One of the more important events in the history of the Cape York Peninsula region was the construction of the Overland Telegraph Line. The northern section ran through very difficult country and the telegraph survey expedition was only the fourth overland expedition ever made to Cape York Peninsula. which was to take more than two years to complete. The actual construction work involved the clearing of a corridor approximately two chains wide, or around forty metres, with specially manufactured galvanised iron poles used to support the line. Once the telegraph line was completed, ongoing maintenance was important, with gangs of telegraph linesmen dedicated to its upkeep. Work on the
Cape York Peninsula section was completed in 1886, except for 90 km between
Moreton Telegraph Station and Mein where telegrams were carried by horse and rider until the line was completed. The line consisted of galvanised cast iron poles designed to support a single wire.
Frank Jardine, after whom Australia's most northerly river is named, was given the job of arranging delivery of materials to work gangs along the line. During the wet summer season of 1886–87, only 35 km of line were built and 200 km of clearing completed to the last station at Mein. The line opened in 1887 and it linked
Brisbane as the capital with Queensland’s northern outposts as well as the rest of the world. This was a vital communication link, stretching from Laura at the southern end of the Peninsula to Thursday Island. ==Telegraph stations==