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Pickering Brook Manual Telephone Exchange

The Manual Telephone Exchange was in the Front Room of this House at 265 Pickering Brook Road

The first manual Telephone Exchange was set up in Ted Davey’s home at 265 Pickering Brook Road. It was in the front room which was also contained the local School Tuckshop. Laural Roads (now Gava) left school at 14 to work for her sister Mavis, (Mrs. Ted Davey) and operate the exchange. She did this till she turned 21 when she married Bruno Gava. There were about 69 subscribers and some others on party lines. Phone call costs were one penny for local calls and four pence for Trunk calls. Country calls were dearer depending upon distance.

THE MANUAL TELEPHONE EXCHANGE WAS IN THE FRONT ROOM OF THIS HOUSE AT 265 PICKERING BROOK ROAD #1

In 2008 Laural remembers the telephone numbers for Pickering Brook Residents between 1952 – 1959 were as follows:

  1. Mazzardis V.
  2. Neave J.
  3. Giumelli A.
  4. Sala Tenna Bros P.
  5. Smailes T.
  6. Padgett F.
  7. Furfaro F.
  8. Balatto A.
  9. Niven A.
  10. Selk B.
  11. Gillespie A.
  12. Davey T.
  13. Ellery B.
  14. Vinci L.
  15. Armanasco B.
  16. Travicich M.
  17. Waters M.
  1. Alitinier A.
  2. Marchetti C.
  3. Russell P.
  4. Barton Mills Prison
  5. Fernie A.
  6. Francis V.
  7. Urbinatti P.
  8. Bechelli P.
  9. Radice L.
  10. Gordon B.
  11. Scolaro B.
  12. Giumelli G.
  13. Scolaro J.
  14. Brookes H.
  15. Godbold H.
  16. Ryan D.
  17. Parton G.
  1. Cunnold F.
  2. Neaves C.
  3. Spriggs G.
  4. Cunnold H.
  5. Davey C.
  6. Vincenti F.
  7. McCorkill B.
  8. Conti M.
  9. Gava E.
  10. Phone Box
  11. Pickering Brook Garage
  12. Fantuz E.
  13. Jenkins E.
  14. Della Franca C.
  15. Della Franca J.
  16. Convent Carilla
  1. Robinson A.
  2. Natta J.
  3. Foti C.
  4. Pickering Brook School
  5. Della Franca V.
  6. Giumelli M.
  7. Petrucci A.
  8. Vacaro A.
  9. Pickering Brook Club?
  10. Mortellaro A.
  11. Blue Moon?
  12. Ferrari M.d.
  13. Pickering Brook Sawmill

Most of these numbers are the same today but now have 9293 8 — in front of them.

A code system was devised for the neighbouring communities.

KALAMUNDA                3 short rings
WALLISTON                  4 short rings
BICKLEY                        1 long ring 3 short rings
CARMEL                        2 long rings 2 short rings
PICKERING BROOK      3 long rings 1 short ring
KARRAGULLEN             3 short rings 1 long ring

LAURAL ROADS (NOW GAVA) WHO OPERATED THE TELEPHONE EXCHANGE FOR 7 YEARS #2
Laural Roads (now Gava) Who Operated the Telephone Exchange or 7 Years

Recently the Pickering Brook Heritage Group was able to purchase an old telephone exchange switchboard that is very similar to the one that was originally used. It is now proudly on display at the Heritage Park.

Old Telephone Switchboard Similar to the One That Was Used in Pickering Brook

This exchange continued until the Automatic Telephone Exchange was built by the Post Master General’s Department (P.M.G.) further along Pickering Brook Road opposite the School and next to what used to be the Old Nursing Sisters Post.

OLD TELEPHONE SWITCHBOARD SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT WAS USED IN PICKERING BROOK #3

Reference:     Article:     Pickering Brook Heritage Group

                     Image:   1 , 3   Gordon Freegard
                                   2  Laural Gava

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