilient our early settlers were. Truly astonishing accomplishments and certainly tremendous achievements. I am in awe.

[Jill]

I skipped half the book - to be honest. I was struggling to pick the book up … I wanted it to be finished … I was just skimming the pages. So I decided to give up on it and move on to my next book on my list.

[Peter]

Some astute observations before political correctness was born.

[Kristy Hetzel]

A really interesting historical read.

[Nynke]

Very interesting read.

The inclusion of a map would have been nice. Perhaps a 1900 one and a 1965 one so we can see where exactly everything was vs what there is now.

[Cynde Moya]

charming interlude with a lot of details of 1990's experience of girlhood in remote Alice Springs

[Jo Orange]

We purchased this book while visiting the old telegraph station at Alice Springs a few years ago and have finally got around to reading it. A wonderful telling of life at the turn of the 20th century in outback Australia, through the eyes of a young girl. Brought back my own memories of visiting the OT and what life would have been like for those who lived there. Highly recommend this book.

[Brian]

I bought the book while visiting the Telegraph Station at Alice Springs, the setting of this snapshot of a little girls life in the big bad outback at the turn of the century.

I loved it, well done

[Lauren]

Purchased at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station, where the book is set. :)

Very enjoyable memoir about life in the Outback at the beginning of the 20th century, with all the trials & tribulations of being so wholly isolated. Those were the days!

[Bill Porter]

A remarkable story, an amazing slice of Australian history, and beautifully presented. Not all biographies leave you wondering what happened next... this one leaves you wanting more.

[Jenny]

An interesting memoir about a time of incredible hardship, stoicism and pioneering spirit. I really enjoyed reading it.